UWA Safety and Health Newsletter – July 2004
Safety Personnel Meeting
The next meeting is at University House on Tuesday 3rd August 1.10 – 2.00 pm. A morning tea for SHR is also planned for this day in the S&H.
University Safety Committee
The next meeting is on Tuesday 10th August.
‘What’s New’. Refer to July 2004: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/whats_new for the following:
• Draft UWA Immunisation Policy – for approval at the next USC meeting
• Safety and Health Representative Poster – providing information on local SHRs
• Job Safety Analysis Guidelines
Safety Seminar 2004
The Safety Seminar was attended by 76 persons. PowerPoint presentations are now available via ‘what’s new’.
Annual Safety Awards 2004
Nominations are now being sought for the Annual UWA Safety Awards. There are three categories: Group, Individual and Rehabilitation (Group). The purpose of the awards is to recognise best practice approaches and to share these with others within the University. Each award winner receives a certificate, book voucher and recognition throughout the University. Nominations close on 20th August 2004. More information is available via ‘what’s new’
Safety Related Training:
'Senior First Aid' with Recreate Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st August. Refer: http://www.sport.uwa.edu.au/Recreate/Recreate.htm
S&H has recently acquired a CD Rom with generic safety related training courses, including PowerPoint presentation and handouts. For further information contact David Rodwell on 6488 2035, drodwell@admin.uwa.edu.au
Chem Alert
The Chem Alert intranet system has recently been updated, adding stock management to its functionality. To carry out stock management via the intranet, a Chem Alert account is required, but not an ACS account. The full material safety data sheet (msds) database is still accessible to all internal users. Further information on ChemAlert is available at: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/about_chemical_safety/chemalert
Audit and Inspection Program
The S&H is about to commence safety audits and inspection of Units within the University. Information on the audit process, the safety management audit tools, generic safety handbook and inspection question sets will soon be made available on the intranet website. For further information contact David Rodwell on 6488 2035, drodwell@admin.uwa.edu.au
Did you know?
1. UWA Injury Statistics
From 1 January 2003 to 30 June 2004 there were 420 incidents reported to the S&H. Of these
• 35% involved slips, trips, falls and walking into objects
• 17% involved manual handling
• 22% occurred in office environments
• 11 were reported electrical shocks
Further information on our incidents is contained in the Safety Seminar 2004 talks (refer Office Safety) and the University Safety Committee Annual Report 2003, which is available from the web at: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/people/committees/safety
2. S&H Web Site
The S&H website has a great deal of useful safety, health and insurance related information. There are around 450 web pages and 12,000 site visits each month (or 400 per work day). We are continually seeking to improve and seek your suggestions on the contents and layout of the web site. Please contact Dani on 6488 3938, safety@uwa.edu.au
3. WorkSafe WA Priority Areas
WorkSafe WA has identified seven areas which continue to result in high rates of lost time injury or a higher than average number of deaths. They are targeting these areas through inspection programs and have recently been focusing on City Councils. The areas are
• Forklifts;
• Manual handling (particularly lifting);
• Electricity;
• Work at heights;
• Slips and trips;
• Hazardous substances; and
• New and young workers.
For further information on these, including checklists to assist with compliance refer: http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/PageBin/wswagenl0038.htm
4. WorkSafe Victoria
WorkSafe Victoria have developed a new web page on machine guarding which provides a clear checklist of guarding requirements and information specific to saws, presses and plastics. Areas such as workshops and plant rooms should be assessed in accordance with these since the extensively make use of relevant Australian Standards. Refer:
http://www.workcover.vic.gov.au/vwa/home.nsf/pages/machine_guarding_basics
Copies of previous newsletters can be obtained from the ‘what’s new’ at the S&H web site at: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/whats_new
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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