A/9.2 Health and safety management

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9.2.1 Responsibilities of managers
9.2.2 Responsibilities of staff and students
9.2.3 Specific health and safety roles
9.2.4 Health and safety management systems
9.2.5 Workplace health and safety committees
9.2.6 University Health and Safety Committee
9.2.7 Faculty/division/department/school or section health and safety committees
Modification History

QUT Council has ultimate responsibility for ensuring health and safety in the QUT workplace. Council has delegated to the Registrar responsibility for monitoring compliance with the legal requirements and determining health and safety policies and procedures for the University.

The funding of workplace health and safety measures is the responsibility of faculties and divisions. Building structures, security and fire safety are funded through the Facilities Management Department.

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9.2.1 Responsibilities of managers

In accordance with QUT's health and safety policy (see A/9.1 ), managers are responsible, within the limits of their authority, for ensuring that activities within their area are undertaken with the exercise of proper diligence for the health and safety of staff, students and others. They should ensure legislative compliance and that QUT health and safety policies and procedures are applied through

• the requirement for documented risk assessments where relevant, both on and off campus
• the provision of adequate and appropriate training to ensure safety
• consultation with staff and (where practicable) students, on health and safety matters
• communication to staff and students (especially new staff and students) regarding workplace hazards and relevant safety procedures
• prompt investigation and reporting of accidents and implementation of remedial action
• prompt assessment of reported hazards and implementation of corrective measures
• the development of plans to improve health and safety systems, and monitoring implementation
• the conduct of audits
• participation in staff post-injury / illness rehabilitation

Staff members in a supervisory role are responsible, within the limits of their authority, for ensuring that activities under their control are undertaken with the exercise of proper diligence for the health and safety of staff, students and others. They should ensure

• that all staff/students under their control are briefed in hazards and safety procedures relevant to the situation
• that these procedures are adhered to
• that any unsafe act or condition is remedied or reported
• that all accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous events are reported in writing.

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9.2.2 Responsibilities of staff and students

In accordance with QUT's health and safety policy (see A/9.1 ), staff and students have the responsibility to perform their work and study in as safe a manner as practicable so as not to endanger themselves or others. In particular, they should

• follow formal procedures and instructions and make proper use of personal protective equipment and other safety devices as required
• not interfere with or remove any safety devices, except where authorised to do so
• not misuse anything provided for safety
• report any unsafe condition that they become aware of in their workplace and, in the case of staff, if it is within their authority and competence to do so, remedy it
• report all accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous events to their supervisor
• not wilfully place at risk any person at the workplace.

Staff may also be nominated to act in trained roles to assist in the management of drills and emergencies within the University community. Executive deans of faculty or heads of division will make staff nominations. Facilities Management regularly schedules training on all campuses for staff nominated to assist in drills and emergencies.

Others who visit or work within the University are expected to conduct their activities with the same regard for health and safety as is required of staff and students.

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9.2.3 Specific health and safety roles

(a) HR Health and Safety Advisory Services

Staff of HR Health and Safety Advisory Services develop policy, advise managers, health and safety committees, staff and students on workplace health and safety matters, audit health and safety performance, provide training courses and coordinate health and safety programs for QUT as a whole.

(b) Workplace Health and Safety Officers (WHSO's) and Workplace Health and Safety Representatives (WHSR's)

It is recommended that managers nominate at least one Workplace Health and Safety Officer (WHSO) and encourage the election of at least one Workplace Health and Safety Representative (WHSR) in their area of authority.

Workplace Health and Safety Officers (WHSOs) are nominated by management to advise managers and anyone who supervises others on aspects of the Workplace Health and Safety Act (coupled with local knowledge) on a day-to-day basis. These persons are not health and safety specialists and the role is generally secondary to their usual job.

The statutory function of a WHSO is to

• describe the overall state of health and safety for a section
• conduct regular inspections of the work area
• report hazards or unsafe practices
• establish educational programs
• investigate or assist with investigation of accidents, illnesses and injuries
• report such events to HR Health and Safety Advisory Services
• assist with the annual review/audit of health and safety management
• help an inspector in the course of their work.

Workplace Health and Safety Representatives (WHSRs) are elected by co-workers to act as their representative in health and safety matters. WHSRs are entitled to

• inspect their work area weekly or as negotiated with the employer
• be advised of work caused injuries, illnesses or dangerous events
• be present at worker interviews if asked by a worker
• review circumstances of injuries, illnesses and events and make recommendations
• be consulted on changes proposed to workplace, plant or substances that may affect health and safety
• help in health and safety issue resolution
• be advised when an inspector is at the workplace (WHSR area)
• report health and safety issues to WHSO or employer
• seek co-operation in remedying the issue or report to an inspector
• report previous issues/hazards unsatisfactorily completed.

(c) Building wardens

Each building is to have a Building Warden, a deputy Building Warden and each occupied building is required to have at least one Floor Warden per floor. The actual number of Floor Wardens required is determined through a risk assessment process by the managers of areas occupying space within the building. Factors that managers should consider when conducting a risk assessment include:

• proximity of Emergency Service providers and other QUT facilities
• the size, layout, age and nature of the space
• the type of work performed in the space
• the pattern of use throughout the day
• the nature of people using the space (staff / students / researchers or a combination).

