- Safety Related Training 2017 - Online Registrations Required
- Call for Nominations for Health and Safety Representatives - closing Friday 31st March 2017
- Health and Safety Objectives and Targets
- Traffic Light Reporting (Jul - Dec 2016) - Required by 17th March
- For Life Threatening Emergencies - call 000 then 6488 2222
- Asbestos
- Cycling On Campus
- Emergency Exits
- Chemical Corner - Good news and bad news
- University Safety Committee
- Previous Safety and Health Newsletters
Safety Related Training 2017 - Online Registrations Required
- Stress Management
Thursday 9th March 2017. 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. Love House, Seminar Room 1.
This workshop involves a look at the causes of stress, the effects of on-going stress and effective stress management techniques.
Emphasis is placed on learning healthier ways to manage and cope with stress. Learn to recognise the barriers to implementing relaxation strategies and enlist your strengths to approach stress with a renewed vigour.
https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/health-wellbeing/well-being/mental-health/stress - Introduction to Mindfulness (3 Weeks)
Wednesdays 22nd March – Wednesday 5th April 2017. 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Faculty of Science Common Room.
This 3-Week course is designed to give participants an introduction to both the theory and practice of mindfulness, assisting you to develop the key skills to embed mindfulness into your day-to-day activities.
Sessions are interactive involving mindfulness meditation exercises (sitting and lying down), gentle stretching exercises, group discussions, and reflection on personal mindfulness practice.
https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/health-wellbeing/well-being/mental-health/mindfulness#intro - Warden Training Course (3 hours)
Monday 27th March, 9am - 12 noon, Venue Law Lecture Room 1 (LAWS:G31).
https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses/warden - Warden Refresher Training Course (1 hour)
Monday 27th March, 1pm - 2pm, Venue Law Lecture Room 1 (LAWS:G31).
https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/courses/warden_refresher - Work Health and Safety for Managers and Supervisors course (1/2 Day workshop).
(NOTE - Online modules (5) must be completed prior to attendance).
The first centrally organised workshop in 2017 is Wednesday 19th April.
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
Call for Nominations for Health and Safety Representatives - closing Friday 31st March 2017
The annual call for nominations for Health and Safety Representatives (HSR) in work areas whose SHR's two year term expires or who do not currently have a HSR will be made through UWA Forward soon. The closing date for nominations is Friday 31st March 2017.
For further workplace information see:
https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/staff-support/safety-and-health-representatives and https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/staff-support/safety-and-health-representatives/nominations
To download a nomination form: https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/staff-support/safety-and-health-representatives/nominations/form
Health and Safety Objectives and Targets
In January reports were distributed to senior management providing work area specific information in relation to the 2016 UWA health and safety objectives and targets. The quarterly report on Key insights from Q4 data with Q3 data includes:
- Training completion rates have been comparable with 35% (36% in Q3) of Executives and Senior Management completing the Online Due Diligence course, 38% (37% in Q3) of Senior Management completing the WHS for Managers and Supervisors course and 28% (30% in Q3) of new employees having completed the UWA Health and Safety Online Induction within two weeks of commencing employment. The completion of the UWA Health and Safety Online Induction by existing employees is 45%. The completion rates targets are 80%.
- At the University level incident reporting (notification and completion/close out) rates have improved
- Submission of Part 1 of the incident report has risen with 45% (38% in Q3) being received within 24 hrs of the incidents.
- Submission of Part 2, closure of the incident investigation has risen with 36% (29% in Q3) being investigated within 5 days of the incident.
Key actions required by work areas toward achieving the objectives and targets include:
- Ensure all incidents, hazards and near misses are reported within the required time (one day) and recommended actions implemented in a timely manner
- Require all staff complete the Online Health and Safety Induction - New staff are required to have completed this within 2 weeks of commencement
- Require all managers and supervisors to attend the Work Health and Safety for Managers & Supervisors course - Note that in addition to regular scheduled courses we are able to conduct dedicated workshop sessions (1/2 day) in work areas
- For Executives and senior management - complete the Online Due Diligence course
The Health and Safety Objectives and Targets for 2017
https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/management/monitoring/objectives-and-targets
Traffic Light Reporting (Jul - Dec 2016) - Required by 17th March
The next UWA Traffic Light Report for the 6 month period July - December 2016 and the Health and Safety Committee Annual Report 2016 (as applicable) are required to be submitted to UWA Safety, Health and Wellbeing by COB Friday 17th March 2017.
