Property & Development Magazine Issue 427 | Page 12

Education: USHA

LEADING ON
SAFETY,
HEALTH &
WELLBEING
USHA supports universities in their commitment to the wellbeing
of those on campus while promoting the value of health and safety
to ever-diversifying academia and ground-breaking research.

H

ealth and safety plays an
increasingly integral part
in the successful delivery
of services across both

public and private sectors in the UK.
Whether it’s staff carrying out day-today activities in an office environment
or a laboratory, or construction contractors delivering services to a new
high-rise building, risk management
and the integration of safety into jobspecific tasks is vital to the end result.
In higher education, where the scale
of the task is significantly increased and

“We like to consider
what challenges
universities are
facing and find the
speakers who can
help inspire the
solutions needed”
the wellbeing of those on campus while
promoting the value of health and safety
to organisational success.

fessionals getting together to share
ideas, network and find solutions to common problems, looks beyond that.
“It’s important to consider the health
and wellbeing of people and to bring
that into the mind set of those when
they think of risk, be it at work or in a
teaching or research environment. We
therefore look beyond safety in order to
provide the resources members need to
ensure health and safety becomes a
facilitator, not an inhibitor.”
USHA’s reputation has seen it grow
its membership base to 150 universities

the footfall is spread between different

The risks universities face on a daily

in the UK. Anyone within a member

groups on any given day (from academic

basis are “diverse and complex” says

institution can utilise USHA’s services

and support staff, researchers and stu-

Chairperson Gary Wood. “In the past the

which include sharing solutions, net-

dents to visitors and building contrac-

temptation was to guard simply against

working, guidance documents, and liai-

tors), health and safety presents many

safety risks – for example, when using

son with external partners alongside

challenges.

the

machinery or laboratory equipment, or

access to nine regional groups.

Universities

To

tackle

Safety

these,

Health

formulating the best possible escape

Conferences featuring leading pro-

Association (USHA) was set up to sup-

and

routes in the event of fire. USHA, which

fessionals in various fields and regular

port institutions in their commitment to

was established in 1972 for safety pro-

seminars also promote the sharing of

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