More information on health and safety related risk assessments may be obtained from HR Health and Safety Advisory Services http://www.hrd.qut.edu.au/healthsafety/labsafety/risk.jsp

The wardens required for each building are appointed by the Associate Director - Campus Services following recommendations by managers of areas occupying space within the building. The Associate Director - Campus Services will provide the managers with guidelines and a form that they may use to make their recommendations. The material will also clearly specify the obligations and commitments associated with the recommendations for the position of warden.

The building warden reports to the Associate Director - Campus Services regarding implementation of a building evacuation plan, coordination of building evacuations and the proper maintenance of building safety equipment.

See also section H/3.4 for details of security measures in case of fire or bomb threat.

(d) First aid officers

First aid officers are staff members who hold a current first aid certificate and who are appointed by their School or Department after the conduct of a risk assessment as per the Queensland Advisory Standard for First Aid in the Workplace (see http://www.hrd.qut.edu.au/healthsafety/worksafely/firstaid.jsp ).

(e) Radiation Safety Officer

The Radiation Safety Officer located within the School of Physical Science and Chemistry is approved by Queensland 's Department of Radiation Health. The Radiation Safety Officer, under the Radiation Safety Act 1999 advises, monitors and reports on the use of materials or equipment which emit significant levels of ionising or non-ionising radiation. The Radiation Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring the provision of appropriate training (at cost) and the coordination and submission to radiation health of the respective QUT Radiation Safety and Protection Plans. Staff wishing to purchase radioactive materials or equipment must advise the Radiation Safety Officer prior to purchase. The Radiation Safety Officer has authority to take control of sources of ionising or non-ionising radiation on behalf of the Executive Dean, Faculty of Science, if the sources are

• being used in a dangerous or improper manner
• improperly stored
• " derelict " or not held under the direct control of an appropriately qualified person or licensed user
• in a dangerous, deteriorated or unsafe condition.

The Radiation Safety Officer is to provide a brief report on activities to University Health and Safety Committee

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9.2.4 Health and safety management systems

The HR Health and Safety Advisory Services website provides procedural guidelines on a range of matters to support the QUT health and safety policy (see A/9.1 ). The guidelines are based on legislative provisions and on an assessment of risk related to the University environment. Staff and students should access the legislation where appropriate.

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9.2.5 Workplace health and safety committees

Workplace health and safety committees are identified by the Workplace Health and Safety Act as the preferred mechanism for facilitating consultation between management and staff with the aim of preventing injuries and illnesses. Workplace health and safety committees should seek to

• encourage and maintain at the workplace an active interest in health and safety
• consider measures for training and educating persons at the workplace about health and safety issues including documented local safety inductions
• tell workers about the formulation, review and distribution (in appropriate languages) of standards, rules and procedures about health and safety
• review circumstances surrounding work injuries, work caused illnesses and dangerous events referred to the committee for review having regard to the legal definitions of those terms (see Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 - Schedule Three Dictionary)
• tell the employer of the review results and make recommendations arising out of the review
• help in the resolution of issues about workplace health and safety.

QUT has evolved a system of health and safety committees which comprises

• a University Health and Safety Committee (see section A/9.2.6 below)
• faculty, division, department, school or section health and safety committees (see section A/9.2.7 below).

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9.2.6 University Health and Safety Committee

University Health and Safety Committee disestablished – 14.04.2008.

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9.2.7 Faculty/division/department/school or section health and safety committees

Terms of reference

A faculty / division / department / school or section health and safety committee is a consultative committee which advises on health and safety issues for the area. The committee forwards a copy of its minutes to the Associate Director, HR Health and Safety Advisory Services who briefs the University Health and Safety Committee.

For its faculty / division / department / school or section, each committee

• assists in the formulation, dissemination and review of policies, procedures and programs relating to health and safety
• monitors workplace hazards and the effectiveness and appropriateness of measures taken to protect health and safety
• reviews reports on health and safety matters, such as reports on hazards, accidents, injuries, near misses, and environmental or medical monitoring
• considers health and safety matters referred to it by the executive dean/head; the Associate Director, HR Health and Safety Advisory Services or other health and safety committees
• makes recommendations aimed at improving health and safety and assists in implementing these recommendations and monitoring their effectiveness
• ensures the conduct of the annual self-assessment audit
• adopts such measures as the committee determines.

A committee may, at its discretion, establish standing sub-committees and ad hoc working parties to make recommendations to the committee in particular areas.

Membership

The membership of a faculty / division / department / school or section health and safety committee should reflect the major organisational units in the faculty/division. The recommended membership of each committee is

• a senior manager ex officio
• the faculty administration officer or equivalent ex officio
• each of the school/department Workplace Health and Safety Officers and Representatives for the area (by rotation if they agree and the committee so deems)
• a student of the faculty / school.

The executive dean/head, in consultation with the Associate Director, HR Health and Safety Advisory Services, may adopt alternative membership which would better reflect the faculty/division structure and geography, the nature of its activities and its workplace risks.

Professional staff of HR Health and Safety Advisory Services may attend meetings by invitation or request, generally related to specific issues or needs.

The Chair is elected by the committee or appointed by senior management.

Tenure and frequency of meeting

• Members remain members for as long as they hold the position relevant to their membership.

Each committee meets at intervals determined by the level of risk among its community.

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Modification History

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