An important factor when planning to work after hours is the times of day when maximum internal and external support services are available in the event of an incident, injury or illness. Such services include First Aid Officers, the Medical Centre, Facilities Management, Building Operations, external emergency services and UWA Safety, Health and Wellbeing.

In all workplaces, if you are required or intend to work outside of normal working hours, you must have permission to do so from a Manager or Supervisor who has assessed risks associated with the planned activities, considered the availability of any potentially required support services and concluded that such working arrangements are acceptable.
https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/management/toolkit

In hazardous workplaces, where the type of work, the resources used and the risks to the health and safety of workers is significant, the periods of normal use should be restricted to 8:00 am - 5:00 pm on weekdays (excluding public holidays and weekends).

Persons wishing to work outside normal hours may be required to provide a work plan that clearly defines the proposed task and limitations on that task outside normal working hours. They may need to fill in a log of arrival and departure times and advise Security on (+61 8) 6488 3020 or the appropriate number for laboratories not on the main University campus.

If accessing the workplace after hours:

• Ensure that the doors of buildings are securely closed and locked after entering and exiting.
• Ensure that the doors to internal areas are secured on leaving.
• Ensure familiarity with health and safety rules and emergency contact numbers (these should already be displayed in the workplace).
• Do not give anyone else security codes, keys or access cards.
• Do not provide access to buildings to unauthorised persons as Security is instructed to remove them if they cannot demonstrate current authorisation.
• Report to University Security any breaches of security or suspicious behaviour.

Some work is too hazardous to be undertaken alone or after hours. This includes any activities involving:

• Hydrofluoric acid.
• Explosive and potentially unstable substances.
• Disposal of hazardous substances.
• Naked flames associated with flammable solvents.
• Low-temperature environments (e.g. cool rooms, freezers).
• High-powered, fast-moving machinery or equipment.
• Heights or confined spaces.
• Significant quantities of molten metals.

Only competent persons may operate inherently hazardous equipment. A documented risk assessment must be made and/or adequate control measures must be implemented. Work by undergraduate students may only be performed if directly supervised by a staff member or approved nominee.

A minimum of two persons must be present to ensure that appropriate action and support is provided in the event of an incident or injury. The second person must be competent to obtain any assistance required and to make the area safe. If having a minimum of two people present is not possible, there are specific limitations on what types of work may be conducted when working alone.

A breach of any of these conditions may result in after-hours access being cancelled.