Our Services

Chemical Purchase

The management, including purchasing and storage, of chemicals on campus, if not properly handled, may risk violation of legal regulation. Hence, all hazardous chemical purchases shall be processed and inventoried by the Dangerous Goods Management Team (DGMT) in accordance with the Manual of Central Chemical Purchasing Procedures. Finance Office reserves the right to refuse payment for chemical invoice if the order is found to be unauthorized. Unauthorized procurement of hazardous chemicals is classified as a non-compliance item in the health and safety inspection exercise conducted by Health and Safety Office (HSO). HSO pledges to provide, as far as reasonably practicable, this service within: five working days to vet and place the order to supplier (up to 10 items per order). two working days to dispatch the chemicals to user upon delivery from supplier.

Hazardous Waste Disposal

Hazardous waste such as chemical, clinical, or radioactive waste are inevitably produced during our daily operations. To safeguard health and safety of our staff and students from exposure to such harmful wastes, HSO has put relevant management plans and procedures in place to ensure proper handling in accordance with the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap. 354) and the Manual of the Use of on-campus Central Dangerous Goods Stores, Chemical Waste Stores and Radioactive Waste Store Procedures. Advice on proper packaging, labelling, transportation, storage, and disposal of hazardous wastes will also be provided by HSO if necessary.

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) pre-occupation check covers capital, addition & alteration projects for the following areas: offices, classrooms, computer labs, library area, and meeting rooms. Locations not covered include high-risk laboratories / workshops involving use of hazardous chemicals, biological substances, or radioactive materials. They are under specific pre-occupation safety check requirements according to section 3.2 of PolyU Laboratory Safety Management Policy. Campus Development Office (CDO) and Campus Facilities and Sustainability Office (CFSO) project managers may request Indoor air quality check for newly renovated indoor areas before handover to user departments. Project managers should contact Health and Safety Office (HSO) at least three days in advance to arrange for IAQ check. Based on the information provided by CDO and CFSO, HSO conducts spot check within the following parameters of the IAQ scheme essential to safe occupation of the premises shortly after renovation: total volatile organic compound formaldehyde dust level (with focus on PM10) carbon dioxide IAQ checks are performed on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability of the instrument and technical staff required.

Training

PolyU believes that training is one of the key management practices in organizations.  Effective training facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills and attitudes to employees and students, resulting in enhancement of health, safety and environmental (HSE) performance.  Changes in attitude and behavior through the training process are also beneficial in nurturing a positive health and safety culture in the University.  Moreover, from legal perspective, the provision of health and safety trainings supports PolyU on assurance of fulfilling general duties as an employer.  HSO identifies university-wide training needs of university members with diversified spectrum of HSE concerns.  Our trainers, as subject matter experts of specialized areas, design and deliver appropriate training courses to enable participants to meet the HSE expectations of PolyU.  There is a variety of HSE trainings available from HSO, covering general HSE education, technical safety training for specific operations (e.g. laboratory and research) and know-how in HSE management.  We organize HSE trainings in form of traditional classroom training as well as e-learning (online training) using LEARN@PolyU platform to enable best fit learning experience for a particular subject.  Furthermore, the risk-based approach of our trainings encourage systematic problem solving of dynamic HSE matters in day-to-day university activities.  All staff and students are encouraged for active participation in our HSE trainings to drive PolyU’s safety to next level.