First Aid, notification procedures and personal safety

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Here you can find information reguarding first aid equipment, who to contact with HSE-questions in addition to the structure of the HSE selection at IBM, notification procedures and other subjects related to personal safety in the work place.


Health, Safety and Environment Committee (HMSU)

The Department of Biomedicine has its own Health, Safety and Environment Committee with the following mandate:

  • Endeavour to achieve good working conditions with respect to health, safety and environment through systematic and focused work including inspections, assessments and improvement of the physical and psychosocial environment
  • Advisory body to head of department and the board in HSE matters
  • Studying and preparing matters relating to HSE policy issues
  • Take the initiative to present matters to the head of department and the board in order to improve the working environment and safety issues at the department

HMSU is composed of the following members:

Chair Juha Vahokoski
Secretary Anita H. Garden
Group A Frode Selheim
Group B

In addition the HMSU uses the safety delegates, the responsible fire officer at IBM and leader of technical fellesavdeligen (Bård Sværi) and if relevant the team leader of the cleaning company as resource persons.

Safety Delegates

Area Safety Delegate Deputy
MED Lise S, Amble Anne Baumann
7. floor Tambudzai K. Jakobsen Trude Skogstrand
6. floor Halala Saed Camilla Osberg
5. floor Anne Baumann Ming Ying
2,4. floor Trine Lunde Camilla Osberg

The safety delegates are primarily a part of the university's safety service and their main tasks are to raise irregularities and monitor the department’s own system for detecting and resolving problems in the working environment. In addition the safety delegates shall attend HSE committee meetings as resource persons and take part in the day-to-day HSE work at the Department of Biomedicine.

Notification Procedures

For notification procedures related to the building see chapter for general information

Notification procedures for HSE non-conformities

HSE non-conformities are all adverse events and/or matters that have resulted or may result in harm to people, the environment and property. The HSE non-conformities shall be reported electronically.

The following is defined as HSE non-conformities:

  • Fires and explosions
  • Break-in, theft, robbery and unauthorized access to buildings and areas.
  • Damage to property and structural conditions in buildings (reported in Lydia)
  • Injury to people
  • Harmful emissions to the environment
  • Incorrect handling of chemicals, gas, biological agents or sources of radiation
  • Violence and threats
  • Breaches of the health and safety legislation, guidelines or routines

Report procedures in case of instrument-related problems

It is important that all employees acquire necessary knowledge and training before using Department equipment. Some of our equipment have designated user support staff, please contact these if anything is unclear regarding usage. Errors on Department equipment must be reported to the technical support division (“Fellesavdelingen”) who can provide service, adaptation and repair of instruments and equipment in general.

“Fellesavdelingen” is responsible for all technical equipment such as LAF benches, centrifuges, RO water etc.

The department is located on the 6th floor, room 6C114fF, and can be contacted the following ways:

  • E-mail: fellesavdelingen@biomed.uib.no
  • Phone (Bård Sværi) (555) 86832

Sickness absence procedures

The University of Bergen is part of the judicial agree called «inclusive work life» («inkluderende arbeidsliv – IA).

During sickness absences lasting for 1-8 days you are required to deliver a self-certification of absence (“egenmelding”) in PAGA the first day at work after sickness. All employees are required to report your absence as early as possible on the first day of absence. The procedure at the Department is to contact your closest supervisor as well as the reception (55 58 63 00 / personal.biomed@uib.no

During sickness absence with duration of more than 8 days you are required to submit a medical certificate to the Department as soon as you receive this from your doctor or medical institution. Remember to fill out the self-certification on part D, paragraph 8, and sign the document.

If possible the Department will contact anyone on longer sick leaves within 4 weeks to arrange a follow-up meeting. The purpose of such a meeting is to clarify/discuss work-related reasons for the absence, and map out possible adjustment/adaptation measures which may prevent or counteract future incidents of sickness.

The Department will arrange a dialogue meeting within 7 weeks of the sick leave if possible. A representative for the UoB occupational health service will be present at the meeting if needed. The doctor or the medical institution giving the sick leave may also be summoned for this meeting, but this is considered individually for each particular case and in coordination with the person in question. The dialogue meeting will address the contents of the follow-up plan and assess potential requirements and needs for additional adaptive changes for the employee, or future HSE measures in the work place.


In cases of lengthier sickness absence, NAV (The Norwegian Labor and Welfare Service) and the Department will arrange a second dialogue meeting within 6 months. In this meeting, the following issues will be addressed: the follow-up plan, possibilities for solutions in the work place, needs for rehabilitation or work-focused measures managed by NAV.

After one year of sick leave, the right to sickness allowance/sick pay expires. The person on sick leave will, in due time before this is effectuated, be informed about the possibilities on applying for a leave of absence from UiB’s central HR Departement. The person on sick leave must themselves contact NAV for further assistance.

Førstehjelp

There are painkillers (paracetamol and Ibuprofen)available in the department office (6th floor) which employees can get for personal use. There are first aid kits near every laboratory.

