University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory
Health and Safety Committee
Chairman: Dr P Brooks Secretary: Mrs L Heptonstall
Minutes of a meeting of the Health and Safety Committee held at 14.15 on Wednesday 17 December 2003 in the Computer Laboratory.
Present: Dr P Brooks (Chair) Mrs
M A Levitt (Acting Secretary)
Dr A Wonfor Mr A A Brown
Mr S Bishop Ms R Moss
Mrs A Barreto Mrs C A Matthews
Apologies: Dr G Titmus Ms J Cartwright
1.
Minutes of the last meeting
The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2003 were approved and signed.
2.
Matters arising from the Minutes
None.
3.
Correspondence
None.
4.
First Aid and Accidents
4.1 Blood Donation Service
A blood donor session had been advertised in the Computer Laboratory by e-mail.
It was agreed that in future similar items should be sent to building-users.
5.
Workplace Assessments
None.
6.
Fire
6.1 Door hold-backs in Intel
A quotation had been received and the work was in hand.
6.2 Fire detection heads
These have been fitted and are now working.
6.3 Fire Certificate
The Fire Brigade has re-assessed the WG Building and a Fire Certificate was to
be issued pending correction of their copy of the building plans.
6.4 Door closers
The door closer in FN17 was reported as faulty.
ACTION Archie
Brown to contact Maurice Reed
7.
Building Matters
7.1 Key Holders list
Archie Brown reported that the list was now up-to-date and would be posted on
the Department’s website.
ACTION Archie Brown
to contact pagemaster@cl
7.2 Tiling in First Aid Room
Archie Brown reported that this was in hand and would be completed early next
term.
7.3 Rubbish clearance from the Intel Teaching Laboratory
Margaret Levitt reported that the policy and procedures were now in place and
that the students had been informed.
7.4 Door handles on top floor
Archie Brown reported that the manufacturer had been informed of the problems.
The broken handles had been repaired by the contractors.
7.5 Car parking
It was noted that there was to be no immediate change to the current policy.
7.6 Pigeons
Archie Brown reported that an order for a falcon flight had been raised with
the Raptor Foundation. The bird was to be flown around the WGB for five
consecutive days and then once a week for three months, the exact timetable to
be notified.
7.7 Cleaners
Margaret Levitt reported that the Cleaning Supervisor had been notified of
instances of the cleaners emptying bins with bare hands. The Supervisor and
the cleaners were aware of the correct procedures.
It was also noted that a following a complaint from a member of staff about a
trailing vacuum cleaner cable, the cleaning staff had been reminded about good
practice.
7.8 Food and drink in offices and lecture rooms
Instances of flouting the no food or drink rule had been observed in the
lecture rooms and it was agreed that the policy should be enforced whenever
possible.
It was noted that there was no official policy on the consumption of hot food
in offices and that the Head of Department should be asked to consider if such
a policy was now desirable.
ACTION Margaret
Levitt to consult Ian Leslie.
7.9 Refrigerators
It was agreed that the cleaners should be asked to empty and clean the
refrigerators on a fortnightly rota, with two to be cleaned in weeks 1 and 3
and two to be cleaned in weeks 2 and 4.
ACTION Archie Brown
to talk to the Cleaning Supervisor.
7.10 Shredders
Archie Brown reported that the full-time cleaner would empty the bins daily and
that the paper waste would be re-cycled in the normal way.
7.11 Portable Appliance Testing
Archie Brown reported that Martin McDonnell was to attend a course early in the
New Year, and that a training video was to be obtained for in-house refresher
training.
7.12 Bomb alert
Piete Brooks reported that following a University-wide bomb alert a security
sweep of the WGB had been done but that the building had not been evacuated.
It had been a useful exercise.
7.13 Building Management Services
Archie Brown reported that a BMS head-end was now on site to enable him to make
local checks on the services.
7.14 Disabled toilet
Archie Brown reported that the disabled WC on the SW landing was still to be
repaired.
7.15 Action by Animal Rights protestors
Piete Brooks reported on the measures that had been taken following a warning
that Animal Rights protestors were going to target the Computer Laboratory.
The green exit buttons had been disabled, with occupants of the building warned
by e-mail, local posters and by verbal announcements in lectures. It was noted
that the emergency operation of the doors was not affected.
7.16 Office manual
Archie Brown reported that he was checking a draft manual prepared by Markus
Kuhn and that it would be posted on the Department’s website and made available
to other users.
8.
West Cambridge Site
8.1 West Cambridge Site Administrators
Margaret Levitt reported that items 7.6 – 7.9 on the Minutes of the previous
meeting had all been discussed at the meeting of West Cambridge Site
Administrators, and that Andrew Gordon was therefore aware of the concerns.
She would report back from the next meeting in due course.
8.2 Coton footpath
A member of staff had reported that the local council’s policy was to grit the
footpath only when there were likely to be 5 consecutive cold nights (category
3 status). The University was giving financial support to the improvement of
transport facilities at West Cambridge and he had suggested that some resources
could be channelled into this matter, raising it to category 1 status. The
Committee strongly supported this, and expressed concern that the current
policy could increase the likelihood of accidents.
ACTION The Chairman to write to the West
Cambridge Site Manager.
9.
Any Other Business
9.1 No-smoking policy
Archie Brown reported two instances of cigarette burns on furniture in meeting
rooms GS13 and GS15. He was also concerned about the large number of cigarette
ends on the ground beneath the FN balcony. The Committee noted that the
Department’s no-smoking policy specifically included the entire building, the
balconies and the courtyards, and it was agreed that a strong reminder should
be published.
ACTION Margaret Levitt to broadcast a message to
building-users;
Archie Brown to post local notices in vulnerable
locations.
9.2 Christmas holiday arrangements
In response to a query from Adrian Wonfor about out of hours working, Piete
Brooks reported that access to the building would be by the usual weekend and
evening arrangements, i.e. by Cotag card. Building management services would
not be affected by the holiday.
10.
Date of the next meeting
Wednesday 21 January 2004
in GC22.
Other meetings in 2004:
18 February, 17 March, 21 April, 19 May, 16 June, 21 July, 18 August, 15
September, 20 October, 17 November, 15 December.