Keeping staff and students safe
Health and Safety Consultants for Colleges and Universities
We understand the scale and complexity of challenges faced in higher education. Large, diverse property portfolios often include hidden hazards such as asbestos or lead, while listed buildings can present unique fire safety and risk management challenges.
We work directly with Chief Operating Officers and Estates Directors to review and audit the management of statutory health, safety, and fire regulations across your estates.
Who We Work With
We help those responsible for keeping College and University students and staff safe, providing expert guidance on compliance, risk management, and staff training.
This includes:
- COOs
- Property and Estates Directors
- Health and Safety Directors
Key Health and Safety Risks in Colleges and Universities
Risks in colleges and universities can be particularly complex due to the size and diversity of their campuses, the range of academic and residential facilities, and the varied activities of students, staff and visitors.
We have extensive experience working with higher education institutions, helping them manage operational and safety risks effectively while supporting a secure, well-functioning environment across academic, residential and communal spaces.
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Hazardous Substances & COSHH
Science labs, workshops and other technology rooms often use potentially dangerous chemicals. The use of these chemicals carry risks, including improper storage, missing COSHH assessments, outdated Safety Data Sheets, and untrained staff.
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Electrical Safety
Higher education centres often have complex electrical systems: server rooms, fixed wiring, PAT requirements, and high usage of workshops and ICT areas. Damaged sockets, overloaded systems, and poor maintenance can further increase these risks.
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Asbestos & Legionella Compliance
Older university buildings frequently contain asbestos and have complicated water systems. Risks arise from uncontrolled disturbance, poor record management, or overdue legionella controls.
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Fire Safety & Evacuation Failures
Aging and listed buildings require a sensible approach, whilst ensuring we still satisfy the fire risk assessments and your duties as responsible person to keep students, staff and visitors safe.
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Contractor Safety
It is likely you will have a broad range of contractors on site at all times, and sometimes out of hours. We audit and monitor all phases of contractor health and safety management from selection, through to site works, management and review
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Occupational Stress & Wellbeing
University campuses face increased behavioural incidents, supervision pressures, and complex timetables. Stress, burnout, and aggression towards staff are prevalent and can directly impact pupil and staff safety.
Compliance in Further and Higher Education
As your competent person for health and safety, we ensure that we identify all relevant health, safety and fire regulations you must comply with. Not only this, we help to put in place robust policies and procedures to demonstrate you have the processes in place.
Our team of qualified consultants ensures your institution meets the specific legal requirements that apply to higher education
We work with you to apply Health and Safety at Work standards to all facilities, including buildings, sports facilities, grounds, leisure facilities, student accommodation, laboratories, student unions and theatres.
Aligning risk assessments and safety policies with government standards.
We advise clients on all conduction, building and maintenance matters when CDM may apply.
We ensure your institute’s policies meet all local authority requirements.
How We Support You
In higher education it is likely you will have your own health and safety and estates management teams.
At Vita Safety we bolster these teams and your internal resources to provide added expert health and safety audits, management reviews and gap analysis for statutory compliance.
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Learning & Development
We deliver training courses specifically designed for colleges and universities, including; health and safety leadership for governors and senior leadership teams, risk assessment for sports and extracurricular activities, fire safety, property risk management and first aid.
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Audits
We understand colleges and universities may many hazards and factors to consider. Our comprehensive audits are tailored to your specific needs, your unique buildings and all the associated risks.
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Consultancy
We work with COOs and leaders to develop policies, procedures, handbooks and education specific health and safety management systems. We use the latest technology to help you manage policies, procedures and facilities management online.
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Competent Person Service
We act as your institution’s competent person for health and safety, as required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Our bespoke service means we are always at the end of the phone or on email for any advice you need.
Why Universities and Colleges Choose Vita Safety
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FlexibilityHealth and safety support that is as flexible as your institution, adapting and changing as you grow. Providing you with the assurance that you’re always protected and in control, even in times of change.
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Peace of MindExpert support services, benchmarked against national and international standards. Be sure that you’re fully compliant with health and safety guidance and legislation.
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AssuranceFeel confident that you’re always doing your utmost to look after your staff and students’ physical and mental health.
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DevelopmentAccredited health and safety training for your staff that does more than just tick boxes. It’s engaging and enjoyable while delivering essential skills and knowledge.
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ControlEnabling your teams to competently and effectively take control of health and safety on your campus with expertise and autonomy.
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Unique to YouEvery institution is unique. We listen to what you need and build bespoke service packages to match your specifications and requirements exactly.
Case Study
Imperial College London
Whilst the university has its own internal resources for risk management, the recently appointed Chief Operating Officer, Robert Kerse, approached us to gain an independent view on the current status of property risk management.
Read our Case StudyFrequently Asked Questions
How often should a fire risk assessment be completed at a university?
There is no specific legal frequency for a fire risk assessment. However, we advise that all fire risk assessments are reviewed annually or immediately if there is a change to the building use, structure of construction work.
Regardless of review periods we recommend as a minimum that a new fire risk assessment is completed every three years. For sleeping accommodation this will often be required each year.
What health and safety checks apply to older or listed university buildings?
There are a range of visual and condition surveys usually required, by competent building surveyors. Due to the scale of university estates, health and safety checks will usually be staggered over time, and therefore, completed on a constant rolling basis.
How often should health and safety audits be carried out in Universities?
Assurance frameworks are often developed to include a range of different health and safety management system and compliance audits. We recommend audits are completed on a rolling basis and are reviewed annually. Full detailed audits are often completed every two or three years.
What duty of care do universities have to students?
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers (i.e. the university) have a duties to those ‘not in their employment’. Therefore universities have a high degree of accountability for the safety and health of students, along with staff, visitors and contractors.
What health and safety training is required for university staff?
Training depends on the role and ranges from specific training, i.e. work at height for maintenance staff, to health and safety management training for managers and leaders. Many roles will also have to demonstrate competence for work with fire systems, electrical systems, gas, water, pressure systems and other utilities and services.
Get in touch with our expert education support team
If you’re looking for expert support with health and safety in your institution, we can help.
By outsourcing your health and safety management with Vita Safety, you get the immediate support you need now, and a partner to help you take control of health and safety on your campus for the future.
We get to know you and your institution, and provide comprehensive health and safety support that is just what you need to keep your staff and students safe.
Fill in our contact form, let us know what health and safety challenges you’re facing, and we’ll get back to you by the end of the next working day.