The first aid kits should contain the following:

Amount Item
2 pcs. Elastic gauze (6cm x 2m)
2 pcs. Sterile compress small/large
1 pcs. Wound patches "quick-strips"
2 pk. Fire bandage ”water-jel” (5cm x 15 cm)
1 roll Adhesive dressings, roll with holder
6 pcs. Eyes Rinse Liquid, 0,9 % NaCl (6 pcs.) with rinsing cup
1 pcs. Scissors (For cutting fabrics and bandages)
1 roll Elastic support bandage (10cm x 5m)
1 pk. Sterile non-woven absorption material
1 pcs. Disinfectant liquid (Pyrisept)
1 pcs. Breathing mask
1 pcs. Tweezers
1 pcs. Bandage pack with compress
  • Responsible for filling the first aid stations
    • 5. floor. Sissel Vik Berge
    • 6. floor. Kjellfrid Haukanes
    • 7. floor. Åse Eriksen


A stretcher is attached to the wall to the right of the main entrance on the 2nd floor.

A rest, sickness, nursing room is also located on the 2nd floor (room 2C111F) Phone: (555) 86696

In sever situations use the phone number: 0-113.

Personal safety

Vaccination

The purpose of vaccination is to prevent the development and spread of disease. Employees of UoB who may be exposed to contagious disease shall be offered Hepatitis B vaccination, and for some employees Hepatitis A vaccination may be relevant as well. Employees working outdoors in nature or with animals shall be offered a tetanus vaccination. These vaccinations may be obtained by contacting the HSE Section at UoB( E-mail: post@hms.uib.no Tel: (555) 82054).

Other vaccinations may also be relevant for some employees, for example in cases of international travelling. To obtain a travel vaccination, please contact the Bergen Municipal Office of Infectious Disease Prevention (“Smittevernkontoret”) C. Sundtsgate 51, 4th floor (E-mail: smittevernet@bergen.kommune.no Tel: 55 56 58 05). Be advised that some vaccines are to be taken quite a while before the actual journey; please contact the office above to find out specifics in each case.

For additional information we advise to look up the web pages of Infectious Disease Prevention (Norwegian only).

Controlling antibody levels

Employees working with animals or blood/tissue fluids, which have received vaccination at an earlier point, must contact the place of vaccination in question to measure their current level of antibodies (contact the Corporate health services (tel: (555) 82054), your doctor or a vaccination centre). A positive test is defined as “lifelong protection”, if negative a re-vaccination must be arranged.


Tuberculosis control and vaccination against tuberculosis

At the Bergen Municipal Office of Infectious Disease Prevention («Smittevernkontoret», see above), tuberculosis control and BCG vaccinations are provided. The office will also, if necessary, arrange for further screening at Haukeland University Hospital. Tuberculosis examination (Mantoux testing) is carried out on Mondays and Tuesdays from 08.20 to 11.00 and 12.00 to 14.00. The test is analysed three days later.

Additional information can be located at the web pages for health protection agency and Public Health Department under disease prevention and tuberculosis.

Stab/slash wounds with danger of infection

Immediately contact on-duty infection specialist at Haukeland University Hospital at tel. 05300.

One may also contact Bergen Emergency Medical Service (“Legevakten”, tel: 55 56 87 00) or the Corporate health services at UoB (tel: (555) 82054).

Employees at UoB with questions concerning vaccination or disease prevention may contact nurse Tordis M. Sundnes (tordis.sundnes@uib.no, tel. 55 58 20 54).

Eye Examinations and computer glasses

The guidelines show current procedures regarding optical examinations for employees working with computer screens and requirements for refund of computer glasses. The guidelines are for all employees at UoB, who regularly – and during a large part of their work day – works with computer screens (more than 3 hours per day).

Definitions:

Regular glasses (vision correction)
This refers to glasses for distance use and glasses adapted to normal reading distance. Regular progressive eye wear for distance and reading are considered as visual correction tools.
Computer glasses (special visual correction tools)
This refers to glasses custom fitted for use at the computer.


Guidelines regarding computer glasses

Need for computer glasses is present if an employee requires glasses for computer work, and ordinary glasses are inadequate for this purpose.

For reference please view Guide to working by the computer(Norwegian only).

Before any visual acuity test is performed by an optician, the employee is required to try to improve his or her work place regarding spatial design and lightning according to the advice recommended on page 4 on the form Eye examination and computer glasses which can be found on the UiB website.

If the work place proves unsatisfactory even after attempts at adjusting, the HSE section at UoB may be contacted.

Visual acuity/eye test

The employee has the right to a visual acuity/eye test with a publicly certified optician who has an agreement with UoB:

  • Before starting work with a computer screen
  • Every 3rd year after starting working with a computer screen if the employee is 40 years or more
  • If visual problems arise, which may be contributed to working with a computer screen

UoB will refund all expenses for an optician in these cases. If an optician’s examination assesses the need for further examination, the employee will be referred to an eye doctor. If the reason for such a referral is work-related, UoB will cover the employees own share of the medical expenses according to normal rates set by the Norwegian Doctor’s Association (Den Norske Legeforening).

Alarms for freezer rooms

1. Alarm for open doors. This is a local sound alarm, which is triggered if the freezer room door is open for more than a certain number of seconds. To turn off the alarm, close the door properly (use a little force), check that no one is inside the freezing room first.

2. Alarm for personnel locked inside. This alarm is triggered manually from inside of the freezer rooms. A red alarm button next to the door must be pressed. This alarm button must not be confused with the door opener, which is also red, but located on the door itself. The alarm will be a loud sound alarm outside the freezer room. The alarm signal will also be sent to the security center at Haukeland University Hospital, who will alert the Daily Operations Section ("Driftsavdelingen") during work hours, or take action themselves outside working hours, during weekends, etc.

If the alarm is triggered by mistake, it may be switched off by twisting the button and pulling it out.