- Safety Related Training
- Safe Work Australia 2017 Workplace Reward
- Survive the Summer
- Chemical Corner - Christmas Wishes from Dr Laurton McGurk
- Safe Work Australia - Managing chemical hazards using the hierarchy of controls
- Laboratory Decommissioning Checklist - Project Cessation - Change Management
- Mosquito Control
- University Safety Committee
- Previous Safety and Health Newsletters
- Wellbeing eNews
Safety Related Training
- Work Health and Safety for Managers and Supervisors course (1/2 Day workshop).
(NOTE - Online modules (5) must be completed prior to attendance).
The next centrally organised workshop is on Wednesday 7th February 2018.
Local Workplace organised workshops can be arranged with Safety, Health and Wellbeing.
https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/induction-and-training/courses/work,-health-and-safety-for-managers-and-supervisors-course - Laboratory Safety Course
Will be held on Monday the 19th February, in Tattersal Lecture Theatre. The course runs from 9 am until 4:45 pm with breaks for morning and afternoon teas (we provide tea, coffee and biscuits) and lunch (we don’t provide lunch).
More information and enrolment: https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/induction-and-training/courses/laboratory-safety
As this date is in O-week and parking may be difficult at UWA you are STRONGLY advised to use public transport if you don’t have a UWA parking permit.
Safe Work Australia 2017 Workplace Reward
Congratulations to Brett Tizard and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Safety Team. They were highly commended by Safe Work Australia for their efforts in making significant gains in health and safety awareness and activities for their faculty.
HMS has faced challenges following the renewal with staffing and structural changes, it is a credit to the hard work of their Safety Team that they have overcome these challenges and moved forward building a strong WHS culture for both staff and students
which has been recognised at a national level.
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/news-and-events/media-release/infrastructure-company-rewarded-empowering-staff-be-safety-leaders
Survive the Summer
In Australia many of our leading causes of death are associated with summer activities. Heart disease and bowel cancer from unhealthy snaggers, diabetes from sugary drinks and beer, melanomas, heat stroke and dehydration from the sun, drowning in pools and at the beach, and you might even be unlucky enough to encounter a predatory shark. Note: A predatory shark is statistically less likely than a predatory cow.
It may seem that a safer option is to lock yourself inside a dark room and feast on only activated lettuce and de-ionised water. Unfortunately this course of action will ensure you collect the 2nd most common (and fastest rising) cause of death in Australia; dementia.
We recommend: Relax. Stress exacerbates or increases the risk of most of the leading causes of death in Australia, and if nothing else guarantees you won’t be able to enjoy the health you do have.
Take the time to smell the roses and hope it isn’t hiding a bee.
Chemical Corner - Christmas Wishes from Dr Laurton McGurk
I’m wearing my jingly Christmas hat and annoying my colleagues with the line “I’m from elf and safety” I’m dreaming of a quiet Christmas. One with too many mince pies, piles of presents, and rellies and dear friends fighting to tell me their stories while refusing to listen to mine! It will be a relaxing time where I gleefully post revenge pics to those who get the state public holidays….who’s chortling now!???! We are that’s who.
So……Make sure your work area is holiday ready. Update emergency contact lists. If you must pop in over the break make sure you’ve reviewed and restocked spill kits and safety equipment and have the okay from your safety crew to be in over the shutdown. Ensure what can be turned off is off and what must be left on is on!
Lights will be twinkling on my Christmas tree; pops and bangs will be from crackers with strange toys and really lame jokes in them; chemicals will be in glasses with cherries and frosting and the biggest danger will be to our waistlines.
Merry Christmas from “elf and safety” to all.
Safe Work Australia - Managing chemical hazards using the hierarchy of controls
Under the WHS laws, workplaces handling or using hazardous chemicals must manage health and safety risks by using the hierarchy of controls.
Employers and businesses should review their chemical management strategies and use controls higher in the hierarchy in combination with lower level controls for the greatest effect.
A short video and more information can be found at the following link.
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/media/managing-chemical-hazards-using-hierarchy-controls#overview
Laboratory Decommissioning Checklist - Project Cessation - Change Management
The Laboratory Decommissioning Checklist assists areas to ensure that laboratories are left in a safe, uncontaminated and hazard free condition upon completion of projects or when decommissioned. Workers who subsequently use the laboratory must not be exposed to any residual physical, electrical, chemical, radioactive or biological risks.
The checklist can be downloaded from: https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/topics/laboratory .
Mosquito Control
The grounds of the University and adjacent areas provide an environment supporting a diverse range of plants and animals including naturally occurring mosquitoes. High temperatures, rain and tidal variations can create favourable breeding conditions for mosquitoes, particularly on the Crawley campus. Safety, Health and Wellbeing website has information on mosquitoes with topics covering the following:
- Ross River virus
- UWA mosquito management
- Other breeding sources
- What can staff do
- Research
- Links to further information
For mosquito and other vermin issues staff should contact the Campus Management Job Controller, preferably by completing the online form: https://www.cm.uwa.edu.au/staff-services/forms/maintenance
University Safety Committee
The University Safety Committee last met on Tuesday 12th December 2017. The next meeting is on Wednesday 21st March 2018.
Approved minutes from previous meetings are available from the Safety, Health and Wellbeing website.
https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/people/committees/safety
Previous Safety, Health and Wellbeing Newsletters
For those who have missed out on our earlier editions, copies of previous newsletters can be obtained from the following web site:
https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/newsletter .
All are encouraged to distribute relevant safety information in your workplaces.
Wellbeing eNews
A reminder that the new look Wellbeing eNews is now available with lots of great tips and events to help you improve your health wellbeing. Click here to subscribe
