General Statement of Health and Safety Policy

AUBH is committed to provide and maintain a safe and healthy work environment for all students, employees, visitors, vendors, and contractors. The University will continually strive to improve the Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) performance.

AUBH will conduct its operations in a safe manner and take all practical steps to eliminate any potential hazard or reduce risks that may result in personnel injury, ill health, damage to the workplace environment or property loss.

As a minimum requirement in the conduct of its activities, AUBH at all levels, will comply with applicable HSE legal and other requirements.

AUBH will establish, implement and maintain processes for participation and consultation with employees including documented HSE objectives which will be reviewed and updated annually or as otherwise required.

All Managers and Deans have primary responsibility for the safety and well-being of personnel, equipment and facilities in their department.

As a condition of employment, all employees are required to perform their job requirements safely, while maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, and promoting the protection of their direct environment.

All individuals who manage or participate in AUBH operations is expected to abide by this policy.

Safety Command and Control Structure

This section relates to the division of labour in respect of Health and Safety issues; it outlines the responsibility of the following functions:

1. The overall coordination of Health and Safety procedures are authorized by the AUBH governing body. Strategic responsibility for the implementation of the University’s Health and Safety Policy lies with the Campus Executive Director/Dean.
2. The Campus Health & Safety Officer will develop a Health and Safety Committee that will meet on a monthly basis to discuss campus health and safety issues and concerns. Minutes will be taken, signed and reviewed by senior management and filed with the Campus Safety Officer. It will also be shared with the Ministry of Labour.
3. The suggested Health and Safety committee structure should consist but not be limited to the following individuals/positions:
   • President/Chief Operating Officer
   • Provost
   • Director of Facilities
   • Health & Safety Officer
   • Director of Enrollment & Marketing Communications
   • Director of Student Affairs
   • HR Manager
   • Nurse
   • At least two faculty members
4. To pursue the objectives of the University in respect of Health and Safety and to monitor their implementation by the Health and Safety office, the Campus Executive Director or representative will follow the reporting procedures at regular intervals.
5. The Health & Safety office will coordinate to periodically conduct workplace inspection and evaluation, applicable to all areas and facilities that may have significant hazards and risks.
6. Applicable legislations that are relevant to Health & Safety are to be periodically reviewed to ensure the compliance by the Health & Safety Officer.
7. Employees and students will be informed about basic Health and Safety topics in general awareness sessions.
8. Any staff related injuries must be reported by the reporting officer/manager within 24 hours to the Campus Director of Facilities, the HR Manager and the Health & Safety Officer.
9. Any student related injuries must be reported by the Student Affairs office within 24 hours to the Campus Director of Facilities and the Health & Safety Officer.
10. A summary report of all injuries and incidents will be collected by the Health & Safety Officer on a Monthly basis.
11. All applicable levels and functions will be able to participate in Health & Safety programs. All persons will able to report any circumstances faced including near misses, hazards and suggestions related to Health, Safety and Environmental aspects.
12. List of Contacts: The management of Health and Safety requires the campus to maintain contacts for persons to be contacted for assistance and advice, to supplement in-house skills and competence at AUBH. The University identifies bodies including the following, for information and guidance:

Accidents/Incidents/Injury Reporting

All accidents and incidents must be reported to the Health & Safety Officer as soon as possible, using the appropriate forms and paperwork. Particulars of the accident or incident can be completed by the affected person or by any person acting on her/his behalf, e.g. the appropriate reporting officer or departmental manager.

Accident and incident reporting forms are available on the AUBH shared network. All reporting forms must be kept by the Campus Health & Safety Officer with an additional copy retained within the concerned department. Forms should be readily accessible at all reasonable times to any injured person or any person acting on her/his behalf.

The committee, when necessary, can investigate the cause of all accidents and incidents and ensure that all preventative actions have been recorded and implemented.

First Aid Procedures

The University will maintain a comprehensive, integrated First Aid arrangement including the provision of the following facilities:

• Health room with a designated nurse that offers advanced primary care services.
• First Aid boxes that are located in other accessible rooms.
• The Campus Health and Safety Officer will maintain a list of all employees that hold existing First Aid qualifications.
• The campus Nurse is responsible for checking and maintaining all first aid boxes on a regular basis and replenishing materials that have been used in any reported accident or incident.
• The Safety Officer will coordinate additional First Aid training as required.
• The use of First Aid materials should be  recorded on the First Aid cases log sheet. If immediate assistance is required, the First Aider must be called by the first member on the scene and notify the emergency services on 999 for ambulance if necessary.

