UWA Safety and Health Newsletter - March 2005
University Safety Committee
The USC next meets on Tuesday 12th April. Approved minutes from previous meetings are available from the S&H website. The Safety Personnel group next meets at 1.15 pm on Tuesday 5th April in Social Science Seminar Room G201F. All welcome. The following are now available:
University Safety Committee Annual Report 2004
New or Revised Safety and Health Policies, Procedures or Guidelines - 2004
Draft Occupational Safety and Health Operational Priorities Plan 2005-2007
Other UWA Safety Committees
A web page of known Faculty / School and Section Safety Committees has been prepared. Please advise of any omissions or amendments.
UWA Safety Related Policy Update
Field Work Procedures for Safety in Country and Remote Areas - DRAFT for comment
Working Overseas Safety and Health Guidelines - DRAFT for comment
Comments are required by COB on 5th April so that these may then be discussed at the next USC meeting.
Safety and Health Representatives (SHR)
The recent call for nominations has resulted in 23 SHRs commencing a two-year term as from 30th March 2005, 5 for the first time. Information is being sent to all SHRs and to their Deans / Directors and Heads of Schools / Section. Information on provisional improvement notices (which become legal entitlements, with conditions, as from 4th April 2005) and both the Introductory (5 days) and Refresher (2 days) SHR training courses (planned to be held at UWA mid year) will be provided in due course.
New S&H Staff – commencing 21st March 2005
Brendan Dragon is our new Safety and Health Advisor. His principal duties include conducting internal safety management audits and inspections, training and incident investigations.
Stuart Spouse is our new Risk Management Advisor. His principal duties include assisting work areas in preparing and documenting operational risk management plans and in reviewing the strategic risks facing the University.
Safety Related Training
First Aid @ UWA is the first in a planned series of short meetings on safety related topics. This will be held from 1 pm to 1.45 pm on Monday 18th April in CMS Seminar Room G35 (in new Biochemical Sciences building) and will cover the current policy, responsibilities, emergency contact procedures, accessories, reporting and sharing of experiences. First Aid Officers, safety personnel and interested persons are invited. Please RSVP by the preceding Friday to enable sufficient handout materials to be provided to all at this session.
Mental Health First Aid is a short course for UWA employees who wish to have a better understanding of mental health disorders, and learn how to recognise and provide support to others who may be experiencing mental health issues. Enrolments for the next course close on 3rd May 2005.
Benchmarking Exercise
UWA participated in an Australian and New Zealand Universities positive performance indicator benchmarking survey using a question set based on AS/NZS 4801:2001 ‘Occupational – Specifications with guidance for use’. A copy of the question set and UWA response relative to other WA, Go8 and all participating Universities is now available.
Flu Vaccinations
Influenza vaccination will be offered by the UWA Medical Centre (6488 2118) as from 29th March. Please book. The cost is $15 (cash preferred), which covers the cost of the vaccine. Medicare card required and ‘New Patient Details’ form if you are not already a client.
Wireless LANS
Information on non ionising radiation related health concerns from the use of Wireless Local Area Networks (LAN) has been prepared by Jonathon Thwaites. The conclusions are that these systems are designed to operate well within internationally accepted radiofrequency guidelines and exposure standards and should not pose a significant risk to the health of users or bystanders.
Main Campus Emergency Number - 2222
All personnel are reminded that the main campus emergency number (24 hours) is 2222 or using external lines 6488 2222 or 1800 655 222. This number is communicated via the following: Safety induction checklist, Phone handset stickers, site and parking maps, Emergency Procedures poster, Evacuation Procedures for Lecture Theatres and Tutorial Rooms poster and Security & Personal Safety on Campus pamphlets. Click here for further information on UWA emergency procedures and for procedures to be followed in a critical incident.
What’s New
Australasian Universities Safety Association (AUSA) Conference
The biennial AUSA / AVCC Conference is being held in Adelaide from 5th – 8th July 2005. This is the premier meeting of safety and health personnel in the higher education sector.
Australian Safety and Compensation Council
On February 7, the National Occupational Health & Safety Commission (NOHSC) became the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC), under the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
Avian Bird Flu
Click here for the latest information from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization.
Draft Australian Standard - Packaging for surface transport of biological material that may cause disease in humans, animals and plants (DR 05023)
Beginning date for comments: 24 January 2005
Closing date for comments: 28 March 2005
Electronic copies are available for free downloading from the main Standards Australia website, www.standards.org.au
Then go to: Standards Development Tab
Go to: Current Drafts of Drop down menu
Go to: DR 05023 and follow the screen instructions to access the document.
UWA Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBAs)
For information on some of the significant changes arising from the recent General and Academic Staff EBAs refer to a presentation Jenny Robertson made to the University Management Group on 15th February 2005.
WorkSafe WA
The April 2005 SafetyLine magazine is now available and includes information on key legislative changes affecting: General Duty of Care, employer provided accommodation, enforceable undertakings, labour hire industry, provisional improvement notices and safety and health committees.
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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