CONTENTS: Overview Safety Meeting Obligations Responsibilities for Safety Occupational Health and Safety Committee OH&S Manual OH&S Homepage 1. OVERVIEW The University recognises its obligation to take all reasonable precautions to protect the safety of its employees, students and visitors while they are on the premises. 2. SAFETY The absence or minimisation of risk also includes occupational health in the context of the prevention of accidental exposure to agents which might cause an occupational disease. Hence ergonomics, industrial hygiene, toxicology, etc. will be included in the scope of the La Trobe University Safety Program. 3. To meet this obligation, the University will take all reasonable steps to: (a) Observe and implement the relevant statutory requirements; (b) Promote safety in all its activities by education and instruction; (c) Ensure that situations or work practices which are unsafe or harmful are reported immediately to the Supervisor of the employee or student, so that corrective action can be taken; (d) Encourage each person in the University to regard accident prevention as an individual responsibility; (e) Require each Head of Division or Department to adapt the general safety rules of the University to the specific needs of the Department/Division, in consultation with the Safety Officer; (f) Require that every accident in the University is reported and investigated and where University action is called for to prevent a re-occurrence, ensure that preventative steps are taken; (h) Establish procedures for the evacuation of buildings in the event of fire, explosion or other emergencies, and ensure that those procedures are regularly tested; (i) Ensure that adequate instruction is given to employees and students in safe working procedures, and that they are informed of any hazard to their health, which is known to be associated with the work in which they are involved; (j) Provide adequate occupational health services; (k) Ensure that machines and equipment are maintained in a safe condition, and that necessary personnel and personal protective devices are provided in the workplace; (l) Ensure that workplaces are maintained clean (as far as the processes allow) and that they are safe to enter, working, and to leave; (m) Maintain proper control in the workplace over harmful substances (chemicals, radiation, biohazards, etc.), air pollution and noise; (n) Maintain proper control over the storage, use and disposal of harmful substances; (o) Maintain clearly visible signs and notices as required which are subject to regular review; (p) Maintain a Safety Office, to co-ordinate and supervise the University Safety program. Heads of Department or Division are responsible for reporting to the Vice-Chancellor any member of staff or student body who, by refusal or neglect, fails to observe safety requirements. The Vice-Chancellor then will take appropriate action as required. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SAFETY Safety is the concern of everyone but, the following special responsibilities, approved by Council, are outlined: 4.1 Deans, Chairpersons, Heads of Division, Department or College: (i) Are responsible for ensuring that activities conducted within areas under their control, comply with the University Safety Policy; (ii) Are responsible for implementing such safety measures as may be recommended by the Safety Committee; (iii) Are required in association with appropriate personnel to formulate and promulgate specific safety rules for activities conducted within the area under their control; (iv) Are required to appoint or participate in the appointment of persons to act as Area Safety Co-ordinators, where required; (v) Are responsible for accident reporting and investigation within areas under their control. 4.2 Employees (i) Are responsible for following safe work practices, consistent with the extent of their control over or influence on, working conditions and methods; (ii) Are obligated, given the experimental nature of work carried out in laboratories and workshops, to ensure that fellow workers, students and visitors adhere rigidly to prescribed safety standards; (iii) Are responsible to ensure that nothing is done to render ineffective the University's actions in safety matters. 4.3 Students (i) Are responsible for following work practices consistent with the extent of their control over or influence on working conditions and methods; (ii) Are obligated, given the experimental nature of work carried out in laboratories and workshops, to adhere rigidly to prescribed safety standards; (iii) Have the responsibility to ensure that they do nothing to render ineffective the University's actions in safety matters. 4.4 Visitors Are required to comply with all instructions given, consistent with their protection whilst on campus. 5. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE (Approved by Council 7.12.87) a) To facilitate co-operation between the University and its employees in instigating, developing and carrying out measures designed to ensure the health and safety at work of employees; b) To formulate, review and disseminate to the employees the standards, rules and procedures relating to health and safety which are to be carried out or complied with at the workplace; c) To facilitate co-operation between the University and its students in instigating, developing and carrying out measures designed to ensure their health and safety at the University. d) To formulate, review and disseminate to the students the standards, rules and procedures relating to health and safety which are to be carried out or complied with at the University. e) To facilitate the protection of the safety of visitors while they are on campus. f) To include such other terms of reference as are prescribed or agreed upon by the Council on the recommendation of the Committee. Approved by Council September 1983 (Minute 182.7.4) and re-affirmed 7 December 1987.