A/9.9 University Health, Safety and Environment Committee charter
Policy Owner | Director, Health, Safety and Environment |
Approval Date | 25/05/2022 |
Approval Authority | Vice-Chancellor and President |
Date of Next Review | 01/12/2023 |
9.9.1 Purpose
9.9.2 Accountability
9.9.3 Responsibilities
9.9.4 Membership
9.9.5 Attendance
9.9.6 Meeting frequency
9.9.7 Reporting and communication
9.9.8 Procedures
9.9.9 Secretariat
Related Documents
Modification History
9.9.1 Purpose
University Health, Safety and Environment Committee provides advice and recommends to the Vice-Chancellor and President on health, safety and environment strategic priorities, consistent with the University's vision and values on health, safety and the protection of the environment.
9.9.2 Accountability
University Health, Safety and Environment Committee is a management committee accountable to the Vice-Chancellor and President.
9.9.3 Responsibilities
University Health, Safety and Environment Committee undertakes the following responsibilities:
- monitors and reviews the implementation of health, safety and environment strategies across the University, and makes recommendations on the management of health, safety and environment activities and risks through the adoption of a coordinated and systematic approach
- implements the integrated Health, Safety and Environment Management System ensuring an environmental focus facilitates information sharing across the University about health, safety and environment initiatives, practices and risks
- makes recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor and President on policies, procedures and programs to improve health, safety and environmental protection culture, leadership and management across the University.
9.9.4 Membership
- University Registrar ex officio as Chair
- Pro Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability and Research Integrity) ex officio
- Director, Health, Safety and Environment ex officio
- At least one external person with leadership experience in organisations with strong health and safety culture and practices nominated by University Health, Safety and Environment Committee
- Two deans nominated by the Provost and/or Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor
- Chair of a local health and safety committee nominated by Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) or nominee
- Director, Facilities Management ex officio
- Director, Assurance, Risk and Integrity Services or nominee
- Chair, University Biosafety Committee ex officio
- One senior leader from a research centre, nominated by Head of Research Portfolio
- One enrolled student nominated by the QUT Student Guild
Nominated members of the Committee serve a term of office of up to two years. The length of a nominated member’s term of office is recommended to the nominator by the Chair, on advice from the Secretariat.
9.9.5 Attendance
The committee will from time to time invite expert advisors to attend and speak on matters within their area of expertise and can co-opt members in line with Council Procedure 1 - Committees. The Vice-Chancellor and President will attend at least one meeting per year to discuss strategic health, safety and environment priorities for the University and other health, safety and environment issues of strategic importance.
9.9.6 Meeting frequency
University Health, Safety and Environment Committee meets at least five times per year or as required.
9.9.7 Reporting and communication
University Health, Safety and Environment Committee reports to:
- the Vice-Chancellor and President annually
- University Executive Committee, through the Chair and Risk and Audit Committee following each meeting
- local health, safety and environment committees within faculties, institutes and divisions as required.
9.9.8 Procedures
University Health, Safety and Environment Committee operates in accordance with Council Procedure 1 - Committees.
9.9.9 Secretariat
A nominee of the Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar is secretary, on recommendation of the Director, Health, Safety and Environment.
Related Documents
Work Health and Safety Act 2011
Modification History
| Date | Sections | Source | Details |
| 25.05.22 | All | Vice-Chancellor and President | Revised charter - membership provisions amended following management committee self-assessment outcomes |
| 11.03.21 | A/9.9.4 | Vice-Chancellor and President | Revised membership provisions following organisational restructure |
| 22.09.20 | All | Director, Governance and Legal Services | Date of Next Review extended to accommodate the committee review and self-assessment process deferred to 2021 |
| 18.10.17 | All | Vice-Chancellor | Terms of reference redrafted to committee charter |
| 11.04.17 | All | Director, Health, Safety and Environment | Revised membership following position changes - Associate Director, Health Safety and Environment and Senior Chemical Management Coordinator |
| 21.05.15 | All | Vice-Chancellor | Revised terms of reference to include environmental focus |
| 11.04.14 | All | Vice-Chancellor | Revised terms of reference and membership following corporate review of workplace health and safety and 2013 committee self-assessment |
| 30.11.12 | All | Vice-Chancellor | Revised membership to include the University Biosafety Officer |
| 19.03.12 | All | Vice-Chancellor | Established new committee |