Safety and Health Newsletter - March 2006

Call for Nomination for Safety and Health Representatives – closing 24th March 2006

The annual call for nominations for Safety and Health Representatives in work areas whose SHR's two year term expires or who do not currently have a SHR has been made through an All-staff email on 10th March 2006. The closing date for nominations is 24th March 2006. For further workplace information see: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/people/safety_and_health_representatives and http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/people/call_for_nominations

To download a nomination form go to: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/people/nomination_form

Safety Talk - Chemical Safety Legislation – Monday 20 March 

Come on a whirlwind tour of legislative requirements for the acquisition, transport, storage, use and disposal of chemicals in their various forms. Covers dangerous goods (storage and transport), poisons, drugs, industrial waste disposal to sewer, off site waste disposal, excise free ethanol for laboratory use, chemical weapons, import and export restrictions, National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Act, hazardous substances, carcinogens, illicit drug precursors and other miscellaneous legislation. To be presented by Jeff Davis from 12:00 noon to 12:45 pm on Monday 20 March 2006 in MCS Seminar Room G35 (in the new Biochemical Sciences building).  

OSH for Managers and Supervisors – Wednesday 22 March 

Essential for those who manage and supervise others to better understand key components of occupational safety and health management systems, their OSH responsibilities, OSH legislation and what support is available to assist with this. The next 0.5 day course is on Wednesday 22 March. Refer: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses/Safety_and_Health_for_Managers_and_Supervisors  

Warden Training – Monday 3 April

Essential for those who nominate or are appointed wardens within their workplaces. Both the introductory (3 hours) course and the refresher course (1 hour) are on Monday 3 April 2006. Practice building evacuation will occur in selected buildings during this week. For information and to download the course notes see: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses/warden  or http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses/warden_refresher

To view the warden structures in University buildings refer:

http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/people/wardens

Contractors Safety Induction – Friday 21 April

Aimed at Contractors, Consultants and UWA Responsible Officers. To be held at 9.30 am – 11.00 am and 2 – 3.30 pm (repeat session) on Friday 21 April 2006. To register contact Jo Epis, Contract Administrator, Facilities Management Administration, Bus. 6488 1710 , Email: jepis@admin.uwa.edu.au Refer UWA Contractor’s web site: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/contractor   

WorkSafe Improvement Notices and Follow up Requests

In a recent memo to the University Executive, Deans, Heads of School, Heads of Section and School Managers, information was provided on the 13 Improvement Notices issued on the University in relation to chemical, biological and medical laboratories in November 2005. Requests to review (where applicable) their own areas and other safety matters was also provided. To view the memo refer: WorksafeWAmemo.pdf

UWA OHSMS Audit Program 2005

Included with the above memo was a summary of the findings and recommendations arising from the UWA Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems (OHSMS) audit program which commenced in 2004. To date seven Schools have been audited with another nine audits in progress. Whilst most Schools have done well in the areas of Policy and Management Review, suggestions are made for improvement in the areas of Planning, Implementation and Measurement and Evaluation. To view the short report refer: OSHMSAuditProgramReport2005.pdf      

What’s New 

Behavioural Based Safety

The Victorian Trades Hall Council has produced a toolkit on behaviour-based safety programs. The kit explains what behaviour-based safety is and how employees might respond should their employer intend to introduce such programs. http://ohsrep.org.au/index.cfm?section=12&Category=106

Health and Safety in the Office

WorkCover Authority of NSW and Northern Territory WorkSafe have both produced guides which outlines minimum standards for the office environment, keyboard equipment and occupational health and safety in the office. Whilst it includes details of occupational health and safety legislation specific to them these may still be of interest to UWA personnel.

http://www.acfr.usyd.edu.au/ohsrm/docs/workcover/Health%20and%20Safety%20in%20the%20Office%20%20(office).pdf

http://www.nt.gov.au/deet/worksafe/corporate/publications/pub0004.pdf

Even safety meetings have problems, refer: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4735984.stm

University Safety Committee

The USC met on Tuesday 14th February. Approved minutes from previous meetings are available from the Safety and Health website. Copies of previous newsletters can be obtained from the ‘following web site: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/newsletter 

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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