Campus Guidance

Good office practice

If your office is an open plan environment with other members of staff occupying the space, we ask that you work with consideration for your neighbours and the space you are in.

Please consider the following:

• The shared kitchen should be kept clean and tidy when not in use.
• The office space is kept clean, and any concerns are immediately reported to Estates Liaison Line.
• Using the correct bins for each type of waste.
• To avoid damages to internal finishes no bluetak/Sellotape should be used on wall or door fixings. Please use noticeboards or whiteboards provided to display information. No hooks/drawing pins or any other fixing that will penetrate the walls or doors to be used without prior consent by the Open University, as the Asbestos Register must be checked before approval can be given.
• Showering facilities can be found in the Pavilion.

Smoking and Vaping

All University managed premises are designated smoke and vape free. Smoking and vaping is not allowed in any part of any building, including bars and eating areas. This includes the smoking of tobacco in all forms and the smoking of herbal substitutes. It also includes vaping e-cigarettes or other nicotine containing products.

Smoking and vaping is not permitted in or at entrances to buildings. Smoking while on site is only allowed outdoors in designated areas (these are clearly marked).

Vaping can take place outside of premises and well away from buildings and windows. Staff who vape are not expected to use the designated smoking areas.

Children and Young Persons on Campus

Children on site must be hosted in public spaces only, directly supervised by their parent or legal guardian, unless invited to a risk assessed, collaborative educational event or to take part in a risk assessed research project. 

Individual staff and students are not permitted to bring their children into their workspace. Young Persons can come on site as part of a risk assessed, structured work experience programme between the university and the Young Person’s educational establishment, subject to the 16+ age restriction of the People Services, Work Experience Policy. 

Young Persons can come on site as part of a risk assessed, structured work experience programme between the university and the Young Person’s educational establishment, to a risk assessed, collaborative educational event, or to take part in a risk assessed research project. Parents of Young Persons are not permitted to bring their Young Person into their workspace. 

Any Open University event which invites Children or Young Persons onto the premises must be planned and risk assessed, prioritising the health, safety and welfare of children and young persons above all.

Heating

The University endeavours to maintain working time space temperatures of 19 – 21°C in all buildings. The heating systems will be turned on in early autumn (usually October) and turned off in early summer (usually May), depending on the weather conditions and geographical location.  

The majority of OU occupied buildings are controlled via the Building Management System (BMS), which monitors both internal and external temperatures. The BMS system is monitored centrally within the Estates office.

Portable Heaters
 

Portable heaters may not be used without explicit consent from Estates. Only heaters supplied by Estates can be used. Faculties and Units must not purchase their own heaters. If supplementary heating is needed, colleagues should contact the Estates Liaison Line.