UWA Safety and Health Newsletter – May 2005
University Safety Committee
The USC last met on Tuesday 12 April and next meets on Tuesday
14 June 2005. Approved
minutes from previous meetings are available from the S&H
website. A new University Managers Group representative is being
sought following the resignation from the University of Brett
Tizard, who will take up a position at Edith Cowan
University.
The next Safety Personnel meeting will be held from 1.15 pm on
Tuesday 7th June in Social Science Seminar Room G201F. All
welcome.
Safety Related Training
For Safety and Health Representatives
1. Introductory SHR course from Monday 27 June
to Friday 1 July 2005 (5 days). Required for all new SHR and
those SHR who may not have attended this training already. Course
payment required and a UWA subsidy ($300) is available.
2. Refresher SHR course from Monday 27 to
Tuesday 28 June 2005 (2 days). Beneficial for SHR who attended an
Introductory course more than 3 years ago and would like an
update on the legislature and other changes. No fee required.
3. Provisional Improvement Notices (PIN)
Training on Friday 1 July 2005 (1 day, not compulsory).
For SHR who would like to know more about issuing of PINs. This
is a legal entitlement as from 4 April 2005. A requirement before
a PIN may be issued, this training is now incorporated into the
last day of the Introductory SHR course. No fee required. Also
available elsewhere subject to prior arrangement.
For further information and to enrol in the above, contact the
UWA Safety and Health on extn 3938.
Unsealed
Radioisotope Handling Course (3 days)
– commencing Monday 27 June 2005. Cost for UWA staff and
students is $50 per person.
Laboratory
Safety Course (1 day) – Wednesday 13
July 2005. Cost for UWA staff and students is $40 per person.
Transilluminator Safety @ UWA will be held
from 1 pm to 1:45 pm on Monday 20 June in CMS Seminar Room G35
(in the new Biochemical Sciences building). Transilluminators are
a source of potentially hazardous ultraviolet radiation (UV)
found in many laboratories and used to make visible the
fluorescent marker used in electrophoresis gels. The talk will
cover their hazards, applications, relevant standards and safety
precautions. Please RSVP by the preceding Friday to enable
sufficient handout materials to be provided to all at this
session.
Insurance Renewal Briefings will be held at
10 am and 2.30 pm (repeat session) on Wednesday 22 June in Room
28 Social Sciences. The sessions will explain the importance of
the relevant information required for the annual insurance
returns, which are due by 29 June.
Night lighting. Staff are encouraged to
report inadequate and faulty lighting. Inadequate lighting may be
reported to Garry Jones (Manager, Security and Parking, extn
1205). Faulty lighting should be reported to Minor maintenance
(ext 2025).
What’s New
WorkSafe WA has recently published a revised Safety
and health representative’s handbook which covers
topics including representatives' functions, PINs, record
keeping, discrimination and disqualification.
Changes to the Workers’ Compensation and Injury
Management Act 1981 which were due to take affect from 1 July
2005 have been delayed until 14 November 2005. These changes
include statutory benefits, injury management (including the role
of Approved Medical Specialists, new Code of Practice), dispute
resolution and common law. Refer to the
WorkCover newsletter (April 2005) with the changes which have
now been delayed.
The
UWA Radiation Safety Committee Annual Report 2004 is now
available.
List of Statutes Affecting the University A list
of the major Commonwealth and WA statutes which dictate how the
University operates and the operational section or most affected
person(s) responsible for compliance has been produced (April
2005). Located at: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/risk
Office Safety
Do you think your office is a safe place to work? Why not take a
quick tour around the Comcare
(Australia) virtual office and check out potential hazards
and solutions in office related areas such as Reception,
First Aid, General
Office, Kitchenette,
Document
Storage and Photocopying.
Workplace Eye Safety
The Optometrists Association Australia has published a workplace eye
safety fact sheet, which stresses the importance of employers
adhering to Australian Standard 1336:1997 (Recommended practices
for occupational eye protection) to reduce eye injuries. It says
employers should use the following strategies to control or
reduce eye injury hazards:
• isolate hazardous operations;
• ensure there are suitable screens or guards to shield from
flying fragments, particles or radiation;
• provide water sprays for dampening down dusty areas;
• use windbreaks to reduce dust being raised by air
turbulence;
• use catchments, splash guards and baffles to confine
dangerous liquids; and
• extract dust, gases or fumes with exhaust hoods or
booths.
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
F1139
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