Lincoln Promotes Culture of Safety
Since it was founded in 1878 as a school of agriculture, Lincoln University has been a landmark educational institution, with its graduates responsible for the growth of one of the most efficient agricultural economies in the world.
The science-based, industry- relevant university prides itself on being a caring employer and a diligent host to its students. Central to this are the university’s health and safety processes and practices.
Health and safety manager Adrian Brown describes the philosophy underpinning the processes and practices as holistic, concerned with total well-being, and synergistic with other elements of campus life, for example the recreation centre’s fitness and wellness programmes.
“Lincoln University recognises that its staff and students are its prime assets. From this recognition there emerges a commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy working and learning environment.
“Health and safety awareness must be promoted proactively. It’s all about on-going, total awareness, not something to simply pull off the shelf and plug in when things go wrong or there’s an emergency. Provision of a safe, healthy working environment is an absolute precondition for satisfactory employment and performance in the modern workplace.”
Lincoln University is particularly proud of its tertiary level ranking in the ACC Workplace Safety Management Practice Programme. The university is proud, too, of its formal employee participation system, within which, training has been taken to stage 3 via the CTU (Combined Trade Unions) safety representative scheme.
Brown, an economics graduate with qualifications and experience in occupational safety and health, says that most large organisations have similar health and safety practices and processes, based on statutory requirements and industry-specific and product-specific codes.
“At Lincoln University, however, I believe that we have gone the extra mile and there are a number of features within our practices and processes that really differentiate us.”
These features include a wellness programme for staff that involves campus-based fitness and health “warrant of fitness” checks, and subsidised membership of the university’s gymnasium.
Other key features include a high level of employee participation in the health and safety system, including attendance at regular emergency, critical incident and business continuity training sessions. Advanced first aid training is also held on campus.
In addition, the recently opened, state-of-the-art Hazardous Substances Store provides safe storage and handling facilities for all hazardous substances used in scientific teaching and research at the university.
Another distinctive feature of health and safety processes at the university is the level of community connectedness. The university is closely involved with the Selwyn District and actively supports staff who volunteer in the local fire brigade or who are involved in other community safety and health activities.
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