Placements provide an opportunity for you to apply skills that you have acquired whilst at the University to ‘real-life’ situations. Many qualities can also be learnt and developed during a placement that could improve your employment prospects. Health and safety considerations should be an integral part, rather than a stand-alone part, of the whole experience. Whilst on placement you may be:

• Under the supervision of a third party;
• Involved with, or undertaking, activities where you have little or no experience; and
• Working in and visiting environments and locations that you are unfamiliar with.

Health and Safety Responsibilities

Placement Provider (organisation that you are employed directly by):

• Have a duty of care to ensure your health and safety while on placement (as if you were an employee under health and safety legislation);
• Should take account of your potential inexperience of activities you will be expected to undertake and should put appropriate controls into place; and
• Should provide you with information, instruction, training and supervision.

Placement Preparation Before you commence your placement you should familiarise yourself with the health and safety aspects of your placement, particularly your responsibilities, those of your Placement Provider, and what training you should receive in the initial period of your placement.

Information, Instruction, Training and Supervision Upon starting work with your Placement Provider, they should provide you with an induction which should include information and instruction on what to do in an emergency. This should include what to do in the event of a fire and the first aid arrangements that are in place. You should also be informed on how to manage your own personal safety and how to deal with any operational emergencies such as spills.

If you are not provided with an induction or informed of what actions to take in an emergency raise this with your Placement Provider. Such information must be repeated whenever a change of work activity or location occurs.

You should not undertake an activity or go into an area unless you have received appropriate information, instruction and training and feel competent and confident to carry on.

The level of supervision will vary from placement-to-placement and at points within a particular placement. Do not be afraid to ask your supervisor questions and, if you are concerned that there is a lack of supervision, raise it with your Placement Provider.

Risk Management Your Placement Provider is expected to:

• Determine and assess the risks associated with the activities you will be involved in; and
• Put into place measures to control these risks

The Placement Provider is responsible for informing you about the risks that you may be exposed to, what control measures are in place and what will be required of you. The controls in place may be increased to cater for any inexperience or other factors to ensure yours and other’s health and safety. Such measures may include:

• Information such as safe operating procedures, signs, notices, formal instruction, training and supervision
• Engineering control such as machinery guarding, local exhaust ventilation systems, etc;
• Equipment that is fit for purpose and maintained in a safe condition; and
• Providing and ensuring that the correct use of personal protective equipment and clothing is worn.

Reporting Incidents and Health and Safety Concerns Accidents, incidents and near misses should be reported to your supervisor at the location where you are placed. Having reported an incident, this should be investigated thoroughly and action taken where there are measures that can be put into place to prevent a recurrence. Reporting a ‘near miss’ incident could ensure that nobody is injured next time. At induction you must be made aware of the reporting procedures. You should also notify your Placement/Visiting Tutor where applicable. If you have any health and safety concerns during your placement (e.g. injury, lack of training, pregnancy etc) the first action is to raise them with your Supervisor or Placement/Visiting Tutor (where applicable).

Never undertake an activity, use equipment or go into a potentially hazardous area unless you are competent and feel confident to do so.

Monitoring and Feedback You are an essential element in the monitoring of the health and safety performance of your Placement Provider. Ensure that you discuss health and safety with your Placement/Visiting Tutor where applicable. At the end of your placement give some thought as to how you feel the Placement Provider approached health and safety. This information is very useful to the University for reviewing the health and safety performance of the Placement Provider.

Overseas Placements guidance can be found within EU and International Placements

The full document can be downloaded and printed out using the following link: Health and Safety Guidance Notes for Students Going on a Placement. This equally applies to students on work experience.

Further guidance can be found via: European Agency for Safety & Health - Looking out for Work Hazards

European Agency for Safety & Health - Your Rights to Health and Safety