Safety and Health Newsletter – September 2008
UWA Safety Awards 2008
Nominations are invited for the following Safety Awards - Group (Faculty, School, Section), Individual and UWA Safety Recognition Award. Note that the UWA Safety Recognition Award does not have any specified criteria and nominations may be made to recognise the efforts of current safety personnel or for a recently completed safety related activity or project. All staff are encouraged to promote these awards within their work areas and to seek suitable nominations. Nominations to Safety and Health close on 3rd October and the awards will be presented on 31st October 2008. Further details can be obtained from: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/whats_new (July 2008)
OSH for Managers and Supervisors – Tuesday 21st October
The next UWA Safety and Health for Managers and Supervisors course (1 day) will be held on Tuesday 21st October. This is essential training for all managers and supervisors. It provides knowledge of OSH legislation, principles, responsibilities and practices involved with managing OSH and application at UWA. For more information and to enrol please see: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses/Safety_and_Health_for_Managers_and_Supervisors
Perth Work Safe 2008 Forum – Thursday 23rd October
The Perth Work Safe 2008 Forum is being held from 8.30 am to 4.00 pm on Thursday 23rd October 2008 at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre. The Forum is a Safe Work Australia Week Event arranged by WorkSafe WA. The target audience is elected safety and health representatives – employees, managers and supervisors are also welcome to attend. The registration fee is $120 (GST inclusive) per delegate.
The University is offering to cover the cost of a limited number of registrations for UWA Safety and Health Representatives and School Safety Officers. To register your interest please contact Rebecca Joel (6488 3938, safety@uwa.edu.au ) by COB Friday 26 September. The aim is to have a representation from across UWA and for these attendees to bring back useful OSH knowledge and ideas for implementation within their work areas. For further information on the Perth Work Safe 2008 Form please see: http://www.docep.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/Content/Education/WorkSafe%20Forums/index.htm#Perth%20Work and
http://www.docep.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/PDF/Events_and_activitie/WorkSafeForumRego.pdf
Draft UWA Diving Procedures – Comments sought by 24th October 2008
The UWA Diving Procedures have been reviewed and a new draft plus related forms are available for viewing at the Safety and Health website at 'What's_New' September (see: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/whats_new ). Comments on these drafts are invited and should be sent to Safety and Health ( safety@uwa.edu.au ) by Friday 24th October 2008. The existing UWA Underwater Diving Procedures (2002) are available at:
http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/policies/underwater_diving_procedures
Implications of the draft UWA Diving Procedures include:
(i) A web based program (Dive-Log) will be used to manage UWA diver’s qualifications, including recording diving histories
(ii) New Diver requirements (Scientific Diver, Restricted Scientific Diver, Student Diver in Training, Visiting Divers) and demonstration of competencies
(iii) All diving trips requiring approved project applications, risk assessments, emergency response plans and participant sign off
(iv) New forms and checklists for pre departures, dive trip, field record dive log, etc.
The draft will be considered further before being approved by the University Diving and Boating Safety Working Group later in 2008. Training and assistance with the implementation of these procedures will be provided in 2009 to staff, students and others seeking to undertake scientific diving.
Storage and Use of LPG Gas Cylinders for BBQs
Safety and Health recently sent out a Safety Alert to Deans, Heads of School/Unit regarding the storage of LPG gas cylinders used for BBQs and requested information on where the cylinders are located. For further information see http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/hazard_alerts/hazard_alert_liquid_petroleum_gas_(lpg)_barbeque_safety Most fires involving barbeques are due to leaking gas bottles, faulty connections or a build up of grease and fat (NSW Fire Brigades http://www.nswfb.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=763). The storage of these barbeques and LPG cylinders within buildings could pose a threat to the safety and health of the occupants. Potential problems could arise with the security of the cylinder, potential explosive atmosphere from escaping gas and the specific storage location of the cylinder in cases of emergency situations. LPG is heaver than air and if there is a leak in any gas couplings, fittings or hoses the gas will tend to collect in low points and may remain in an area for some time creating a potential fire or explosive situation. Australian Standard 1596-2002 S2.3 states that ‘The use and storage of cylinders of LP Gas indoors, whether full or nominally empty, should be avoided wherever practicable’. Draft UWA Inspecting the Workplace Procedures – Open for Comment
Please refer to the following:-
Office inspection checklist see
General laboratory inspection checklist see
Workshop inspection checklist see
Safety and Health will be adding to the list of checklists and appreciate feedback on any amendments or suggestions to these lists. For the UWA policy on inspecting the workplace, see http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/policies/inspecting_the_workplace
University Safety Committee
The University Safety Committee last met on 12th August. The next meeting is on Tuesday 14th October 2008. Approved minutes from previous meetings are available from the Safety and Health website. http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/people/committees/safety
We shall be discussing EnergySafety’s new Code of Practice for Low Voltage Live Electrical work which prohibits working on live equipment, unless stringent requirements with risk assessment and having a safety management plan are in place. This has implications for areas of the University where research or disruption to power could
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
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