Emergency planning exercise programme wins award

Our Health and Safety Services team has netted an award for its programme of emergency scenario exercises that help colleagues prepare for crises.

The programme, led by Brett Dyson, Risk Management & Business Continuity Officer, won the Best Health and Safety Initiative 2023 prize from the Universities Safety and Health Association.

The scenario exercises were introduced in 2021 and are run regularly with members of UEB and many other School and Functions to consider how the University would respond to a specific crisis example.

The exercises immerse the colleagues in the scenario, which develops throughout the session, allowing them to act out the roles played by individual teams, consider how we would work with external authorities and emergency services, explore what processes and plans are available to call on, and identify where new ones need to be created.

Recent scenario examples include an international travel emergency, power outage, hazardous chemical spill, and flooding connected to Whiteknights Lake.

Guest speakers with first-hand experience of major crises at other universities have also spoken at the sessions.

Jenny McGrother, Health and Safety Services Director, said: “Health and Safety Services is delighted to receive this award from the organisation which represents the UK's university health & safety professionals.

“It recognises how much Brett has raised the University's performance in exercising our emergency response arrangements - now we learn lessons and drive improvement better than ever before. Brett plans and designs these corporate exercises carefully. Many colleagues participate, and they tell us it's fun and thought-provoking, as well as useful.

“Our exercise programme is growing people's confidence that the University can respond rapidly and sensibly to serious challenges. The next phase will encourage Schools and Directorates to exercise their internal emergency arrangements.”