University Safety Awards 1999

1. The Awards

The UWA Safety Awards are to acknowledge the contributions made to occupational safety and health at the University by Faculties, Departments, Sections and also individuals.  It also seeks to facilitate the sharing of these approaches and achievements between different work areas.

History

This is the first year the awards have been presented on behalf of the University Safety Committee.  The 1999 awards are for activities and achievements made during 1998.  It is planned that these will continue as annual awards.

Requirements

Written submissions were required.  The deadline for both categories was 30 July 1999.

Selection Panel

A selection panel met and decided on both awards.  Members of the selection panel were:

• Professor Yianni Attikiouzel, Chair, University Safety Committee 
• Mr Bob Farrelly, Director, Human Resources
• Mr Mike Rafferty, Manager, UWA Safety and Health
• Ms Melanie Baker, Occupational Therapist, UWA Safety and Health

Presentations

A presentation function was held in University House on Thursday 23 September 1999.  The master of ceremonies was Professor Yianni Attikiouzel, Chair of the University Safety Committee.  Professor Deryck Schreuder, Vice-Chancellor and Principal presented the awards.

All finalists received a framed certificate.  Winners for both categories received gift vouchers sponsored by the University Cooperative Bookshop.

An article on the Safety Awards will appear in the 4 October 1999 edition of UWA News.

From left to right:  Mr Mike Rafferty (UWA Safety and Health), Mr Jeff Davis (Chemistry), Dr Allan McKinley (Chemistry), Professor David Kepert (Head, Chemistry), Mr John Evans (Chemistry), Professor Yianni Attikiouzel (Chair, University Safety Committee) and Professor Deryck Schreuder (Vice-Chancellor and Principal).

From left to right:  Professor Mark Bush (Head, Mechanical and Materials Engineering), Ms Anne Kealley (University Library), Mr Rob Greenhalgh (Mechanical and Materials Engineering) and Dr Allan McKinley (Chemistry).

From left to right:  Mrs Elizabeth Halladin, Mr Gary Cass, Mr Michael Blair, Ms Leisa Armstrong, Mr Drew Watkins and Mr Rob Creasy (all from Faculty Services Section, Faculty of Agriculture).

2. Departmental Safety Award

The Departmental Safety Award is to acknowledge best practice approaches and achievements in occupational safety and health management by Faculties, Departments or Sections.

Faculties, Departments and Sections were restricted to 3,000 words (5 page) submissions (attachments permitted) based on criteria used by the WorkSafe Plan from WorkSafe WA.  The five elements and standards used were:

Nominations were required by 30 July.  Copies of all submissions were then circulated to all participants and the finalists offered the opportunity to resubmit their submissions by 27 August.  All applicants either resubmitted or provided additional supporting materials.
In considering the nominations the different circumstances of the nominated areas and the extent and significance of the systems approach and safety achievements made were taken into account.

The finalists for the Departmental Safety Award were:

• Department of Chemistry
• Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
• Faculties Services Section, Faculty of Agriculture
• University Library

The winner for the Departmental Award was the Department of Chemistry.

Noteworthy aspects of the Department of Chemistry nomination included:

• long established Safety Committee with widespread representation
• well developed working procedures with emergency services back up
• Safety notes (latest edition February 1999) provided to all staff, third year students,  postgraduate students and departmental visitors
• department members active is University safety policy formation and training
• compulsory third year Chemistry unit in Occupational Health and Safety
• hands on fire safety training to all Chemistry honours students
• safety training provided to all cleaning staff, including spill responses
• regular hazard inspections of facilities accompanied by the Head of Department
• safety initiatives including ventilation of workshops, solvent store and synthetic laboratories and the design of a gas cylinder trolley
  

A Special Award for Management Commitment was made to the University Library.  Noteworthy aspects of the University Library nomination included:

• Library Safety Committee with clearly defined roles and responsibilities
• local area network information, particularly on repetitive activities, manual handling and for ergonomic workstations
• book trolleys which were designed with assistance from Library staff and which will be phased in over time
• ergonomic consideration for new equipment, including delivery vans
• safety guidelines provided to all new staff at induction.

The Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering was a Finalist.  Noteworthy aspects of the Mechanical and Materials Engineering nomination included:

• clear senior management commitment and involvement in occupational health and safety (OSH)
• development of departmental OSH web site with safety policies and procedures
• development of Student Safety notes and safety induction programme for students
• monthly hazard inspections with effective follow up by management
• commitment of departmental financial resources to overcome safety shortcomings
• intensive safety training encouraged and provided to staff

The Faculties Services Section, Faculty of Agriculture was a Finalist.  Noteworthy aspects of the Faculties Services Section nomination included:

• clear commitment to OSH by all staff in the Section
• planning including OSH requirements, such as demonstrated by the improvements in the facilities and operating procedures for the Seed Processing Plant at Shenton Park Field Station 
• Safety booklet prepared for the Faculty if Agriculture
• commitment to safety training, such as demonstrated by the safe use of pesticides training programme.

 
All finalists will be provided with a framed certificate.  A gift voucher sponsored by the University Co-operative Bookshop was also provided to the Department of Chemistry.

3. Individual Safety Award

Submissions were required by 30 July and were restricted to 1,500 words (3 pages) with attachment allowed.  The person being nominated or any other University employee(s) could prepare the nominations.  In the latter, it was recommended that the person being nominated endorse the submission.  

The finalists for the Individual Safety Award were:

• Kate Brameld - Department of Public Health
• Rob Greenhalgh - Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
• Dr Allan McKinley - Department of Chemistry

The selection panel chose Mr Rob Greenhalgh (Mechanical and Materials Engineering) and Dr Allan McKinley (Department of Chemistry) as joint winners.  Ms Kate Brameld (Department of Public Health) will also receive a framed certificate for being a finalist. A gift voucher sponsored by the University Co-operative Bookshop was provided to both joint winners.

Noteworthy aspects of the nomination for Mr Rob Greenhalgh (Mechanical and Materials Engineering) included:

• demonstrated leadership and personal commitment to occupational safety and health
• developed departmental Safety Management Plan and involved in the formulation of departmental policies and procedures for workplaces, equipment, working procedures, emergency responses, safety training and inductions
• designed departmental OSH web site
• conducts monthly safety inspections of departmental work areas
• ensures staff are aware of their safety responsibilities through on going education and training
• has a commitment which goes well beyond the service normally expected of a Departmental Safety Officer

Noteworthy aspects of the nomination for Dr Allan McKinley (Department of Chemistry) included:

• immediate past Convenor of the Department of Chemistry Safety Committee
• designed and oversaw the construction of a model chemistry laboratory in which laboratory safety and construction considerations were paramount and well considered
• with Dr Terry Quickenden established the compulsory third year Chemistry course in Occupational Health and Safety which is enthusiastically received by students
• major presenter in the recently provided UWA Laboratory Safety Course which in 1999 will train nearly 130 University staff and students
• contributor to University safety policy development, for example, through the working party on hazardous substances
• continually provides specialist chemical advise and assistance to the University community.

Noteworthy aspects of the nomination for Ms Kate Brameld (Department of Public Health) included:

• current Safety and Health Representative and member of the University Safety Committee
• arranged for emergency evacuation training in the department and followed up deficiencies in emergency lighting and fire alarms in their buildings
• in responding to some serious repetitive strain injuries, sought the assistance of the UWA Occupational Therapist and assisting in developing departmental guidelines for the use of lap top computers
• regularly attends safety and health information sessions and helped plan the inaugural one day UWA Safety Seminar in 1998 .

University Safety Committee

By way of additional information, the University Safety Committee:

• is a legislative requirement under the WA Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984
• Committee consists of management nominees (6) and safety and health representatives (6/36 current reps)
• meets every two months to review safety and health matters within the University
• assists the UWA Safety and Health in providing their services to the University community
• discusses and advises on safety and heath issues, reviews accidents, approves policies and procedures, supports safety education and awareness programmes, approves safety funding
• produces an Annual Report, which has been distributed and is available on request
• recent initiatives include Issue Resolution Procedures poster, a pamphlet on Working Comfortably with Computers and the 1999 Safety Awards
• has a web site address at:  http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/people/committees/safety

October 1999 (F626)