Further information is available at:
- UWA Traffic Light Reporting (required every 6 months): https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/management/monitoring/traffic-light
- Previous reports and summaries are available (Pheme log in required) at: https://auth.weboffice.uwa.edu.au/login?public_key=fc8e5980cebd99cb7bbf73a2f09d6c072357e336&app_name=matrix
- UWA Representatives and Committee website with pro forma agenda, minutes and annual report: https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/management/committees
For Life Threatening emergencies - call 000 then 6488 2222
The UWA Emergency Procedures for life threatening emergencies is to call 000 then 6488 2222. You are encouraged to take electronic copies of the UWA Emergency Procedures for access on desktops and portable devices.
Please study the procedures and regularly check the website to ensure you have the latest version of this essential document. https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/incidents-injuries-emergency/procedures
Asbestos
The university is currently updating its asbestos materials register. An asbestos survey is being undertaken across campus to identify asbestos containing material (ACM) and update the asbestos register and management plan.
Part of the survey involves installing warning and reference labels next to the identified ACM. The labels are intended to warn maintenance and other works of the presence of the ACM to ensure it is not disturbed and to assist in planning management actions.
If you have any queries in relation to the asbestos survey or the warning labels, please do not hesitate to contact the Campus Management Safety Officer, Alex Scholz on 6488 5662
Cycling On Campus
WA road rules apply on campus. For cyclists this means you must observe speed limits and wear a helmet. If you are involved in a car or bike crash, it is important you contact UWA Security. Requirements for cyclists on shared paths include:
- Keep to the left of the path at all times, unless overtaking
- Give way to pedestrians at all times
- Signal early your intentions to turn at intersections
- Slow down when approaching pedestrians
- Ring your bell about 30m behind pedestrians when approaching them
Please be aware of building entries and blind spots around buildings.
The UWA Bicycle User Group promotes cycling to work and provides a source of information for all bike riders at UWA.
https://sponsored.uwa.edu.au/bug/welcome/what_is_the_uwa_bug
More information on cycling at UWA and the law can be found at these links:
https://www.transport.uwa.edu.au/cycling/_nocache
https://sponsored.uwa.edu.au/bug/welcome/cyclinglaw
Emergency Exits
With the Warden training and evacuation drills coming up soon, remember to check all emergency exit routes are clear of any obstructions. Make sure doors can open and that corridors are cleared for wheelchair access.
Spot the hazard and legal breach in the following.
Emergency Exit
Chemical Corner - Good news and bad news
The good news is cows are more likely to cause injuries than chemicals (at least at Iowa State University.) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871553216300147
The bad news is that student employees made up almost half of those injured in laboratory incidents and the percentages are increasing.
This is bad news indeed; what can we do about? Increase the number of cows? Seriously though, we need to know about the bad things that happen out there. Tell me, your lab manager, your safety rep and you lab mates about the near misses, the scrapes, cuts and burns. War stories are an age old tradition and it turns out they are a great way to bring home a safety message. It is a bit weird having this confirmed in an overseas journal when I, and other ‘safety nutjobs’ have been doing this for years. Share the reasons why, the details of how and best of all tell what you’d do differently. (We really do understand that sometimes even very smart people can be…. silly….. this is a university after all. I have on numerous occasions been pretty damn silly myself.) And if you’ve got a brilliant idea on how to prevent it or fix then share that too!
See https://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/incidents-injuries-emergency/notification for all the relevant paperwork or call me on 6488 3412 (it will go to voicemail; I’ve got cows to order!)
University Safety Committee
The University Safety Committee last met on Tuesday the 21st February 2017. The next meeting is on Tuesday 11th April 2017.
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.
