University Health and Safety Executive Committee
Membership
Terms of Reference
Reporting Structure
Secretariat
Meetings
Membership 2026/27
| The Registrar or nominee (Chair) |
Rachel Sandby-Thomas |
| Chair of the University Health and Safety Committee |
Professor James Hayton |
| Senior Health and Safety Advisor, or nominee |
Graham Hakes |
| Director of Strategic People Partnering |
TBC |
| Director of Wellbeing and Safeguarding |
Andy Smith |
| Director of Estates (Interim) |
Wendy Roberts |
| Chief Commercial Officer, Commercial Directorate |
Peter Hall |
| Deputy Finance Director |
Steve Wilkes |
| Chair of the Faculty of Arts, or nominee |
Oliver Cooper (nominee) |
| Chair of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine, or nominee |
Professor Tom Hase (nominee) |
| Chair of the Faculty of Social Sciences, or nominee |
Professor James Hayton |
| Director of the Research Technology Platforms, or nominee |
Dr Ian Hancox |
| A Trade Union representative nominated by the University Health and Safety Committee and appointed by the University Executive Board | Lee Cartwright |
| One independent member with expertise in the area, appointed by the University Executive Board, who may be a serving independent member of the Council | Neal Stone |
| A Student representative, nominated by the Students' Union and appointed by the University Executive Board | TBC |
Terms of Reference
(a) To advise the University Executive Board on all matters relating to the health and safety of staff, students, contractors and members of the public entering the precincts of the University or involved in University activities.
(b) To advise the University Executive Board on the legal obligations of the University in respect of Health and Safety and Environmental Regulation Compliance, including obligations towards members of the public who might be affected by the activities of the University.
(c) To consider reports relating to staff wellbeing and to escalate any relevant matters to the People Group for consideration and possible further escalation to the University Executive Board.
(d) To consider reports from relevant committees, programme boards and working groups, including the University Health and Safety Committee and its sub-committees, and CCSG, PSG, Estates and Faculty H&S Committee.
(e) To periodically review the University Health & Safety and Environmental Compliance Policies in accordance with timescales set, and to recommend any changes to the Policy Oversight Group.
(f) To monitor the effectiveness of the University’s arrangements for the management of Health & Safety and Environmental Compliance (including incident management and training), and to make recommendations to the University Executive Board.
(g) To approve on an annual basis institutional Health & Safety and Environmental Compliance objectives and work plan, and to consider quarterly Health & Safety and Environmental Compliance performance reports.
(h) To consider the outcomes of internal and external audit and inspection reports in relation to Health & Safety and Environmental Compliance.
(i) To consider the content of the Health & Safety and Environmental Compliance Risk Register and other Institutional Risk Registers, escalating any relevant items to the University Executive Board and Strategic Risk Advisory Board.
(j) To report annually to the Audit and Risk Committee, or more often if required, on matters of Health & Safety and Environmental governance, compliance and assurance.
(k) To determine and disseminate action on Health & Safety and Environmental Compliance matters to University management as and when required.
Reporting Structure
The University Health and Safety Executive Committee (UHSEC) reports to the University Executive Board and to the Audit and Risk Committee.
UHSEC has the following sub-committees-groups:
- University Health and Safety CommitteeLink opens in a new window
- Genetic Modification and Biosafety CommitteeLink opens in a new window
- Ionising Radiation and Non-Ionising Radiation CommitteeLink opens in a new window
Click here to see a diagrammatic representation of the Committee Structure.
Secretariat
Secretary: Graham Hakes, Senior Health & Safety Advisor
Assistant Secretary: Chloe Barber, Health and Safety Administration Officer
Papers for consideration by the University Health and Safety Executive Committee should be submitted to the Secretary two weeks in advance of the meeting at which they are to be considered.
Meetings
Dates of meetings of the University Health and Safety Executive Committee can be found in the University Committee TimetableLink opens in a new window.
Click here to access minutes of previous meetings.