YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY

GROUNDS DEPT

Severe Weather Procedure

02.03.10

Aim

Maintain a safe site for all Campus users, particularly Students and Staff during periods of frost and snow.

Mandate

The University has a duty to provide safe access and egress to and from its buildings under the Health + Safety at Work Act 1974 section 2 (2)

The University can decide which route ways it wishes to maintain, as long as this is reasonable. It is most important to ensure that routes/areas which are designated targets for treatment are treated and checked regularly thereafter to maintain a safe route.

Procedure

The quantity of Rock salt in store at the Grounds Depot will be checked at the beginning of Octoberand if necessary extra quantities ordered by Head/Senior Gardener.

All grit bins around Campus will be checked and re-filled where necessary from October - May,by the Grounds Team.

Towards the end of October a meeting will be held with all staff responsible for cover, to familiarise themselves with the procedure.

The Standby Period over which the severe weather procedure is to run will be from November 1st until April 30th.

The gritting of paths and driveways will be carried out predominantly by the Grounds Team during normal working hours and supported by the Security Team at other times (other than normal working hours). The Grounds Team will start work at 7.30amduring the ‘Standby Period’. The expected clearance time of all paths (as laid out according to the site plan of priority) will be 11.00am. During the weekend/bank holiday/shut-down periods, the Security Team take full responsibility of general salting, whereby a later clearance time of 12.00 mid day is adhered to. Clearance times will be displayed in a communal area and/or on appropriate web site.

Note:

  • During periods of severe snow fall or holiday periods/weekends whereby Conferences are in attendance – security will have access to a list of at least 10 (6 needed for operation) staff members (drawn from all Departments within Facilities), willing to attend work from 6.00amin order toclear snow and apply grit. Security will contact these staff members via phone from 5.00am.It is recommended that the first 6 members of staff accepting that they are able to safely travel to site, will take responsibility of clearing areas and that there is no further need to contact any other staff members. An incentive of a meal voucher will be given to staff listed.
  • Staff working outside normal working hours (Cleaners, Night Porters, and Security etc) i.e. before7.30am would need to carry out their own risk assessment whilst on site and act accordingly. It is suggested that this issue is pointed out at their induction.
  • During periods of Shut Down, no clearance is needed.

All equipment used in the severe weather operation will be left ready to use the night before an expected early start, in order to make sure snow clearing/gritting starts promptly.

Following periods of sustained frost/snow, all grit bins around Campus will be checked and re-filled as necessary by the Grounds Team.

During periods of severe snow and ice the Security Team will close off the external paths to: The Quad and The Serpentine Walk (locking west-hand side gate), placing out cones and signs, giving clear instructions of the alternative route.

Priority will be given as laid out in the attached site plans. Red routes being a priority A = cleared first, B = second and C = last.