Newsletter - 2007 March

Testing and Tagging Talk – 1.10 pm Thursday 5th April 2007

There will be an information session on the recent changes to the UWA testing and tagging of portable electrical equipment requirements from 1.10 pm to 1.50 pm on Tuesday 5th April in the Molecular & Chemical Sciences: G.35 - MCS Seminar Room.  All welcome.  To view the policy and guidelines changes please see:  http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/electrical_safety

Contractors Safety Induction Training

Aimed at Contractors, Consultants and UWA Responsible Officers. To be held from 3 .00 pm to 4.30 pm on Thursday 12th April and from 11.00 am to 12.30 pm on Friday 13th April (repeat session). To register please contact Sally Kenton, Clients Services Manager, Facilities Management Administration, Bus. 6488 1710, Email: sally.kenton@uwa.edu.au
Refer UWA Contractor’s web site:  http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/contractors

University Safety Committee Annual Report 2006

The University Safety Committee Annual Report 2006 is now available via:  http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/people/committees/safety
It provides information on
• Incident and injury – types, trends, costs, current and proposed reduction strategies
• New and revised policies, procedures and guidelines – for implementation (as appropriate)
• Chemical Management Systems Implementation – focus area in 2006
• Testing & Tagging of Portable Electrical Equipment – update
• Declaration of Ability to Perform the Inherent Requirements of the Position – new in 2006
• Safety and health related awareness raising and training provided
• University Safety Committee related business – items referred and actions taken
• Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems audit program – progress and results

UWA Emergency Procedures Booklet

A new UWA Emergency procedures booklet has been prepared and is currently being printed.  It is expected to be distributed to all workplaces during April.  It contains sections on:  General introduction, Emergency Evacuation, Fire/Smoke, Personal Injury, Personal Threat, Bomb Threat, Bomb Threat Checklist, Suspicious mail or Package, Radioisotope or Biohazard Spill, Chemical Hazard / Spill / Gas Leak and a section on People with Specific Needs. It is requested that these be carefully read when first received and that they be retained near telephones.  The same information will be placed on the website at:  http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/policies/emergency_general

ASCC Guide on OHS in Government Procurement

The Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) has developed new Guidance on OHS in Government Procurement.  It outlines steps to ensure OHS is considered at each stage of the procurement cycle, including:
• planning;
• preparing to approach the market;
• evaluating submissions;
• contract negotiation and award;
• contract management;
• termination/transition; and
• contract evaluation.

The guide contains checklists, templates, questionnaires and models for use by procurement managers. Currently this is only available in hardcopy from Safety and Health.

New Staff at Safety and Health

Two new staff members commenced with Safety and Health on 12th March:

Miss Alana Wake, Radiation and Safety Advisor, who takes over from Peter Gibbons (who left in mid January).  Alana will work closely with Zoe O'Donnell, Jonathon Thwaites and Jeff Davis on the implementation of the UWA radiation and chemical (ChemAlert) safety management systems.

Mr Geoff Atkins, Safety and Health Advisor, who takes over from Brendan Dragon (who left on 13th March).  Geoff will be involved with general safety management systems training and auditing, incident investigations and OSH training.

University Safety Committee

The USC next meets on 10th April.   Approved minutes from previous meetings are available from the Safety and Health website. 

Previous Safety & Health Newsletters

For those who have missed out on our earlier editions, copies of previous newsletters can be obtained from the ‘following web site:  http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/newsletter.  All are encouraged to share relevant safety information in each edition to the rest in your respective workplaces.

The University of Western Australia

Safety and Health M450

Bus. 08 6488 3938

Fax. 08 6488 1179

Web: www.safety.uwa.edu.au

Email: safety@uwa.edu.au

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