Health and Safety Committee

1. Status

1.1 In accordance with the Scottish Code of Good HE Governance and the University’s corporate governance framework, Court has established the Health and Safety Committee (the Committee). The Committee is a sub-committee of the People, Health and Equality Committee, which is a committee of Court. The Committee therefore reports to the People, Health and Equality Committee on matters of health and safety, which in turn provides assurance to Court. These Terms of Reference, approved by the People, Health and Equality Committee, define the Committee’s purpose, delegated authority, responsibilities and operating arrangements. They should be read in conjunction with other key governance documents available at Court's Key Documents.

1.2 The Committee shall only act within its approved remit, escalating matters that exceed its delegated authority as defined in the Scheme of Delegation and Decision-Making Powers or present material risk to the People, Health and Equality Committee in a timely and transparent manner, in accordance with the University Court Standing Orders and recognised good governance practice.

1.3 Delegation to the Committee does not transfer or diminish Court’s collective responsibility or accountability for health and safety. Court retains the right to rescind or vary any decision of the Committee, without prejudice to actions already undertaken.

1.4 In the event of any inconsistency between these Terms of Reference and the University’s corporate governance framework, primacy shall be determined in accordance with the governance hierarchy set out in the University Court Statement of Primary Responsibilities.

2. Role and Purpose

2.1 The Committee supports the People, Health and Equality Committee, and through it Court, in discharging responsibilities for health and safety by:

a) providing assurance on the adequacy and effectiveness of the University’s health and safety framework;
b) monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of health and safety policy documents, systems and controls.

2.2 Operational management of health and safety remains the responsibility of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor and the Senior Leadership Team under delegated authority.

3. Responsibilities

3.1 Governance and Assurance

a) keep under review all matters involving the health and safety of staff (including occupational health), students and other persons within the University environment;
b) provide risk-based assurance on the adequacy, effectiveness and continuous improvement of the University’s health and safety management framework;
c) review and recommend the Annual Health and Safety Report prior to submission to the People, Health and Equality Committee and thereafter to Court for approval.
d) monitor the implementation and adherence to health and safety policy documents including codes of practice, safety rules, and safe and healthy systems of work;
e) consider reports and recommendations submitted by Local Health and Safety Committees and recognised safety representatives and take or recommend such action as is considered appropriate in the circumstances;
f) monitor the adequacy and effectiveness of communications, consultation and publicity arrangements relating to health and safety in the workplace;
g) advise on the preparation, review, implementation and monitoring of local health and safety documentation and to approve such documentation.

3.2 Health and Safety Incident and Action Oversight

a) consider reports on significant health and safety incidents, near misses, trends and systemic control failures;
b) monitor progress against agreed health and safety-related action plans arising from incidents, inspections or audits.

3.3 External Regulation and Compliance

a) monitor engagement with relevant regulators and enforcing authorities including the Health and Safety Executive;
b) consider reports and formal correspondence from enforcing authorities and inspectors;
c) give consideration to environmental matters, including waste disposal and management, where these have health and safety implications and instigate and monitor such action as is required under statute or is otherwise necessary to manage associated risk;

3.4 Fire Safety and Specialist Areas

a) Consider regular reports on fire safety and other specialist health and safety areas as required;
b) monitor progress in implementing agreed actions to maintain or improve safety standards.

3.5 Resources and Training

a) have authority to request such information, assurance and attendance from senior officers and other staff as may be required to fulfil its remit.
b) monitor the effectiveness of the health and safety content of employees’ training and advise the Senior Leadership Team on training requirements in the area of health and safety;

3.6 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

a) have due regard equality, diversity and inclusion in undertaking its responsibilities;
b) review and approve (where delegated), and otherwise seek assurance on, health and safety arrangements—including policies, risk assessments, incidents and planning—ensuring they are inclusive, accessible and appropriately address the needs of protected, underrepresented and vulnerable groups, including reasonable adjustments;
c) seek assurance that equality impact assessments, or equivalent consideration of equality implications, are undertaken where required for health and safety related policies, practices and significant changes;

3.7 Review of Effectiveness

a) undertake an annual review of its own effectiveness, remit and sufficiency of delegated authority, including these Terms of Reference and consider whether any updates are required in light of legislative changes, governance frameworks or recognised good governance practice.
b)
proposed amendments shall be recommended to the People, Health and Equality Committee for approval.

3.8 Other Responsibilities

a) take such other actions as are required or directed by People, Health and Equality Committee and Court in relation to the maintenance of health and safety within the University.

