A/9.1 Health and safety policy

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9.1.1 Health and safety policy
9.1.2 Legislative framework
Related Documents
Modification History

9.1.1 Health and safety policy

QUT as an employer is committed to providing a workplace which is as safe as is practicable in order to achieve its vision and goals.

QUT management is accountable for managing the risks in partnership with the staff and students. Management includes QUT Council, University Executive, senior staff and managers, academic staff and supervisors who will consult with staff, students and others to achieve desired measurable outcomes within a continuous improvement framework.

QUT will meet its legislative obligations and exceed them where feasible. This will be a risk management approach to include the provision of:

• Safe systems of work and work environment, both on and off campus
• Safe plant, equipment, tools and personal protective equipment
• Safe use, handling, storage and disposal of substances
• Adequate information and training
• Rehabilitation programs for injured workers
• Appropriate supervision and enforcement of policies and procedures to ensure safe work practices, and
• A risk management approach to hazards.

Staff, students and others have an obligation to follow safe work practices, not to act in a manner so as to cause harm to people or property, to report hazards, and not to misuse anything provided in the interests of safety.

The HR Health and Safety Advisory Services website provides procedural guidance on a range of matters to support the QUT health and safety policy. Information is updated when the sources are modified by health and safety authorities.

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9.1.2 Legislative framework

Under common law, employers have a duty of care to take all reasonable measures to protect their employees from foreseeable risks arising from their employment. This duty of care embraces provision of the following

• sufficient competent staff
• a safe system or method of work
• a safe work environment
• safe plant and equipment including reasonably foreseeable misuse of such
• adequate training, instruction and supervision

The Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 and other Acts create a statutory obligation for employers to ensure the health and safety of employees and other persons at work. The onus of proof of meeting this duty rests with the employer or, at QUT, those delegated as such. The burden of proof is 'on the balance of probability'.

The major elements of the employer's obligations are to ensure a safe workplace for all through identifying hazards, assessing the risk, eliminating the risk or minimising the potential harmful consequences of the hazard.

Employees also have an obligation under the Act to maintain healthy and safe workplace conduct. An employee or anyone else at a workplace has the following obligations under Section 36 of the Act:

• to comply with the instructions given for workplace health and safety at the workplace by the employer or anyone representing the employer
• for an employee - to use personal protective equipment if the equipment is provided by the employer and the employee is properly instructed in its use
• not to wilfully or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided for workplace health and safety
• not to wilfully place at risk the health and safety of any person at the workplace
• not to wilfully injure himself or herself.

Persons other than an employer or employee must comply with the standards applying at the workplace and obey safety directions at that workplace.

The Workplace Health and Safety Act defines and requires an employer to record injuries, illnesses and dangerous events at the workplace. These serious or potentially serious matters should be immediately telephoned through to the Health and Safety Advisory Services staff or after hours to the emergency number for security who will contact the relevant Associate Director.

Regulations under the Workplace Health and Safety Act set specific requirements with regard to systems of work, working environment, plant, equipment, substances and materials used in the workplace, and certification and training of employees. These regulations call up a large number of Australian Standards.

Copies of the Act, Regulation and Advisory Standards are available on the internet ( http://www.whs.qld.gov.au/index.htm ) and selected Australian Standards are accessible through the QUT Library.

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Related Documents

A/9.2 Health and safety management

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Modification History

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