Safety of the learning environment
Information on how to take safety into consideration in various kinds of situations and how to report risks and dangerous situations that you observe on campus.
Students have the right to work in a safe learning environment, which means that the physical, mental and social conditions for studying must be in order. By being proactive about hazardous situations and factors that are detrimental to a person’s work ability, we can prevent damage and ensure a safe learning environment. Safety is a natural part of the university’s daily operations.
Risk management occurs in cooperation with employees in artistic activities
Occupational safety is achieved through cooperation between the employer and employees, but at Uniarts Helsinki, students, too, contribute to it. Two student representatives have the right to participate in the occupational safety committee’s meetings, and the aim is to always have a student representative participate in risk management on safety walks.
Risk management is at the core of occupational safety. Especially in artistic activities, it makes sense to manage the risk factors in the physical environment as well as the physical, chemical and biological risks in cooperation with employees and students, because people’s work environments are largely the same. Risk management involves identifying the potential danger, assessing the magnitude of the risk as the sum of its consequences and probability, and taking measures to reduce the risk.
Report dangerous incidents internally
Report all risk factors, close calls and accidents that you have witnessed using an online form. The internal report is submitted to the occupational health and safety manager and the occupational safety representative of your campus. They will discuss the matter with the people whose duties the development of a safe work and learning environment concerns in the case of the reported incident.
The purpose of the report is to promote safe work habits and help prevent accidents from happening at work in the future.
Machines and equipment
When you use hazardous machines and equipment, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the related decrees and regulations as well as any instructions that the university’s staff members have given you. Never use a machine or a tool for which you have not received adequate training.
Working at heights
Everyone working at heights must familiarise themselves with the university’s guidelines for working at heights, on catwalks and on person lifts.
Working alone
Working alone can happen due to the nature of artistic activities or research, for example. The risks associated with working alone are particularly emphasised in facilities where users can be present 24/7.
Fire and rescue safety and first aid
The rescue plans for the university premises describe what people should do in case of fire alarms or threatening and criminal situations. The rescue plans also include the basic instructions for first aid and the locations of first aid kits.
Indoor air quality problems
If you have symptoms that you suspect are due to bad indoor air quality, compile a symptom report in writing and send it to the occupational safety representative of your campus by email. Also contact the Finnish Student Health Service FSHS and inform of your symptoms.
Chemicals
The hazardous chemicals in use at the university are collected in a jointly maintained chemical database, where the risks associated with them are also assessed. You should always consult the safety data sheet or the quick reference guide saved in the database before using any chemicals.
The academies’ service teams for artistic activities have designated persons responsible for the procurement and proper storage of chemicals and for advising on their safe use. If there is a chemical missing from the database or if you notice it being used or stored inappropriately, please report this immediately to your teacher or the person in charge of chemical use at your academy.
Protection of hearing
The university has a Hearing Protection Policy, which describes why hearing protection is important and lists the measures that the university has taken for the sake of hearing protection. One of the measures is the joint purchase of earplugs, and the university provides financial support for first-year students’ earplug purchases.
Emergency in the university’s facilities
In the event of an imminent hazardous situation or threat, call the general emergency number 112.
If you do not know what to do, contact an attendant. They will advise you and relay the information to the right persons. See the contact information of the attendants.
For more comprehensive guidance on emergencies and the University’s emergency plans, please visit the staff intranet Artsi.