Health & Safety Technician Physics and Astronomy 107327 Grade 6

Position Details

School of Physics and Astronomy

Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range 33002 to 35608 with potential progression once in post to 39906

Grade: 6

Full Time Permanent

Closing date: 20^th May 2026

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years andweare equally proud to be recognised as a leading global want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond support them to succeed and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here todevelopthrough our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programmewhichprovides allprofessionalservices staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full almost 5000professionalservices jobs in a wide-range of functionsin Edgbaston andin our campus inDubai there are plenty of opportunities foryou to be able to develop yourcareer at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we areand how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees andtothe success of the University and depending on the role we offer avarietyof flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible addition you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 dayspaid holidaya year one paid day a year for volunteering occupational sick pay and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus including main bus routes and a train station on campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool shopsplaces to eat and drinkour own art gallery museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about thebenefits of working for the Universityof Birmingham

Background

The School of Physics and Astronomy is a world-leading physics department excelling in both teaching and research. We run a variety of undergraduate Physics programmes with an annual intake of around 170 students. We are ranked fourth sixth and seventh out of all UK Physics departments in the three main national league tables (the Complete university Guide Times Good University Guide and the Guardian University Guide respectively). Our physics research was recently ranked top in the UK for 4-star-category research. The 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Professor Mike Kosterlitz and Professor David Thouless jointly for their work into the discoveries of the properties of matter work which started when they were at Birmingham together. The 2017 Prize was awarded for the detection of gravitational waves in which Birmingham staff played a key role. The School has over 120 academic and research staff together with 120 graduate students with around fifty technical and clerical support staff.

The School of Physics and Astronomy is an Institute of Physics Juno Champion since 2014 and holder of the Athena SWAN Silver Award. Both initiatives recognise the Schools commitment to promote diversity and equality and to encourage better practice for all members of the community whilst also working towards developing an equitable working culture in which all students and staff can achieve their full potential. We welcome applications from all qualified applicants and encourage applications from traditionally under-represented groups in physics and astronomy including but not limited to women and Black Asian and Minority Ethnic.

Role Summary

The role is part of the College Health and Safety team but the postholder will undertake any other tasks across the School to which they are deployed and College of Engineering & Physical Sciences that might reasonably be asked by the Head of School College or deputy and are suitable by way of knowledge and experience or can be achieved by a programme of re-training. During the deployment the post holder will provide health and safety support to staff and students across the School for both teaching and research activities.

The initial deployment for this role will be within Physics and Astronomy. The post holders primary responsibility will be to provide oversight advice and guidance on managing and monitoring all issues relating to health and safety (e.g. COSHH) within a School that contains a wide range of risks and hazards ensuring compliance with legislation and College/University addition the post holder will be required to assist with radiation protection support.

Main Duties

Advice and Guidance

• Provide expert advice and guidance on all Health & Safety issues to the Technical Manager Head of School Heads of Research Groups academic and technical staff.
• Support the Technical Manager in creating and monitoring the annual School H&S action plan ensuring timely completion of all action points.

Monitoring Auditing and Compliance

• Implement and maintain H&S monitoring systems including audits and analysis of Key Performance Indicators.
• Monitor compliance and ensure remedial action is taken where necessary including stopping unsafe or illegal activities.
• Help the Technical Manager to ensure statutory testing of equipment and facilities is completed.
• Capture compliance information for new equipment and installations (e.g. Pressure Safety Systems Regulation Local Exhaust Ventilation) and update relevant registers.

Safety and Statutory Inspections

• Ensure safety inspections are carried out in accordance with Safety Services guidance and remedial actions implemented.
• Undertake H&S inspections in research areas/laboratories and produce reports for the Technical Manager.
• Assist with statutory inspections and facilitate compliance and insurance inspections with Estates and Maintenance teams.
• Assist with conducting regular safety checks (e.g. fire safety water flushing) and maintain appropriate records.

Incident Investigation

• Establish robust systems for investigating accidents and incidents implementing measures to prevent recurrence.
• Investigate accidents incidents and near misses as directed and support the implementation of remedial measures.
• Take appropriate supportive action if staff are injured.

