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Safety and Health Newsletter – March
2008
Call for Nomination for Safety and Health
Representatives – closing 21st March 2008
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 will be made through an
All-staff email soon. The closing date for nominations is 21st
March 2008. 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 Related Training
• Introduction to ICRP 103, 1.05 – 1.50 pm
Wednesday 12th March in MCS Lecture Room G33. The
International Commission on Radiological Protection Publication
103 (ICRP 103) was published in November 2007 after several years
of preparation. It replaces the Recommendations published in 1990
ICRP 60. This is the key international document relating to
radiological protection and underlies much of the regulatory
limits, radiation safety philosophy and radiation safety
practises in relation to the use of ionising radiation.
Jonathon Thwaites will provide a brief summary of the main
recommendations. All invited.
• X-Ray Analysis Safety Course (1/2 day) on Tuesday
18th March
http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses/xray_analysis
• Laser Safety in Research Course (1/2 day) on Friday
28th March
http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses/laser_safety
• Warden Training Course (1/2 day) on Monday 31st March
http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses/warden
• Warden Refresher Training Course (1 hour) on Monday
31st March
http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses/warden_refresher
Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First
Aid Training
Whilst it is important to be trained in traditional first aid,
the reality is we are probably all affected more often in our
lives by mental health issues. Whether this be our own
psychological issues or the impact of mental illness amongst
family, friends or co-workers. The difference is mental illness
is often hidden and not talked about. The shooting incident on 14
February 2008 at a Northern Illinois University by a student
studying Social Work, who killed five other students and then
himself highlighted that the fear of disclosure and stigma might
drive people to be non-compliant with taking medication. Many
people may notice changes in behaviour in a close associate, but
not know how to have a conversation with the person on how they
are coping or encourage them to seek appropriate help. Steven
Swartz (formerly Vice Chancellor at Murdoch University and
currently at Macquarie University in Sydney) wrote in The
Australian newspaper (Wednesday 20th February 2008, p 34) about
the incident and stated "It is easy to avoid personal
responsibility for the psychologically disturbed. They are ill,
we think, and should be looked after by mental health
professionals. But this is not enough. We cannot simply rely on
psychiatrists and psychologists: all of us who work in
universities must do our part: ...I realise that some people may
be made uneasy by all this talk about mental illness, especially
violence and suicide. They feel that publicising such matters may
put ideas in students' heads. I understand their anxiety, but it
is time for mental illness to come out of the closet. We must end
this conspiracy of silence that surrounds it. We must make
education and prevention our personal responsibility".
The training on offer at UWA will help you develop skills to
recognise mental illness and know what to do to assist people get
to the next step to seek help and appropriate treatment, skills
that will stand you in good stead for the rest of your
life, whether this be for work situations or personal life. The
next courses are on:-
Youth Mental Health First Aid (for people working with, and
supporting Youth), includes self-harm and eating disorders, not
covered in the adult Mental Health First Aid course.
4 Modules: 12.30pm to 4.00pm OSDS Monday 31 March, Friday 4
April, Monday 7 April, Monday 14 April (This session 1.00pm to
5.00pm) 2008. To register:
http://www.osds.uwa.edu.au/about/workshop.asp?workshop_id=474
Mental Health First Aid (adults). 4 Modules: 1.00pm
to 4.00pm OSDS Tuesday 8 April, Friday 11 April, Tuesday 15
April, Friday 18 April 2008. To register:
http://www.osds.uwa.edu.au/about/workshop.asp?workshop_id=340
Start Planning Flu Vaccinations Now
Source:
http://www.fightflu.gov.au/asp/index.asp
1. Influenza is a highly contagious and potentially deadly
disease that can be spread through coughing or sneezing.
2. Influenza is caused by a virus and is not the same as a
cold. It can cause serious and debilitating complications such as
pneumonia, especially in the elderly and others in the 'at risk'
group.
3. Influenza causes 2,500 deaths, 80,000 GP visits and
15,000 hospitalisations in Australia each year amongst at risk
groups.
4. 1.2 million Australians aged under 65 are in the 'at
risk' group.
5. People with a chronic disease have a 40 times increased
risk of death from influenza. A combination of heart and lung
disease increases this risk 800 times.
6. Only 42 per cent of the 'at risk' group under 65 years of
age are being vaccinated annually.
7. Only 20-50 per cent of health care workers, who are at a
greater risk of contracting and spreading influenza, are being
vaccinated annually.
8. 15 per cent of influenza related deaths and 60 per cent
of hospitalisations are in the under 65 'at risk' group.
9. 10 per cent of all workplace absenteeism associated with
illness is due to influenza.
10. Annual vaccination is the single most effective measure
to prevent influenza.
WorkSafe WA Web Site
WorkSafe WA is part of the WA Department of Consumer and
Employment Protection and has recently transferred their web
information to the DOCEP web site. Safety and Health has
many direct links to WorkSafe WA publications and resources which
no longer work. We are working through and updating these
links. Please advise if you encounter any old links.
The new entry to WorkSafe WA is: http://www.docep.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/
Safety and Health
Safety and Health welcomes Ms Megan McManus (Radiation and Safety
Adviser, 6488 7933), who commenced on 18th February and provides
assistance with general radiation safety and ChemAlert
services. Megan is about to graduate with a Bachelor of
Science majoring in Biophysics and Physiology from UWA.
We have an Administrative Assistant Insurance (Level 4, 0.7
time) secondment opportunity for 6 months from early April.
Applications close on 11th March. For further information
see:
https://www.his.admin.uwa.edu.au/jobvacs/external/general/doc/doc1130050.RTF
University Safety Committee
The University Safety Committee last met on 12th February.
The next meeting is on Tuesday 8th April 2008.
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
Bus. 08 6488 3938
Fax. 08 6488 1179
Web: www.safety.uwa.edu.au
Email: safety@uwa.edu.au
F1139
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