Supervision of students

Research students

Universities have a legal duty to provide `such supervision as is necessary´ to ensure the health and safety of students. This duty is delegated to the supervisor of a research student.

No research student should carry out experimental work without the supervision of a member of staff. This does not mean constant attendance; it does mean that the supervisor is satisfied that the absence of direct supervision does not constitute a hazard.

The supervisor and research student should conduct a risk assessment (see page 8) at the start of the project to ensure that any hazards are identified; the steps to be followed in doing this are described elsewhere. The necessary safety procedures should be written down on the Safe Working Practice form.

Regular checks should be made to ensure that the procedures are being followed. Changes in experimental methods should be assessed for risks.

See also: Working outside normal hours

Undergraduate students

Undergraduate students are not allowed to undertake laboratory experiments outside advertised laboratory class periods. They are however allowed in the computing areas of the laboratories between 0900 and 1700 (or when the technician leaves). Students must have verbal permission from their supervisor to be in the laboratory outside laboratory periods.

Exceptionally, if any work other than computing is undertaken outside laboratory class periods, the students must be supervised.

Undergraduates may work out-of-hours in the open access computer areas supervised by CICS in the Hicks Building.

A separate Safety Assessment and Safe Working Practice form exists for year three and year four projects. These forms are in the Health and Safety ring binders and must by signed by the supervisor and the project students.