Training and Induction

• Lead the development of induction materials for new starters including Health & Safety booklets and departmental guides.
• Development of School specific policies and procedures that manage the risk and hazards present within that area (e.g. COSHH)
• Assist with the management the Health and Safety induction process for new students and staff when required.

Radiation Safety

• For schools that have radioactive sources provide support the Schools Radiation Protection Coordinator in managing dosimetry services and compliance.
• Deputise when required for the Radiation Protection Coordinator to undertake weekly checks audits of radioactive materials and waste and document findings in formal reports.

Waste and Environmental Management

• Manage/develop systems for handling hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated by the Schools activities ensuring compliance with legislation and University policies.
• Promote environmental and sustainability considerations in areas such as equipment procurement energy use and waste management.

Communication and Representation

• Disseminate H&S information to all relevant staff and students.
• Present at the School H&S Committee and when required deputise for the Technical Manager at the College H&S Committee.
• Liaise with the Technical Manager to nominate staff for safety-related roles and ensure adequate First Aid and Fire Warden coverage for all areas and events.
• Ensure statutory and guidance signage is appropriately displayed.

Business Continuity and Emergency Planning

• Play a key role in the Schools business continuity and major incident planning and implementation with respect to technical services.

In line with the evolving nature of safety requirements the above key responsibilities are not exhaustive and changes to the content of the role may occur over time in line with service needs and priorities. Any changes will be in consultation with the post holder.

General

• There will be a requirement for role holder to be flexible in undertaking additional or alternative duties commensurate with the grade.
• Undertaking training and development opportunities to maintain Continual Professional Development.
• Contribute to the continuous development and implementation of safe working practices in accordance with the Universitys Health & Safety Policies.
• Positively support and promote the Universitys Values in all aspects of work.
• Abide by all University Regulations and Policies relevant to the role.
• The postholder is bound at all times to observe the strict rules of confidentiality applicable to working in a Safety practitioner role.
• Postholder may be asked to undergo training as a First Aider and/or Fire Warden.

The postholder will support the Universitys sustainability agenda through resource efficient working. The postholder will undertake any other tasks across the School to which they are deployed and College of Engineering & Physical Sciences that might reasonably be asked by the Head of School and are suitable by way of knowledge and experience or can be achieved by a programme of re-training.

Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience

• Degree in a relevant scientific discipline or other recognised qualification in a scientific discipline with demonstrable experience. Experience with ionising radiation is preferred.
• In depth understanding and experience of working in laboratory environments and proven ability to apply this to the development testing and implementation of laboratory procedures. For example experience of working in a research laboratory.
• A recognised Level 3 (or higher) vocationally related qualification (VRQ) (England Wales and Northern Ireland) Health and Safety qualification e.g. NEBOSH Certificate or willingness to undertake similar relevant training.
• Previous experience working in a University or similar laboratory safety role will be desirable.
• Proficient IT skills with a good understanding and experience of Microsoft applications including Word Excel Teams and Outlook .
• Strong attention to detail and able to keep meticulous organised records.
• Able to plan and prioritise workloads.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively and confidently with people from all levels.
• Able to produce succinct and professional reports.
• Able to make decisions within their area of responsibility and competence.
• Knowledge of relevant health & safety legislation and requirements relating to laboratory requirements (e.g. HASAW Act COSHH IRR17 DSEAR)
• Able to work as part of a team as well as independently.
• Able to learn new skills quickly.
• Display confidence when providing competent advice.
• Able to evaluate information and reach a reasoned outcome.
• Excellent analytical skills used to produce reports identify issues and resolve them decisively.
• Willingness to undertake training and development opportunities to maintain continual professional development.
• Willingness to change and develop work practices.
• Proactive and self-motivated and willing to take ownership of tasks without close supervision.
• Able to maintain confidentiality. A high degree of professionalism tact and diplomacy and the ability to exercise discretion regarding the handling and management of sensitive information/issues.
• Ability to work effectively in a large complex organisation and to develop a good understanding of how the University and higher education institutions work.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and how to actively ensure in day-to-day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

Informal enquiries to Daniel Smith email:

View our staff values and behaviourshere

Use of AI in applications:We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.