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Newsletter - 2004 May
UWA Safety and Health Newsletter – May 2004
University Safety Committee · Congratulations to the following SHR who have been elected to serve on the University Safety Committee for 1 year as from June 2004: May Bond, Petra Fujita, David Freshwater, Paul Hazzell, Hugh McCaffrey, and Rod Robinson. Michael Blair and Jo Francis will deputise when required. · The Safety Personnel Meeting will next be held from 1.10 pm – 2 pm on Tuesday 1st June at University House. Its purpose is to discuss current safety issues and take forward items to the next University Safety Committee meeting · The next University Safety Committee meeting is on Tuesday 8th June 2004 · Calls will soon be made for the 2004 UWA Safety Awards
UWA Safety Policy Changes Expressions of interest are invited to serve on the following working parties: · Review of the UWA Working in Remote Location (Fieldwork) Policy – please contact Lyall Munslow-Davies on 6488 7933 by 18th June. Refer: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/policies/remote · Review of UWA Safety and Health Training Guidelines – please contact Mike Rafferty on 6488 2307 by 18th June. Refer: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/policies/training_safety_&_health_guidelines
‘What’s New’. Refer to April 2004: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/whats_new for the following: · Electrical Equipment Tagging and Testing Policy · Electrical Equipment Tagging and Testing Compliance Guidelines · Electrical Equipment Tagging and Testing Compliance Checklist · Hazard Alert - Electrical Furnaces and Kilns The UWA Confidential Incident/Injury Report Form and Needlestick/Sharps Injury or Exposure to Body Fluid Report Form have both been updated. The new forms are available from: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/forms Also check out the ‘For Contractors’ web site at: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/contractor which brings together useful information for both Contractors and Responsible Officers.
Safety and Health Representatives (SHR) · An Introductory Safety and Health Representative course (5 days) is being arranged to be held on Campus in the week commencing Monday 28th June. SHR who have not already completed this course should attend. For further information contact Dani Fouracre on 6488 39388..
Safety Related Training: · Contractor induction training: 2.00 – 3.30 pm on Monday 31st May at HEW Roberts Lecture Theatre, Nedlands Campus. To enrol contact Lisa Etherington in FM on 6488 1710. Preferred Contractors and Responsible Officers for contractors should attend. Refer: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/contractor · Senior First Aid Courses (2 days) – Tuesdays 8th and 15th June (cost $110) and a second course on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th June (cost $120). To enrol contact Marshall Varley, Recreation and Fitness Officer, UWA Sports on 6488 2286. Refer: http://econnect.sport.uwa.edu.au/econnect/Activities/ActivitiesDetails.asp?aid=144 · Workplace Bullying in Tertiary Education Talk – 1.00 – 2.00 pm on Monday 14th June in Woolnough Lecture Theatre (Geography-Geology) by Mr Paul McCarthy, School of Management, Griffith University. · Introductory Safety and Health Representative course (5 days): Commencing Monday 28th June. · Unsealed Radioisotope Handling Course (3 days)*: Commencing Monday 5th July · Laboratory Safety Course (1 day)*: Monday 12th July · Safety Seminar (1 day): Wednesday 7th July – programme to be advised. * Refer to web site http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses
Recent Incidents: Xylene incident – a 3.8 litre glass winchester containing waste chemicals (predominately xylene) ruptured, causing an evacuation of the laboratory area. It is our view this was due to hydraulic damage from overfilling of the winchester. Electrical shock – a student received a non fatal electrical shock whilst using a kiln to cure samples. The kiln has been taken out of service. A hazard report prepared in response to this was prepared and is available at: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/hazard_alerts/drying_ovens Hydrogen gas explosion – two staff members were injured following a hydrogen glass explosion and fire within an anaerobic chamber. The investigation into this is progressing. Driving incident - a student was injured when the four wheel drive vehicle she was driving left a gravel road whilst she was returning from a fieldwork trip. Fortunately her injuries were not severe although the vehicle has been written off.
Chemical Safety: The ChemAlert program containing over 50,000 material safety data sheets (MSDS) has been installed onto a new server and should now be working reliably. Refer: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/chemical_safety/chemalert Email enquiries: chemalert@admin.uwa.edu.au An updated list of MSDS web sites is also available at: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/links#msds
Radiation Safety: A 2004 revision of AS/NS 2211.1 ‘Safety of laser products – Equipment classification, requirements and user’s guide’ has recently been released. For further information contact Jonathon Thwaites on 6488 7932.
WorkSafe WA has recently produced a number of publications including: · Guidance Note: Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) · Report: Extended Working Hours Review · Code of Practice: Prevention of Falls at Workplaces These are available via: http://www1.safetyline.wa.gov.au/ Please refer and apply as relevant to your work area.
Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act – Proposed Changes For further information see: http://www.workerscomp.wa.gov.au/
UWA Safety and Health News: · Belinda Ireland-Johnston commences 7 months maternity leave on 28th May, returning in early 2005. During this time Danica Fouracre (6488 3938) will be our Administrative Assistant · Dr Sylvia Lachberg, Biological Safety Officer, has moved into Research Services. Sylvia can still be contacted on 6488 8782, email: slachberg@admin.uwa.edu.au · S&H will be relocating from the Central Administration building into the Motorola building, Fairway in August 2004
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 |
