Information About
Shortcuts
Last Updated
University Safety Awards 2000
| Element | Standard |
| Management Commitment | There is commitment to achieving high standards of occupational safety and health performance through effective safety management |
| Planning | Planning is used to establish and maintain a safety management system that is set up to continuously improve occupational safety and health |
| Consultation | A mechanism for consulting with employees has been developed and is working effectively |
| Hazard Management | There is an effective system to identify hazards and assess and control risks |
| Training | Training is organised to reduce the risk of work-related injury and disease and is evaluated to ensure its effectiveness |
Nominations were required by 28 July. Copies of all submissions were then circulated to all participants and the finalists offered the opportunity to resubmit their submissions by 25 August. Some 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 Botany
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
The winner of the Departmental Award was the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.
Noteworthy aspects of Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME) nomination included:
- Clear senior management commitment and involvement in OSH
- Development of departmental web site with safety policies and procedures
- Development of student safety notes and tailored safety induction programme for students
- Monthly hazard inspections with follow up by management
- Departmental commitment of financial resources to safety shortcomings
- Safety training encouraged and provided to staff
- Improvements over the past year include: Basic safety management structures are well in place. MME now focussing on targeting key safety issues in a proactive manner, eg. chemical labs. Development of a student plan and training record for all projects, that highlights safety aspects.
A Special Award for Outstanding Achievement was made to the Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.
Noteworthy aspects of the Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition nomination included:
- Active safety committee
- Safety is on the Executive committee agenda
- Democratic management style - representation from undergraduate and post graduate students, general and academic staff
- Annual audits and monthly inspections
- Annual clean up days, participated in by all staff
- Chemical hazard storage vastly improved
- Training in lab safety, evacuations, inductions and first aid
- Safety forums and booklets.
The Department of Botany was a Finalist.
Noteworthy aspects of the Department of Botany nomination included:
- Departmental safety committee
- Good safety action plan as a result of lab chemical explosion
- Safety noticeboard
- Training in lab safety, evacuations, inductions and first aid
- Chemical hazard management vastly improved
- Safety forums and booklet.
All finalists were provided with a framed certificate. A gift voucher sponsored by the University Co-operative Bookshop was also provided to the winner.
3. Individual Safety Award
The Individual Safety Award is to acknowledge outstanding contributions by individual University employees in establishing and maintaining high standards of occupational safety and health activities and achievements within the University.
The contributions to workplace safety may be at a University, Faculty, Departmental or Section level and have occurred or were maintained since 1999. Evaluation took into account the different circumstances of the work areas.
Submissions were required by 28 July and were restricted to 1,500 words (3 pages). 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 winner of the Individual Safety Award was Ms Liza Tunnell (Botany Department). She received a framed certificate and gift voucher sponsored by the University Co-operative Bookshop.
Noteworthy aspects of the nomination for Liza Tunnell were:
- Active safety and health representative at both Departmental and University level
- A current safety and health representative on the University Safety Committee
- Instrumental in assisting to develop a shift in safety culture within the Department
- Developed own chemical spills kit, that is much more cost effective than commercial products
- Updated register of all hazardous materials and dangerous goods held in the Department
- Created the departmental safety booklet.
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 (6/37 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 revision of the Campus Emergency Management Plan, Contractor Safety and Health Policy and inductions, Employee Assistance Programme (review, poster and pamphlet), Incidents and workers’ compensation statistics (1990-99), review of the Occupational Safety and Health Policy (Sep 2000)
- three critical incidents – formic acid explosion (Dec 1999), an explosion involving a triaxial compression device (Mar 2000) and a solvent fire and explosion (Apr 2000) in which a honours student received skin burns. As a result of these and from ongoing concerns about chemical safety management within the University a Chemical Safety Officer (Jeff Davis) was appointed (funded by a number of Faculties) for one year.
- Has a web site address at: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/people/committees/safety
September 2000 (F628)
