Deputy Laboratory and Health & Safety Manager

Based in London

6 Month contract

£22.00 - £27.00 p/h

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You will have proven ability to promote safe working practices within a scientific environment and strong awareness of chemical and biological safety protocols. This role includes responsibility for health and safety issues and estates management. Also, for ensuring that laboratory safety procedures adhere to best practice and that laboratory areas are maintained in accordance with local policies and national legislation. Promoting a positive Health and Safety atmosphere within the laboratory is key.

The Role

1. Compliance with Legal Obligations

• Ensure Institute Compliance with H&S Legal Obligations

• Act as a source of advice and information to all staff on H&S
• Act as Deputy Institute Safety Co-coordinator and Departmental Safety Officer, ensuring that the Institute complies with all aspects of current legislation
• Ensure that safety records are accurate and well maintained, inclusive of COSHH for biological and chemical agents
• Write and review SOPs, COPs and risk assessments and the development and implementation of departmental plans.
• Authorise SOPs, COPs and risk assessment, as required to support the ILSTM

Work Support

• Be proactive in ensuring staff compliance to good H&S and Laboratory Practice

• Report and administer FM maintenance issues to Landlord ensuring that remedial actions are completed
• To interact with Landlord and FM providers to ensure planned maintenance and repairs are carried out in good time
• Where appropriate, lead the coordination and communication with stakeholders on delegated maintenance and repairs affecting the Courtauld Building facilities.

Accident investigation and prevention

• Maintain a system for recording, reporting and investigating injuries, accidents and dangerous occurrences. Provide statistical summaries to Management and draw attention to significant trends and occurrences

• Coordinate accident/incident investigations, and lead investigations where necessary to support the ILSTM.
• To act as secretary to Safety Committee
• Act as a point of contact for lab safety emergencies and incident response in addition to ILSTM. Deputise for ILSTM in business continuity plans in their absence.

Training

• Provide training and registration of all high-risk areas within the Courtauld Building (Cryostore and Containment Level 3 (CL3) workers and monitor working practices at CL3 level
• Provide induction training for staff and contractors to Courtauld site

Safety proactive monitoring:

• To conduct safety inspections of laboratories, presenting recommendations and ensuring completion of actions. For CL3 and CL2 and BSF facilities
• To conduct paper audits and analyse training and safety data to monitor compliance and present recommendations for all staff.
• To be a member of the Health & Safety committee
• To assist controlling the waste management system to ensure safe disposal of waste, including biological, GM and chemical waste at Courtauld Building

1. Laboratory Management
   • To deal with issues arising as and when they occur, ensuring that they are reported and remedial action completed
   • To distribute communications to all Institute staff regarding safety policies and alerts, and to coordinate laboratory operations

• Provide support to arrange shipments of infectious and hazardous items in line with IATA guidelines and UK law
• Assist with business continuity planning

1. Professional and Quality Standards

• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team of scientists, clinicians and support staff, developing good working relationships within the team and make use of discussions with team members as appropriate, to establish and maintain excellent communication links.
• Develop links with external suppliers ensuring best value for money for procurements.

Working relationships:

Reports to the Institute Laboratory, Safety & Tissue Manager.

Line management of up to 1 staff, namely the Laboratory Management Assistant.

Members of various committees

Expertise Required

Laboratory experience working at containment level 2

Laboratory experience working at containment level 3

Demonstrable knowledge of current safety legislation relating to human pathogens, genetic manipulation and COSHH risk assessments and awareness of external advisory bodies

Understanding of general laboratory equipment and facilities maintenance requirements

Staff management including annual appraisals and development

Training of laboratory staff and students in safety procedures and inductions

Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

Willingness to assist in out-of-hours monitoring of essential equipment and occasional emergency call-out to attend incidents

Experience with developing standard operating procedures (SOPs)