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August 2005
UWA Safety Awards 2005Nominations for the UWA safety awards: Group (Faculty, School, Section), Individual and Group Rehabilitation close on 23 September, with the award presentations planned for 12 October. The awards recognise initiatives, successful implementation of processes and outstanding service for safety by groups and individuals. Further details can be obtained from: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/whats_new (July 2005) Safety Related TrainingChemAlert Administrator training (2 days) will be held on 19 and 20 September. ChemAlert Administrators are key contacts within Faculties, Schools and Units to assist with the implementation of ChemAlert throughout the University. The course covers product searching, stock management, printing reports, risk assessment and security. For further information on ChemAlert and the ChemAlert Administrator training see: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/about_chemical_safety/chemalert http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses/chem_alert_system_administrator_training A talk on ChemAlertwill be held from 1 pm to 1:45 pm on Monday 26 September in CMS Seminar Room G35 (in the new Biochemical Sciences building). ChemAlert is the approved UWA chemical management system that provides hazard data sheets for tens of thousands of commercial chemical products. http://www.chemalert.com/index.html Contractors Safety Inductionwill be held at 9 – 10.30 am and 2 – 3.30 pm (repeat session) on Thursday 29 September in Geography Lecture Theatre 2. Aimed at contractors, consultants and UWA Responsible Officers. To register contact Jo Epis, Contract Administrator, Facilities Management Administration, Bus. 6488 1710 , Email: jepis@admin.uwa.edu.au Refer UWA Contractors web site: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/contractor On-Line Safety CoursesUWA has been provided temporary access to on-line safety training courses in Accident Reporting, Hazardous Substances, Plant Safety , Risk Management and Safe Driving through Elmo Learning Services at: http://www.elmolearning.com.au/ Your participation and feedback on these courses is sought. To obtain the necessary log in details please contact Safety and Health. Warden Training and Evacuation DrillsWarden training and practice evacuations drills are planned for the week beginning Mon 10 October. For the current list of buildings, wardens and general information refer: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/people/wardens For course information and to enrol on-line refer: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses/warden http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses/warden_refresher Raising Happy and Confident ChildrenOn 19 August approximately 75 UWA staff attended a teleconference onsite at CTEC. The seminar was held by the Australian Child Foundation, who engaged Michael Grose, an educator and professional speaker to provide over 32 seminars across Australia. This was the only teleconference and involved 32 sites across WA. That in itself proved very interesting - we were seeing people live form Panawonica to Albany, Kalbarri to Meekatharra! The inspiration for UWA to participate in the event was due to Janet Renner, Co-ordinator Counselling and Psychological Services at the University Counselling Centre. With a combined effort, funding and support from Safety and Health we were overwhelmed by the interest in this topic and the feedback from our staff regarding the session has demonstrated common threads with issues that many UWA staff who are also parents face. Perhaps there is not always the opportunity to discuss these types of issues, or find other people going through similar issues, especially when working full time. We are interested in finding out if there are other topics of interest to staff - related to personal and family issues that staff might like to attend. Please contact the Safety and Health if you have any ideas. If you want to find out more about parenting and what Michael Grosse imparted during the seminar see www.kidscount.com.au and www.parentingideas.com.au you are also able to subscribe to a monthly parenting newsletter. Hazard Alert – Security CablesA new hazard alert about the use of non insulated security cables (thin uncoated stainless steel) has been issued. There have been incidents where the security cable has become lodged between the adaptor and general power outlet (GPO) causing a short from active to neutral. Whilst this did not trip the residual circuit device (RCD) it was a serious electrical safety hazard. Please ensure insulated cables only are used and that all security cables are well away from electrical connections. UWA Hazard Alerts: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/hazard_alerts Security cables are available from Safety and health: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses/equipment_charges UWA Purchasing RequirementsIn accordance with the AS/NZS 4801 and other good practices, purchasing procedures (for goods, services or contractors) should include safety and health as a weighted consideration based on risk. To this end, a centralised purchasing procedure should be formalised and implemented to include purchases of substances (dangerous goods, chemicals, radioactive and hazardous substances) and equipment. In the acquisition of materials or equipment, it is necessary to obtain all relevant information to enable appropriate risk assessments to be undertaken. The procedures should include the need to notify and seek concurrence by relevant section supervisors, research group heads, management personnel and/or designated safety officers. It is also recommended that the local purchasing policy should be formalised as part of the overall School's policies and procedures. The