Summer of Safety: Learn new skills as a Health and Safety Coordinator
Posted on behalf of: Health, Safety and Wellbeing Team
Last updated: Thursday, 11 September 2025

Media, Arts and Humanities Health and Safety Coordinator - John Williams
Are you keen to make a difference in your Faculty/Division by supporting people to work in a way that keeps them safe and healthy?
The Health and Safety Coordinator (HSC) programme, run by our Health & Safety (H&S) Team, is a group of volunteers that provides health and safety support within their Faculty/Division for around two hours per week.
We are on the lookout for staff members to join the HSC group. Whether you already have some H&S experience or are keen to learn new skills, this could be an interesting development opportunity.
If you’d like to find out more or apply, check our current HSC list [PDF] to see if there are gaps within your Faculty/Division, speak with your manager, and get in touch with us by emailing healthsafety@sussex.ac.uk.
What can I expect?
As a HSC you will:
- build your skills and problem solve with your peers and the H&S Team.
- learn more about H&S governance at the University.
- help maintain high H&S standards in your area, keeping your colleagues safe.
- meet and network with other HSCs at our quarterly forums.
- receive a full induction.
- have ongoing training to develop and support you.
Meet HSCs Carmen Long and John Williams
Faculty/Division:
Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities
How long have you been a HSC?
Carmen: Since 2009 when I started in my role.
John: Since June 2019.
What tasks are you involved in?
Carmen: Contributing to the termly Faculty H&S Committee, assisting in completing risk assessments and carrying out display screen equipment assessments.
John: Building inspections, ensuring compliance with safety codes of practices and reporting health and safety issues.
What opportunities do you get?
Carmen: Raising safety matters for discussion and working with colleagues in the H&S Team.
John: Meeting and hearing from staff around the University who have similar, and sometimes quite different, health and safety issues.
What do you enjoy most about being a HSC?
Carmen: Practical problem solving and learning new transferable skills.
John: Being able to contribute positively to the health and safety of staff and students.