UWA Safety and Health Newsletter – January 2005
University Safety Committee
The USC next meets on Tuesday 15th February. Approved minutes from previous meetings are available from the S&H website. The Safety Personnel group next meets at 1.10 pm on Tuesday 8th February at University House. All welcome.
UWA Safety Related Policy Update
Management of Student Placement Guidelines - Approved by USC 14th December 2004
Field Work Procedures for Safety in Country and Remote Areas - DRAFT for comment
Working Overseas Safety and Health Guidelines - DRAFT for comment
Safety Related Training
• Unsealed Radioisotope Handling Courses commencing 14th February and 21st February (honours students only)
• Laboratory Safety Course (1 day) in February (date TBA)
• Laser Safety in Research (5 hours) on Wednesday 9th March
• X-ray Analysis (5 hours) on Thursday 10th March
• Warden Training and Exercises will be conducted in the week beginning 21st March
Occupational Safety and Health Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2004
Legislation to bring about major changes in occupational safety and health (OSH) laws has passed through the Western Australian Parliament. The legislation is taking effect in two stages. New penalties and expansion of duty of care obligations came into effect on 1 January 2005, while changes to the powers of safety and health representatives and the establishment of a safety and health tribunal will occur from 4 April 2005. Further information is available from WorkSafe WA.
SafetyLine Magazine - December 2004
The December 2004 edition of the WorkSafe WA magazine SafetyLine is now available. It contains articles on tilt up and precast construction, industrial chemicals, safety and health reps survey 2004, safety at sea, danger: petrol powered saws, formaldehyde, Call Centres, crystalline silica, manual handling and Worksafe Plan winners.
Children in the Workplace
The University recognises that provision for staff and students with family responsibilities is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving equality of educational and employment opportunity. Children brought into the University must be under the direct supervision of an accompanying parent at all times. Responsibility for all aspects of the child's behaviour rests solely with the parent, as does responsibility for the safety of the children.
What’s New
Highest Penalty
WA has recorded its highest penalty ever for a workplace death after Goldfields Contractors WA Pty Ltd was fined $150,000 following the electrocution of a worker. A subcontractor’s employee was killed when he came into contact with live overhead power lines while installing a light pole. A second worker sustained third degree burns and had to have his left leg partially amputated. Goldfields was the main contractor for a street extension project and had control of the site through its project manager. Perth Magistrates Court heard Goldfields should have informed Western Power of the work to ensure power lines were isolated, turned off or diverted. In January 2005, the maximum fine for companies in WA found guilty of breaching OHS laws will rise from $200,000 to $500,000.
Industrial Manslaughter Laws Brief
The Federal Parliament Library has released a new research brief that outlines recent legislative developments on the issue of industrial manslaughter. The brief provides a snapshot of legislation introduced in various Australian jurisdictions as well as the UK and Canada.
New and Updated UWA Web sites
UWA Staff page
Staff grievance and complaint procedures
Tsunami helplines
Equity and Diversity Videos and iLectures
Advertised Positions
We are expecting to advertise the following positions on 5th February with applications due to close on 22nd February 2005:
Safety and Health Advisor – HEE 6, full time, until 31st December 2005
Risk Management Advisor – HEE 7, 0.6 time, until 31st December 2005
Copies of previous newsletters can be obtained from the following web site: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/newsletter
The University of Western Australia
UWA Safety and Health
Bus. 08 6488 3938
Fax. 08 6488 1179
Web: www.safety.uwa.edu.au
Email: safety@uwa.edu.au
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