As the University launches its updated Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy, we spoke to Suzanne Thompson, Director of Health & Safety, about why these changes matter, how they support Strategy 2030, and what good safety culture really looks like.
Why have we updated this policy and how does it support Strategy 2030?
It was important to us that this updated policy brought equal attention to our commitment to both traditional health and safety and mental health in the workplace. University staff are crucial to the delivery of our University’s ambitions.
Ensuring they understand their roles, at all levels, and have a practical way to deliver their responsibilities on health, safety and wellbeing will make a difference not just the staff experience, but that of the whole community. It’s important that staff recognise how we can build on our existing arrangements, strengthening and improving what we do to create a safe and healthy work environment. We wanted provide the practical approach for that.
We developed the policy by listening to the feedback of others, including the safety colleagues based in all Schools and Departments and the members of the University Health Safety and Wellbeing Sub-Committee. This includes trade unions, the Students’ Association and management representatives from all areas. My hope is that this policy will create an easy path way with its two frameworks for a consistent approach in all areas that will evolve the good practice in the University to best practice for all.
What are the biggest changes we should be aware of?
The University environment that we work in is ever-changing and no two areas are the same. The risk profile is broad across all sorts of activity, for example teaching, research in workshops, fieldwork and laboratories, design and construction of space, desk-based work, landscaping, cleaning, working with people and animals, and provision of homes for students.
My role takes me across the University and I meet people from all areas and I see how they support the University to deliver its ambitions. The biggest updates in the revised policy are with those people in mind to improve their working experience. We’ve set out the responsibilities and accountabilities and how those people will be trained and supported to deliver the simple and clear commitment in the policy, as part of everyone’s day to day responsibilities
These responsibilities are laid out, in first, the new Framework for Managing Health and Safety, which focuses on managing more traditional health and safety. It aligns with current sector standard and provides a clearer structure for both leadership and day-to-day management.
The second is the Framework to Support Wellbeing Activity: Commitment to Staff Mental Health is an important change. The introduction of this approach brings equal attention to staff mental health in the workplace. It recognises that mental health is a shared responsibility and prioritises prevention encourages early engagement. It outlines what support is available and helps us to create a culture of care across all areas.
What role do teams and managers play in creating a safer, healthier University?
While the University holds overall responsibility, everyone has an individual role to play. For managers and teams, this means understanding what the policy and frameworks mean in practice and applying them to the work you manage or take part in.
We promote a risk-based proportionate approach, which means thinking carefully about how activities are carried out and planning them in a way that keeps people safe and well. This is supported by local arrangements, training and ongoing guidance to help teams meet the demands of a busy, research-focused environment.
How will we know the new policy is making a difference?
The goals of the University are closely connected to this Policy and it directly supports Strategy 2030. Over 2025 and 2026, the Corporate Health, Safety and Wellbeing team in conjunction with work in Schools and Departments, a range of projects that aim to show measurable improvements in how we manage health, safety and wellbeing across all areas.
We also set annual health, safety and wellbeing objectives at both University and a local level. These are a key part of how the policy is put into practice. They help translate strategic intent in the policy into action and ensure that every area contributes meaningfully to our shared goals. Setting clear and measurable objectives supports continuous improvement, encourages accountability and strengthens our commitment to creating a safe and healthy University environment.
We’re pleased to introduce this updated policy and hope colleagues will support its implementation. If you have any comments or feedback, your local health and safety adviser is a good first point of contact or you can get in touch with the team via health.safety@ed.ac.uk.
Related links
Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy
Framework for Managing Health and Safety