Plenary Session for Prevention Specialists
On Monday, November 20, 2023,the Universityof Montpellier held its annual plenary meeting forprevention coordinators. This meeting fosters collaboration among prevention staff at the UniversityofMontpellier and strengthens a network that is essential to the effective operation of our prevention program.
At the university, each department, division, and office has its own safety officer. There are a total of 215 such officers reporting to their respective unit directors, including 170 university staff members and 45 staff members from partner organizations (CNRS, Inserm, the School of Chemistry, IRD, UPVM, etc.).
An indispensable role
From the storage of hazardous materials in the laboratory to the provision of disinfectant supplies, as well as issues related to workstation layout and recurring elevator malfunctions, the responsibilities of safety officers are varied and depend heavily on the organizations where they work. As the primary points of contact for staff, they also make recommendations to improve working conditions, anticipate potential obstacles and hazards, and provide solutions.
Conversations with Experts
During this plenary session, all 215 staff members had the opportunity to listen to and engage with a number of experts, including: Valérie Bultel, secretary of the specialized training program on health, safety, and working conditions (F3SCT); Colonel Roland Huon, safety and security advisor at the UM; Estelle Seidowsky, occupational health physician at the UM; and Ali Caliskan from Asecos, a company specializing in the manufacture of fire-resistant safety cabinets for the storage of flammable products and gas cylinders.
The afternoon was devoted to tours: the Jardin des Plantes with Head Gardener Emmanuel Spicq, and the historic medical building with Caroline Ducourau, Director of Scientific Culture and Historical Heritage, and Marie-Angéline Pinail, Collections Curator.