Roles in HSE work

• Responsible for ensuring a fully compliant and safe working environment in accordance with HSE regulations.
• Establish and approve UiA's HSE policy, Management System for Health, Environment, and Safety, and overarching HSE objectives for the university.
• Ensure the integration of the HSE management system requirements throughout the organization through involvement, review, development, and implementation.
• Ensure the establishment, implementation, and development of the HSE management system and ensure all units follow up on activities necessary to achieve UiA's overarching HSE objectives.
• Support other relevant leadership roles within their areas of responsibility.
• Promote a culture within the organization that supports the intended outcomes of the HSE management system.
• Conduct an annual review of the HSE management system.

• Overall responsibility for the implementation and compliance of the HSE management system within the faculties.
• Document the delegation of HSE tasks within the faculty.

• Ensure activities within the faculty's/department's responsibility areas comply with HSE regulations and guidelines at UiA.
• Conduct risk assessments within their areas of responsibility and implement necessary control measures to eliminate or mitigate risks.
• Establish, communicate, and implement an HSE action plan for the faculty/department.
• Follow up and implement actions related to reported HSE observations within set deadlines.
• Verify that control measures function as intended and ensure compliance with HSE guidelines.
• Promote a safe and inclusive work environment.
• Include HSE-related topics on the agenda in relevant meetings.
• Collaborate with occupational health services as needed.
• Follow up on results from the Workplace Environment Survey - ARK.
• Conduct employee development and senior discussions.
• Ensure follow-up on measures from safety inspections and risk analyses.

The Director of Human Resources and Organization is delegated responsibility at the organizational level by the University Director, which involves:

• Ensuring systematic HSE work and proper organization of safety efforts and other HSE activities on behalf of the University Director.
• Conducting annual reviews, further developing, and embedding the institution's guidelines, procedures, and documentation within the HSE field.
• Acting as the contact person for the chief safety representative and safety services on the employer's side.

Responsibilities:

• Establish, implement, and develop the HSE management system in accordance with HSE regulations.
• Act as a driving force for the development of a strong HSE culture.
• Propose HSE objectives for UiA.

Develop an annual activity plan for the implementation and control of the HSE management system.

Establish and implement an overarching plan for HSE training at UiA.

Measure and report UiA's HSE performance to the university leadership and the Working Environment Committee (AMU), including recommendations for improvements.

• Establish and implement overarching plans for the maintenance and development of UiA's building assets.
• Uphold HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) requirements in UiA-owned buildings and outdoor areas in daily operations and in maintenance and development projects.
• Enter into coordination agreements on HSE when multiple enterprises perform work at the same workplace that may entail occupational health and safety risks.
• Ensure that serious HSE deviations related to the building assets are given high priority.

• Ensure compliance with HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) regulations and UiA's HSE guidelines within their area of responsibility.
• Conduct risk assessments and implement necessary control measures to eliminate or manage risks within their area of responsibility.
• Ensure that staff and students within their area of responsibility have completed necessary HSE training and are competent to uphold health, environment, and safety in the execution of activities at the unit.
• Make decisions pertaining to HSE within their area of responsibility.

HSE Advisor, affiliated with the PO Department, has an executive coordinating responsibility at the institutional level — this includes:

• preparing documentation, guidelines and templates, and maintaining the general HSE section; where requested, provide professional and practical support to individual HSE managers — for example, in drafting and revising specific sections.
• on behalf of the University Director, compiling the units’ HSE reports into a consolidated report for the Working Environment Committee (AMU). AMU forwards the report to the Board.
• coordinating the occupational health service and the university’s other HSE offerings.
• ensuring training for HSE managers, safety representatives, AMU members and others.
• acting as secretary for AMU and certain subcommittees.
• collecting the units’ central HSE documentation to provide the best possible basis for assessment by AMU and university management.
• providing professional assistance and guidance related to the units’ HSE work.

• HR professional leadership support for the entire organization in recruitment, personnel management, and organizational and leadership development.

• Project lead for ARK (UiA’s workplace environment survey).
• Handles conflict resolution and casework for the Si‑ifra reporting system.
• Serves as secretary to the Equality & Inclusion Committee (LiU).
• Responsible for e‑learning and follow‑up of the Competence Portal.

• Leadership support and functional responsibility for HSE and HR at the faculties.

• Coordinate the activities of the safety representatives.
• Represent the safety representatives to the University administration and leadership.
• Participate in advisory bodies and committees.
• Escalate issues from the safety service to the Working Environment Committee (AMU).
• Assist safety representatives in their health and safety work.
• Convene regular meetings of the safety representatives.
• Contribute to the preparation, execution and follow‑up of the ARK survey.

• Safeguard employees’ interests in matters concerning the physical and psychosocial work environment.
• Report hazardous or unacceptable working conditions.
• Conduct safety inspections (vernerunder) and ensure that employees’ safety, health and welfare are protected in accordance with HSE regulations and UiA guidelines.
• Participate in risk assessments and in the follow‑up of corrective measures.
• Contribute to the preparation, execution and follow‑up of the ARK survey.

Learn more about the Safety Representatives role

• Climate accounting
• Environmental management
• Climate and environmental initiatives on campus
• Climate communication

• Coordinate safety activities at UiA.
• Lead operational crisis management.

• Perform work in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and established University of Agder (UiA) guidelines and procedures.
• Be familiar with the risks and the applicable control measures related to own work area and tasks.
• Complete required HSE training to safeguard safety, health, the working and learning environment, and the external environment.
• Report HSE observations in the "Si ifra" reporting system:
  • Improvement suggestions
  • HSE nonconformities/deviations
  • Hazardous conditions
  • Undesirable/incident events

The Occupational Health Service shall serve as advisors on HSE matters at the University of Agder (UiA), supporting management, staff, the Working Environment Committee, and safety representatives to promote healthy and safe working conditions.

UiA’s IT and information security work is coordinated by the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

The Area Coordinator is a coordinating role between one or more room managers and the Head of Department and/or the HSE Manager.

The Area Coordinator has the following tasks:

• Participate in internal control rounds / safety inspections.
• Ensure that the room managers have the necessary and up‑to‑date competence required to carry out their duties.
• Procure necessary equipment and any chemicals (with substitution where possible); purchases are charged to the unit’s budget, based on the room managers’ assessments.
• Coordinate the room managers within their area.

The Room Manager is responsible for the day to day operation and safety of a room or a specific physical location.

The Room Manager has the following tasks:

• Daily maintenance and development of the room.
• Be familiar with the work carried out in the room and ensure that it does not pose risks to health or the environment.
• Carry out necessary risk assessments.

The Working Environment Committee is a decision‑making and advisory body whose primary task is to ensure that our working environment is fully safe and acceptable. The committee shall participate in the planning of health, safety and environmental work within the organisation and closely monitor developments in the working environment.

Read more about the Working Environment Committee (AMU)