Fire Safety Procedures

• Regular fire drills must be held on all premises at least once in a year and recorded formally to enable regular reviews of procedures and targets set for evacuation.
• Fire Exits must be checked daily.
• Escape routes must be kept clear and clean at all times.
• Fire notices and fire escape route signage must be displayed in all buildings.
• University based fire risk assessments are periodically undertaken. Regular risk assessments should be carried out by the risk assessment team and the risk assessments will identify specific fire hazards and measures to control the associated fire risks. The University aims to develop in-house competence in fire risk assessment training. Such training will be simultaneous with generic risk assessments to comply with general fire precautions.

General Instructions in Case of Fire

• All persons on campus premises should become familiar with their work area and exit paths in advance, to be used in case of an emergency. It is essential to be aware of at least two exit ways out of a building.
• When a fire is discovered, do not try to extinguish it by yourself.
• Activate the nearest fire alarm box.
• Dial the Civil Defense Emergency Call Center number 999, and report the exact location of the fire. Do not hesitate in activating the fire alarm box upon the detection of a fire and/or smoke.
• Do not panic. Walk quickly to the closest emergency exit and report to the assembly point.
• Close all doors but do not lock them as you leave in fire area, to confine fire and smoke. Before exiting through any closed door, check for heat and the presence of fire behind the door by feeling the door with the back of your hand. If the door feels very warm or hot to touch, advise everyone to proceed to another exit, but if safe, proceed with the evacuation.
• Do not use elevators. If power is disrupted, elevators will stop working and will remain on the ground floor with the doors opened.
• If smoke is encountered, bend on your knees and crawl along the wall to the nearest exit.
• If you are unable to exit the building:
  • Remain calm and do not panic.
  • Remain in a low position and crawl if necessary/possible.
  • Place a cloth, wet if possible, over your mouth to serve as a filter.
  • Signal for help from a window. Use a towel, clothing, sign etc.
• Walk one behind the other. Stay to one side when walking through corridors and staircases.
• Avoid unnecessary talking and keep the lines moving.
• Persons requiring assistance in an evacuation should proceed to a staircase entrance area and wait for assistance.
• Be aware that faculty, staff and students with disabilities may also need individual assistance. Assist them whenever possible. A list of students with disabilities is updated each semester and is available for emergency responders in the event of an emergency. All faculty and staff with disabilities may contact the Health and Safety Office if they would like to be placed on the list.
• It is critical to meet at the designated assembly point outside and away from the building, to ensure that all individuals have evacuated the building. The determined assembly points for the AUBH premises are in the parking area.
• If a fire progresses to a dangerous level, all individuals, as instructed, will be instructed to gather at the designated assembly points for additional safety.
• The Fire warden of the location agency will conduct floor sweeps to ensure that all individuals have been evacuated from the building. The Fire warden will then exit the building and report the location of any missing/trapped individuals to top Management.
• Firefighters and pre-designated staff and/or faculty, who are trained in fire precaution, will assist all persons who require special assistance to evacuate the building. Persons with special needs will be moved to a predesignated area for safe refuge on the floor in which they work, or to the nearest staircase. Re-entry of buildings will only be allowed once the local fire agency or the authorities have cleared the building. This will be indicated through a verbal notification by the local fire agency (civil defense). Only authorized person(s) can only turn off the alarm when directed by the Campus Safety Officer and/or local fire agency.

Note: All AUBH members are required to review the fire evacuation plan and the escape routes for the building in which they work or attend class. The objective of this document is to provide all members including personnel, faculty and students with a comprehensive procedure for evacuation of the buildings in case of fire.

Emergency Procedures

• In the event of an emergency evacuation, the assigned emergency evacuation team should ensure that their areas are cleared and should report to the Head of Evacuation Team.
• No employee, student or visitor may re-enter the premises until permission is given by the Head of Evacuation Team.
• The Campus Operations team will maintain regular contact with the Campus Safety Officer to ensure that the premises are appropriately sign-posted and adequate facilities exist for emergencies.
• In the event of an emergency, all persons must evacuate and assemble at the nearest designated assembly points.

Smoking

• AUBH does not permit smoking in the most areas of its property.
• AUBH is committed to creating a high quality, safe and healthy working environment for all staff, students and visitors. In accordance with that commitment, AUBH recognizes the right of all staff and students to work and study in a smoke-free environment and has applied a policy of “no smoking” within its campus. Smoking is prohibited in all buildings (this includes all offices, classrooms, auditoriums, corridors, lifts, stairwells, toilets etc.).
• Smoking is also prohibited at the entrances of buildings, around buildings and in the pedestrian paths leading to buildings entrances to ensure that tobacco smoke will not enter the building via the doorway or windows.
• Smoking is not permitted within all vehicles owned or operated by the AUBH. “No smoking” signs are displayed in areas as required.
• Compliance with AUBH policy should be managed on a local basis. Responsible persons are requested to implement the policy in the area which is under their responsibility and ensure that staff, students and visitors and, where applicable, contractors are made aware of this policy and that they comply with its requirements.
• Any contractor or visitor who refuses to comply with the requirements of this policy will be asked to leave the Campus premises.