Heads of School

Heads of School, and managers of other equivalent autonomous units, are responsible, through Heads of College, to the University Court for the management of health and safety matters within the area of the University under their control.

Besides the Heads of academic Schools, the term is taken to include Heads of administrative and service departments and Heads of College. Heads of Schools (or equivalent), together with senior members of staff and Health and Safety Co-ordinators/Advisers, where appointed, are expected to take the initiative in promoting and monitoring the health and safety of all persons liable to be affected by activities under their control.

Heads of School should ensure they have read and implemented the University Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy and accompanying Framework documents.

Current Policy

University Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy

The University manages health, safety and wellbeing through its arrangements in frameworks, which describe our objectives and management systems in place to ensure that we remove and reduce risk to all in our community. 


Framework for Managing Health and Safety

This Framework, with its associated management standards and guidance, constitutes the written arrangements which implement the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy.


Framework to Support Wellbeing Activity: commitment to staff mental health

The University is committed to supporting staff wellbeing and mental health. This document provides an overarching framework to support the translation of the University’s commitment into practical action. 


Framework: Arrangements

The Framework: Arrangements details out how to comply with the University Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy and accompanying Frameworks. It will be reviewed in 2025/26.

The index of the document can be found under the 'Bookmarks' section in Adobe reader which is on the left hand side of the document.


Model list of duties for a Head of School

A model list of duties, based on the list in the Framework:Organisation document, for a Head of School is available below, with expanded guidance on how to comply.

Head of School model list of duties

Auditing the health and safety management systems

The Health and Safety Department undertakes a variety of checks to ensure that suitable systems are in place at school or department level. These include the following;

Schools and departments are also expected to undertake suitable checks, such as audits, inspections and surveys which should be reported on locally.

Training

The newly developed "Health and safety leadership training" course is designed specifically for senior leaders (Heads of School, Directors of Professional Service Groups, including Heads of College / Vice Principals) at the University of Edinburgh. It provides essential training on health and safety responsibilities aligned to the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy.  

An in-person programme of a version of this session was provided by the Director of Health and Safety between December 2025 and March 2026. A further programme will be scheduled in due course.

This course is mandatory for senior leaders, as defined in the Framework on Managing Health and Safety.

Staff may enrol using the link before, or view more information at:

Health and safety leadership training

Face to Face

The Director of the Health, Safety & Wellbeing Department is available for informal one to one discussions with Heads of School about their health and safety responsibilities.

Please email health.safety@ed.ac.uk to arrange this if desired.

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