Rouages: “Prevention Assistants: The University’s Watchdogs”
Frédéric Vincent is a safety officer. At the Richter site, he works every day to improve workplace safety and well-being for employees. As part of the “Rouages” video series, produced by the University of Montpellier, he introduces us to this role, which is more essential than ever during this health crisis.
They’re the ones making sure hand sanitizer is available in all University buildings. From traffic flow plans and standardized signage to the reorganization of offices as operations resume—they’re behind all of that, too. In the shadow of the health crisis we’re currently facing, they work quietly behind the scenes to ensure the safety ofUM staff. They are the occupational safety assistants.
On Richter’s website, the “Safety Officer” is Frédéric Vincent. He chose to take on this role in addition to his position as head of Richter’s Shared Services Department (SMR).“Safety officer isn’t a profession; it’s a role that anyone interested can take on at their workplace in addition to their regular job,” he explains. At the university, each unit, department, and division has its own prevention liaison. In total, there are more than 200 assistants reporting to their respective unit directors.
A position open to everyone
Recruitment of prevention assistants is on a voluntary basis and includes a five-day training program. This is the minimum time required to cover all relevant areas—“whether it’s issues related to workplace adaptation or matters pertaining to research laboratories, since they face the most complex challenges. They handle chemicals and toxic substances, as well as specific product storage procedures. Our colleagues at Triolet and in the pharmacy are directly affected by these issues,”explains Frédéric Vincent.
The duties of a safety officer are varied and depend heavily on the activities of the facilities where they are assigned. These range from the storage of hazardous materials in laboratories, as mentioned above, to workplace layout issues, and recurring elevator malfunctions.“Our role is to anticipate potential hazards and engage with staff to identify problematic situations and bottlenecks, and to provide solutions—either by resolving the problem or by finding a workaround,” the assistant continues. They also help ensure that staff are well-informed about health and safety regulations.
Identify and solve problems
Another important aspect of the role is to make recommendations for improving working conditions. At the Richter site, Frédéric Vincent hopes to launch a major initiative addressing the issue of blue light emitted by computers, which can cause visual discomfort or headaches. Finally, the occupational safety and health assistant is responsible for ensuring that the health and safety log for the unit in which they work is properly maintained.
No matter what the issue may be, it’s important not to hesitate to meet with them, because even if the prevention assistants don’t have all the answers, they can support staff members and serve as a liaison with the appropriate departments.“We may need specialized expertise, and the General Directorate of Services can guide us and recommend equipment and solutions for our staff.”
Essential During the Crisis
Prevention assistants are indispensable in everyday life, and they have been all the more so during the period we have just gone through. Faced with an unprecedented situation, questions are of course plentiful, and answers aren’t always available, as Richter’s prevention assistant points out: “At the start of the pandemic, we didn’t really know what we were up against or how things would unfold, so we took the utmost precautions.”
Cleaning and disinfecting buildings, closing elevators to prevent crowds and the touching of buttons, locking all building entrances—“we’ve done everything possible to ensure that staff members only have to touch their office doors and their personal equipment.” ” Centralizing all entry points to monitor comings and goings, explaining the guidelines, and providing hygiene kits supplied by the President’s Office… The prevention assistants played a true watchdog role during this crisis, even though, according to Frédéric Vincent,“everything went very smoothly because people really played along and followed the procedures. They were truly aware of the dangers they were facing.”