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6. Lone & out of hours working

Health and Safety guidance on working alone and outwith regular office hours.

Within the School of Informatics there are core opening hours for each building and outwith this period is classified as out of normal working hours (this includes any day on which the School or building is closed, for example, on a University or Public Holiday). Lone working means working unaccompanied for an extended period of time.

It is essential that everyone working outwith hours of expected building occupancy is completely familiar with the School’s emergency procedures and fully complies with them.

 

Anyone working outwith normal working hours in low risk areas such as offices, computer labs or general areas should keep in mind the following:

  • Your name and working location should be added to the PowerApps Informatics-entry-exit app (for those occupants with a smart phone) or to the visitor book to assist the Fire Brigade, if they are called to the building.
  • Let someone (a friend or family) know where you are and when you expect to return.
  • In the absence of the above contact the Security Department on arrival (50 2257) and let them know you are in the building, your location and the time you expect to leave. On leaving, again contact Security so they know you have left and sign-out the visitor book.
  • In the event of a fire or any other emergency, activate the alarm, ensure Security is notified immediately by calling 2222 and leave the building.
  • Contact Security should you know or suspect an intruder is in the building.  Do not confront the intruder, lock your door and await the arrival of Security.
  • Ensure that any potentially hazardous tasks (e.g. lifting of heavy loads) are undertaken during normal building occupancy hours.
  • Do not work alone outwith normal hours if your mobility is impaired. If this is unavoidable contact Security and let them know where you are working.
  • Make yourself familiar with the Generic Lone Working Risk Assessment.

 

Accessing the PowerApps app:

  • Go to the app store on your device (Apple App Store, Google Play etc.) and download the Microsoft Power Apps mobile application by searching for 'Power Apps'
  •  Once the app has downloaded, login using your University Login details (uun@ed.ac.uk and password)
  • Within Power Apps, search the 'Informatics-entry-exit' app (available to all staff and students)
  •  Click on the ellipsis next to the app (...) and choose 'Add to Favourites'
  •  Click on the app to enter

 

In high risk areas (workshops and labs) lone working is prohibited and after hours working will only be permitted if the following is adhered to:

  • The supervisor must agree that it is necessary for the work to be done outside normal working hours after due consideration to the nature of the work and the risks involved.
  • Permission is given by the Health and Safety Manager subject to the outcome of a risk assessment. Such an assessment will stipulate the need for adequate staffing and suitable control measures to undertake the work safely.

 

General information on this subject is available from the University H+S website.

http://www.docs.csg.ed.ac.uk/Safety/Policy/Policy_2018.pdf

 

Reviewed 26/05/22 dch

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