I support Health and Safety Management across three Faculties at University of Leeds (Business, Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences). I also lead the development of University Health and Safety protocols (safety topics) and lead on development and quality assurance of University-wide Health and Safety training. I am also a qualified Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor.

Following a restructure of the University Health and Safety Service I became a Senior Health and Safety Manager for a hub of two Faculties (Biological Sciences and Medicine and Health). I retain my Health and Safety Manager responsibilities for Biological Sciences but additionally manage the two Health and Safety Managers working within Faculty of Medicine and Health.

I am a Health and Safety Manager at University of Leeds, based within the Faculty of Biological Sciences (FBS). I manage a team of two Health and Safety Officers to support the 500 staff and 2000 students based within the Faculty. FBS has a very broad risk profile and so I have significant involvement in controlling a wide range of hazards including chemical usage, waste processing and disposal, ergonomics (including manual handling and workstations), fieldwork and off-campus work and work with GM and infectious biological agents.I also develop and deliver safety training for taught students, Postgraduate Research Students (PGR students) and staff. Particular areas include maintenance of staff/visitor induction training, basic laboratory safety skills for taught students, research-based risk assessment for PGR students and a variety of topics for research and support staff. I also maintain a number of e-learning based modules using the University of Leeds Virtual Learning Environment for students and staff to allow alternatives to face to face training.

Acted as Health and Safety Officer for Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine (LIMM) which was a busy research institute linked to University of Leeds. This role gave me increasing involvement in Health and Safety while also acting as Lab Manager (see below) and my remit was eventually changed to take this role on full time. As Health and Safety Officer I managed the induction and occupational health registration system, gave advice on the risk assessment process, managed the institute COSHH assessment database and worked with the local fire safety and biological/GM safety specialists. I also organised the first aid and fire warden coverage as well as carrying out workstation assessments. Ensured smooth day-to-day running of 2 research buildings housing around 300 research staff and up to 500 medical students, including liaison with security, facilities support and student administration. My role also included coordinating contractors to minimise impact on staff as well as to ensure safety in live or vacated lab areas. During this post I completed NEBOSH General Certificate, Construction Certificate and started NVQ4. Recognising a lack of quality safety information I created a Safety Intranet system and backed up years of (reasonably) good practice with up to date risk assessments. Towards the end of this role I also took on the role of Senior Lab Manager in a third building housing another 100 staff and took on line management of several staff. This was all in addition to my role in safety and estates management.

Laboratory Manager for large research laboratory.

Bench-based scientific research into possible inhibitor of Osteo-arthritis. Unoffically lab manager of small group. Significant involvement in group to promote career development by short-term contract researchers.