Lancaster University

Guidance for Working Overseas

The purpose of this guidance is to ensure the safe management of activities when working overseas.

The University has adopted the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA)/Universities Safety and Health Association (USHA) document Health and Safety Guidance when Working Overseas" as University policy subject to a number of amendments.

If you are uncertain whether the guidance applies to your proposed work activity please download the Flowchart.

The UCEA/USHA guidance adopts the principles of planning, control and review and suggests how the associated functions and duties may be allocated. A course of action is proposed which leads to the identification of, and the pre-planning to counter, foreseeable problems, difficulties or events. It then suggests some strategies and checklists that can be employed to improve the safety of those working overseas.

• Full University Guidance on Safety when Working Overseas
• Risk Assessment Template
• Health Questionnaire

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Head of Department

• to ensure that the guidance is adopted by those staff or students whose activities fall within the definition of "work overseas".
• For such activities, the Head of Department should ensure that key persons identified in the guidance for particular roles are authorised, competent and, where necessary, qualified.

Overseas Team Leader

• to take overall responsibility for the health and safety organisation and arrangements for the duration of the work overseas.

Travel Organiser

• to liaise with the Work Organiser and Overseas Team Leader to ensure that adequate up to date information is available so that correct decisions on travel and work preparation can be made.

Work Organiser

• to be responsible for the pre-planning, organisation, review and monitoring of the work project and the associated arrangements.

Students and staff

• to conduct themselves in a reasonable and responsible manner and to co-operate with the Overseas Team Leader and Work Organiser in the execution of their health and safety responsibilities.