Safety & Health - Newsletter

UWA Safety Awards 2005

The presentation of the UWA Safety Awards 2005 will be made from 10 am on Wednesday 12 October. The awards recognise initiatives, successful implementation of processes and outstanding service for safety by groups and individuals. Award categories include: Group (Faculty, School, Section), Individual and Group Rehabilitation. For attendance RSVP please contact Safety and Health on 6488 3938.

Safety Related Training

A talk from Greg Cawthray (Plant Biology) on Fieldwork will be held from 1 pm to 1:45 pm on Monday 24 October in CMS Seminar Room G35 (in the new Biochemical Sciences building). This will explore the UWA Field Work Procedures in Rural and Remote Areas, which is available at: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/policies/field_work

Warden Training and Evacuation Drills

Warden training and practice evacuations drills are planned for the week beginning Mon 10 October. For the current list of buildings, wardens and general information refer: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/people/wardens

Hazard Alert – Lecture Theatre Cables

A new UWA Hazard Alert : Tripping over Lecture Theatre & Seminar / Tutorial Room has been issued and is available at: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/hazard_alerts

Incident / Injury and Hazard Reporting Procedure

The UWA incident / injury and hazard reporting procedures are spelt at: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/policies/incidentinjury_and_hazard_notification_and_investigation_procedures For serious incidents and injuries the Head of School and/or School Manager should also be informed as soon as practicable. This is to enable management to be duly kept in the loop to render due attention and overall manage the investigation and recommendations for remedial actions.

WorkSafe WA Forum – 26 October

The WorkSafe WA Forum will be held at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre on Wednesday 26 October 2005. For further information: http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/pagebin/wswanews0071.htm

Visits by WorkSafe WA Inspectors

WorkSafe WA has advised that a program had been initiated to investigate on a routine basis educational institutions. At this stage several high schools and two universities have been inspected and the following information was offered by an Inspector so that we were aware of the types of matters for which Improvement and Prohibition Notices have been written. Areas are requested to pay particular attention to matters such as:

General slip and trip hazards (that is cables and material in walkways)
Machine guarding
Simple ergonomics
Exit signs missing or not working
General safety related signage
Light diffusers missing
No piggy backing of electrical equipment (that is using double adaptors)
Position and location of fire extinguishers (to ensure they can be accessed or removed in the event of an emergency)
Access to material safety data sheets (MSDS)
MSDS for every substance that is in that workplace
Ensuring that students had read and understood the activities that they were doing
Induction training conducted for casuals and sessional lecturers
Whether staff and students are aware of their emergency Assembly Area
Whether staff and students know how to report a hazard
If students are diluting a substance what is the dilution ratio from what to what
Beakers etc sitting in lab areas without labels
Storage of flammable liquids mainly fuel

HSE (UK) Inspection Packs

The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently produced a number of inspection of the following topics:

Refer: http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/fod/inspect/index.htm

University Safety Committee

The USC next meets on Tuesday 11 October 2005.Approved minutes from previous meetings are available from the Safety and Health website.

The University of Western Australia
Safety and Health M450
Bus. 08 6488 3938
Fax. 08 6488 1179
Web: www.safety.uwa.edu.au
Email: safety@uwa.edu.au
F1139

Safety and Health Newsletter - September 2005