main requirements for the following should be need adhered to: (a) Chemicals. A Register of chemicals should be compiled for each School/Section, as required under OSH Regulations 1996 (Part 5.13). Refer to : It is highly desirable that the chemical database be available electronically. The Register should include links to the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for each chemical. A review is also required on the need for Poisons Permits. Refer also to the Approved Codes of Practice for Western Australia (especially for the requirements for Registers & MSDSs) : http://www.nohsc.gov.au/PDF/Standards/WorkplaceHazardousSubstances_COP_NOHSC2007_1994.pdf (b) Radioactive Substances and Radiation Generating Equipment. Schools/Sections are required to have a system to record receipt, holdings and disposal of radioactive materials. Registration of equipment and Licensing of users is required for high powered lasers (Class 3B, 4), x-ray machines and transilluminators. Refer to The Radiation Safety Act 1975 and the Radiation Safety (General) Regulations (1983-1997) or http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/policies/radiation_safety (c) Plant & Equipment. A Register of Plant & Equipment should also be maintained. Following risk identification, assessment and control, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to be developed (if not already supplied) and displayed for easy reference and compliance. Refer to OSH Regulations 1996 Part 4 (Division 3) : http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/statutes/regs.nsf/3b7e5f26432801b348256ec3002c128c/93ddde36e46d3c7f482566dd002ee900/$FILE/Occupational%20Safety%20and%20Health%20Regulations%201996.PDF and for UWA Plant and Equipment Procedures: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/14896/Plant_and_equipment_safety_procedures.pdf WorkSafe WAThe Guidance Note for Occupational Safety and Health Management and Contaminated Sites Work has been issued by the Commission for Occupational Safety and Health to provide guidance on occupational safety and health management and contaminated sites work and some of the legislative requirements in the Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 (the Regulations). The practical guidance in this guidance note should be considered in conjunction with the general duties in the Act. http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/pagebin/guidwswa0086.htm Bullying to be covered by Code of PracticeThe Commission for Occupational Safety and Health has released a new draft Code of Practice on Workplace Violence and Bullying. According to the draft, bullying is defined as repeated, unreasonable or inappropriate behaviour directed towards a worker, or a group of workers, that creates a risk to health and safety. The draft code gives examples of what constitutes bullying, violence and aggression; what employers should do to prevent it; and how to respond to incidents. Comments are invited to be received by 2 December 2005 . http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/pagebin/wswanews0072.htm Unsafe Portable Generators BannedEnergy Safety has ordered that a number of unsafe portable generators be withdrawn from sale, hire or use, after a recent death. The generators were sold between 1984 and 1996 and incorporated both a 240 Volt AC socket-outlet and a 12 Volt DC socket-outlet that has a similar configuration to a 240 Volt socket-outlet. Any lead that has a plug that can be inserted into both socket-outlets must be destroyed immediately. Prohibition notices have been issued on the following generators and associated battery-charging leads:
For earlier reports on this hazard refer: http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/PageBin/injrsign0213.htm WorkSafe WA Forum – 26 OctoberThe WorkSafe WA Forum will be held at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre on Wednesday 26 October 2005 http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/pagebin/wswanews0071.htm Injury Management Week 2005 – 19-23 SeptemberInjury Management Week is an initiative co-ordinated by WorkCover WA to promote and increase awareness of effective approaches to managing injury in the workplace. This year's theme for Injury Management Week is "Working together to help workers back to work." A programme of informative educative events has been designed to facilitate the development of knowledge and skills of workers, employers and other professionals working in the workers' compensation and injury management field. Refer: http://www.workcover.wa.gov.au/InjuryManagement/InjuryManagementWeek2005.htm New Hazardous Substances Database ReleasedThe Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC), formerly the National Occupational Health and Safety >Commission (NOHSC) , has released a new Hazardous Substances Information System (HSIS) internet database that provides information on over 3,500 hazardous substances and 580 atmospheric contaminants that have been classified in accordance with the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances Adopted National Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment [NOHSC:1003(1995)] or subsequent updates. The HSIS provides access to two data sets, one for hazardous substance information and the other for exposure standard information. The data for substances that are common to both data sets are linked. Both data sets can be searched using a range of search criteria. Search results (including the full data sets) can be printed or saved electronically. http://www.nohsc.gov.au/applications/hsis/ University Safety CommitteeThe USC last met on Tuesday 9 August 2005 . Approved minutes from previous meetings are available from the Safety and Health website. The University of Western Australia Safety and Health M 450 Bus. 08 6488 3938 Fax. 08 6488 1179 Email: safety@uwa.edu.au F1139 |
