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Source: https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/death-in-service Parent: https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/staff-benefits

Last updated 11 May 2023

This guidance is for HR staff and managers and covers the actions needed when a member of staff dies whilst an employee of the University.

Each set of circumstances will be different, and this guidance may therefore not be comprehensive. If you need further advice please contact your HR Business Partner.

In the case of death in the workplace

Where the death occurs whilst the employee is at work the first step is to call the normal emergency services, (if they are not already present) by dialling 999.

The department should nominate an appropriate and reasonably senior member of staff - perhaps a manager who knew the employee well or an employee who knows the family - to contact the next of kin as soon as possible.

The death must also be reported at the earliest opportunity to the Director of the Safety Office who will be responsible for reporting it, as appropriate, to the health and safety authorities.

If an employee dies as a result of an accident at work within one year of the date of the accident, this must also be reported to the Director of the Safety Office, for reporting to the appropriate authorities.