Other Important Information
Overview
The arrangements noted below summarise some of the key points that fall under the umbrella of health and safety.
Advice regarding health & safety matters can be obtained from the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Team via hs-staff@qmu.ac.uk. Please refer to the University’s Health and Safety Policy for further information. When you enter your selected programme, your tutors will give additional advice and guidance relevant to your field of study.
Adherence to the health and safety policies and procedures laid down by the University, and by your School, is required by all students. If you have any health and safety related concerns, you should raise these with your Programme Leader in the first instance.
Expectations
ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all staff, students and visitors.
All students must comply with the University and School health and safety policies and procedures. In particular, you must:
- Take reasonable care of your own safety and the safety of others affected by what you do.
- Follow all University and School-specific health and safety policies, procedures, signs and instructions.
- Co-operate with staff on health and safety matters.
- Report any accident, incident, near miss (dangerous occurrence) or work-related illness via the University’s online incident form.
If you have any health & safety concerns, raise them with your Programme Leader in the first instance.
Emergency Procedures
1. Fire Safety
The fire alarm is announced by a public address voice alarm system, which will provide clear voice messages to guide you during an evacuation. The fire alarm is tested weekly on Wednesdays at 13:00.
If you hear the alarm, leave quickly and calmly by the nearest exit, making your way to the nearest assembly point and do not re-enter the building until told it is safe by the Fire Marshall or the Fire Service.
If you discover a fire:
- Activate the nearest red break-glass call point.
- Evacuate immediately by the nearest safe exit - do not use lifts.
- Go directly to the nearest assembly point and await instructions.
Do not attempt to tackle a fire unless you have been specifically trained to use a portable fire extinguisher.
An assisted evacuation procedure involving refuge points operates throughout the University's academic building. These are designated as places of safety and positioned within the fire escape routes in each stairwell. If you require assistance, make your way to the nearest exit, remain in the refuge point and contact the Campus Operations Control Room using the communications panel on the wall – signage is in place with instructions.
Fire Assembly Points:
- University Square
- Outside LRC
- SUDS Pond
- Halls of Residence
2. First Aid
To summon a First Aider, call Campus Operations on the internal Emergency Phones by dialling 2222 or 07889075873, using your mobile phone. If you cannot call, send someone to Reception for assistance.
3. Accident & Incident Reporting
You must report all accidents, injuries and near misses to Campus Operations or your tutor and complete an online .
Supportive Environments
ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ is a fully inclusive community, and our buildings and procedures are designed to support students in their studies. If you require support, please get in touch with the ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ disability advisers, where arrangements can be put in place to ensure your safety.
Note for residents in ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ Accommodation:
Please take care when using aerosol sprays and hair dryers near smoke detectors. The detectors are very sensitive and may activate the alarm.
Queen Margaret University embraces equality, diversity, inclusion and respect. Further information about the ways in which we promote equality and diversity is available from our Equality and Diversity webpages. The webpages provide information on the work of our Equality and Diversity Committee, which is responsible to the University Court (our governing body).
You can also access our Mainstreaming Report and Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing calendar at this link.
We are proud of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥â€™s diverse student body and ask you to recognise that the challenges of on-line communication can be magnified in classes of native and non-native speakers.
A non-native speaker can easily feel uncomfortable among native speaking online communicators, especially in the chat room setting.
The University asks you to recognise that different cultures bring different points of reference, different understandings of humour and different expectations of online communication, so:
- Avoid using complicated language, terminology, slang, idioms or local acronyms.
- Be aware of differences in date formats and measurements.
- Be careful with sarcasm and humour and avoid ridicule.
- Allow extra time for responses, especially in chats.
- Remember that language, fluency and intelligence are very different things.
- Admit mistakes and apologise.
ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ welcomes students from all faiths; and of none. We have a quiet Contemplation Room on level 1 for students who want to spend some time in contemplation or simply need a silent space to be on their own for a little bit.
Freedom of Information
The University is covered by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) 2002 Act (FoISA). FOISA gives everyone the right to access information held by Scottish public bodies, including ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥. Requests for information are coordinated by the Division of Governance and Quality Enhancement. You can find more guidance on FOI and how to make a request at our FOI webpage.
Data Protection
The University is compliant with data protection legislation. Data protection laws control how we can use the personal data of individuals and provides individuals with rights with which they can access their own personal information. Queen Margaret University needs to process and retain certain personal data, for example about its staff and students, to fulfil its purpose and to meet its legal obligations to funding bodies and government. You can find more information on how ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ processes the personal data of its students and other individuals in our privacy notices.
If you have any queries or would like to exercise any of your rights under the legislation, please email dataprotection@qmu.ac.uk
Complaints Handling Procedure
The University has a Complaints Handling Procedure (CHP)
This guide provides information on what we can and can’t progress under our CHP. Generally, we consider a complaint to be an expression of dissatisfaction about an action or lack of action by the University. Some complaints can be handled quickly at local level (stage 1) and these should be directed at the appropriate colleague (e.g., a complaint about a programme should be directed to the Programme Lead). Where a complaint cannot be resolved in this way it can be escalated to a Stage 2 investigation under the CHP and coordinated by complaints colleagues.
Any queries about the complaints procedure or any complaints may be emailed to complaints@qmu.ac.uk