4. Composition

4.1 The Committee shall comprise members drawn from the University community and, where appropriate, external or specialist members, as approved by the People, Health and Equality Committee to ensure appropriate health, safety and risk‑related expertise.

4.2 The Committee is chaired by the Director of People and Culture, or in their absence, the Director of Finance, Infrastructure and Corporate Services, unless otherwise determined by the People, Health and Equality Committee.

4.3 All members of the Committee, including non-Court and co-opted members, shall comply with the Code of Conduct for Members of the University Court and shall declare and manage conflicts of interest in accordance with the University Court Standing Orders.

4.4 The expectation is that every area of the university is represented at each meeting. Representation should normally be the relevant member of the Senior Leadership Team^†, but substitutes are accepted.

4.5 Membership:

Appointed:
a) Staff member of Court (excluding those where there is a clear conflict of interest)
Ex Officio:
a) Director of People and Culture (Chair)
b) Director of Finance, Infrastructure and Corporate Services (Vice-Chair)
c) Director of Student and Academic Services
d) Deputy Principal and University Secretary
e) Vice-Principals (excluding the Vice-Principal (International Education)) ^†
f) Chief Estates Officer
g) Health and Safety Manager
h) Occupational Health Adviser
i) Chief Executive of the Students’ Association
j) Technical Team Leader
k) Student Support Manager
l) Chair of Local Health and Safety Committees
Nominated:
a) UCU representative: 1
b) UNITE representatives: 1

4.6 In Attendance:

a) UNITE representatives: 1
b) Health and Safety representatives and other relevant staff roles including:

Radiation Protection Supervisor
Biological Safety Officer
Hazardous Substances Adviser

c) Principal and Vice-Chancellor and the Vice-Principal (International Education) (when invited to attend by the Committee).

4.7 Non-members may be invited to attend meetings at the discretion of the Chair to contribute expertise to specific agenda items.

4.8 The Secretary to the Health and Safety Committee shall be the Head of Governance and Deputy Secretary or their nominee.

4.9 The Governance and Policy Officer shall act as Clerk to the Health and Safety Committee and shall be responsible for minute‑taking.

5. Meetings and Proceedings

5.1 The Committee shall conduct its business in accordance with the University Court Standing Orders, which apply to Committees with any necessary modifications and subject to any Committee‑specific provisions approved by Court or the People, Health and Equality Committee.

5.2 Meetings shall be held at least four times per academic year or more frequently as required.

6. Quorum

6.1 A majority of members (50% plus 1) must be present.

6.2 An individual holding more than one role shall count once towards the quorum.

7. Reporting

7.1 The Committee reports directly to the People, Health and Equality Committee through the submission of its minutes (these can include unapproved minutes agreed with the Committee Chair) to the next available meeting of the People, Health and Equality Committee.

7.2 The Committee will also report to the People, Health and Equality Committee through a paper relating to any substantive matters for consideration.

Approved by People, Health and Equality Committee, 19 May 2026

Current Composition of the Health and Safety Committee

Appointed Members:

Thomas Sloan - Staff Member of Court

Ex-Officio

Eilidh Fraser – Director of People and Culture (Chair)

Andrew Menzies – Director of Finance, Infrastructure and Corporate Services (Vice-Chair)

James Nicholson – Director of Student and Academic Services

Caroline Summers – Deputy Principal and University Secretary

Professor James Bown - Vice-Principal (Faculty of Design, Informatics and Business)

Professor Andrea Cameron – Vice-Principal (Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences)

Claire MacEachen – Vice-Principal (Global Engagement)

Professor Luke Millard – Vice-Principal (Learning and Teaching) and Chair of Local Health and Safety Committee (AbLE Academy, Graduate School, and International Recruitment & Partnerships Office)

Professor Nia White – Vice-Principal (Research and Innovation)

Cullen Warnock – Chief Estates Officer

Brian Spink – Health and Safety Manager

Julie Goad – Occupational Health Adviser

Elley Petrie – Chief Executive of the Students’ Association

Hazel Petrie – Advisory Service Manager

Angus Jackson – Chair of Local Health and Safety Committee (Faculty of Social and Applied Science) and Technical Team Leader (FSAS)

Gordon Cringle – Chair of Local Health and Safety Committee (Strategy, Governance and External Relations)

Professor Ian Ferguson - Chair of Local Health and Safety Committee (Faculty of Design, Informatics and Business)

Jim Huntingford – Chair of Local Health and Safety Committee (Student and Academic Services)

Dr Donncha Marron – UCU representative

Tom O'Brien – UNITE representative