UWA Safety and Health Newsletter – September 2004
Safety Personnel Meeting
The next meeting is at University House on Tuesday 5th October 1.10 – 2.00 pm.
University Safety Committee
The next meeting is on Tuesday 12th October.
Safety Awards Presentation
The presentation of the Annual UWA Safety Awards has been delayed until Wednesday 10th November. This will be held in the Prescott Room, Chancellery commencing at 10 am. A call for RSVPs will be made in October.
UWA Safety and Health has recently moved to the 1st Floor, Motorola building, Fairway. For a location map click here.
Safety Related Training:
Warden training and practice evacuations are scheduled for the week beginning Monday 18th October. For information on the Warden course (including training notes) click here.
For information on the Warden Refresher course click here.
New wardens should attend the Warden training course (3 hours) as soon as practicable. Following this, Refresher training (1 hour) should be completed every two years.
We welcome your comments about the following on line safety related training:
1. WorkSafe WA’s SafetyLine Institute, which is free and can be used to gain nationally recognised qualifications and Statements of Attainment.
2. E3 learning, which is a commercial provider of business and occupational health and safety training based in South Australia. Trial their interactive demo.
Ergonomic News
1. Trolleys and Stepladders
The Faculty of Arts has recently conducted a review of its need for trolleys and stepladders in its Schools. Averil Riley (Senior Occupational Therapist) has been assisting in finding suppliers and arranging trial of the trolleys before purchase. The provision of appropriate equipment is vital for reducing the risk of manual handling training. Staff will often take short cuts if suitable equipment is not readily available, and if they do not know of its location. For example, standing on an ergonomic chair to reach high shelves, which is very unsafe. It is much safer to use a stepladder that incorporates a hand rail that the person can hold on to for additional support. Please contact Averil on ext 2784 if needing further advice. Safety and Health Representatives are advised to check the needs of their areas and remind staff of the location and proper use of trolleys, stepladders and step stools.
2. Healthy Computing
Healthy Computing is a website that has a lot of very useful information on correct ergonomic set up at computers. It also provides helpful advice on symptoms of discomfort, including a good section on visual fatigue. Well worth keeping as a favourite!
3. Opportunity to learn more about Manutention
Averil Riley will be attending a Loads 3 Manutention course on 13-16 October at the International Foundation for Injury Prevention. The course is being run by Lionel Marco from France, who is the Director of the Centre where Manutention was founded. Observers are welcome to attend between 8.00 am and 12 noon on Thursday 14th October to find out more about Manutention and its use with difficult loads handling. Cost $65. For further information please contact Averil on ext 2784.
WorkSafe WA - news
Recent news from WorkSafe includes:
New Code of Practice for Fatigue Management for Commercial Vehicles
Warning issued on safe use of forklifts
Court case highlights guarding and reporting incidents
Risk Management
Standards Australia have recently released a new Risk Management Standard AS/NZS 4360:2004 and Risk Management Handbook HB 436:2004. The principles of these can be applied widely for safety risk management, business risk, project risk etc. Copies of these may be downloaded via the UWA Library link and log on capability.
Copies of previous newsletters are available.
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
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