Hygiene and Health Protection at Work (SUPHT)

Missions

The University Department for Hygiene and Health Protection at Work (SUPHT) manages the following fields of activity:

• The protection of workers in the context of federal regulations on well-being at work
• The protection of the environment in the context of various regional regulations (biosecurity, management of hazardous waste, ADR transport and environmental permit).

As these are very interwoven, the approach is transversal and multidisciplinary.

Prevention, protection and well-being of workers

The Internal Service for Prevention and Protection (SIPP) at work is made mandatory for every company by the law of 4 August 1996 regarding the well-being of workers in the execution of their function and the code of well-being at work, which defines its statue, missions and tasks.

It assists the employer, the members of the line management and the workers for the application of the legal provisions and regulations regarding the well-being of workers during the execution of their function and all other prevention measures and activities.

Well-being at work is the set of factors concerning the conditions under which the work is performed. In particular, it is the security of the work, the protection of the health of the worker at work, of the psychosocial aspects of the work, of the ergonomics and hygiene of the work.

The Internal Service for Prevention and Protection at work consists of prevention advisors who meet a number of conditions, including training.

Protection of the environment: biosecurity, dangerous waste, transport and permits

Several missions related to the protection of the environment have also been entrusted to the University Department for Hygiene and Health Protection at Work.

The first is to ensure biosecurity at all premises where genetically modified or pathogenic organisms are handled. This consists of evaluating, managing, and preventing biological risks tied to this type of activity in order to protect the health of the population, of the fauna and flora. Biosafety in laboratories is regulated in Belgium at the regional level in the context of environmental legislation applicable to facilities that are potentially harmful to humans and the environment.

The second is the management of hazardous waste produced by the University services located in the area of Sart-Tilman and the centre of Liège.

The third is the assistance of University officials regarding issues related to the transport of dangerous goods or of research material subject to legal prescriptions.

The last is the drafting and monitoring of applications for environmental permits. This is the necessary administrative authorisation in the Walloon Region for certain activities and/or operate facilities that are likely to cause a nuisance to humans and the environment.

Programmes and courses

In accordance with the legal missions imposed, the SUPHT organises and provides several security and hygiene training programmes for officers, students, trainees, PhD students or final-year undergraduates of the University. The themes addressed are diverse: working in safety in laboratories, prevention and management of biological risks, working safety in workshops, electrical risks, fire safety, industrial first aid or asbestos.

The SUPHT also participates in the training of 2^nd cycle university students. Its expertise in security organisation, management of hazardous waste and biosecurity is put to use. Outside ULiège, the SUPHT works on awareness-building and training in biosecurity for future Bachelors students in laboratory technology.

Job seekers who attend the FOREM - GIGA biotechnology Training Centre also benefit from this experience.

Organisation

Management: Catherine NOEL

• Prevention and Protection at Work
  • • Safety, health and ergonomics unit
    • Psychosocial risk prevention unit
• Biosecurity and Environmental Permit