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UCL statement regarding health and safety
19 January 2021
UCL has issued the following statement in response to media reports which refer to health and safety on UCL’s campus:
“The health and wellbeing of UCL staff and students is our highest priority and we have put in place a large number of safety measures to ensure our campus is as safe as possible. This has been done in line with Government guidance in full consultation with our recognised unions, Camden and Islington public health authorities and UCL’s world-leading public health experts.
“Prior to the most recent national lockdown, UCL moved all operational and educational activity online with the exemption of a small handful of practical teaching programmes and research. All buildings have been put on restricted access to significantly reduce the numbers of frontline staff needed on campus.
“UCL’s campus remains open in line with Government guidance to support students who are not able to travel home, those teaching and studying practical programmes like medicine, and researchers who require specialist facilities for their work or are urgently supporting the national effort around Covid.
“We have worked relentlessly to ensure our campus is Covid secure. Our safety measures include: regular testing for all staff and students (including contracted staff), tailored risk assessments for all areas of campus, zoning systems and wearing face coverings. Since March, we have restricted numbers on site to a maximum of 25% of capacity in all areas. During lockdown, all staff who can work from home are required to do so and the number of people who are actively on site is currently considerably below that.
“In addition, all frontline staff such as cleaning and security staff are provided with PPE and we have introduced emergency rotas for those required to come onto campus. Where staff are unable to work, such as the clinically extremely vulnerable, they have been placed on furlough. Over 50% of our security and cleaning staff are currently on furlough.”
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Media contact
Chris Lane
Tel: +44 (0)7717 728 648
Email: chris.lane [at] ucl.ac.uk
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