Direct links
 

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY INDUCTION

INDEX
Health & Safety Strategy 
Health & Safety Team 
Occupational Health & Safety Committee 
Faculty/Division Safety Committees & Co-ordinators
Emergency Procedures 
First Aid Officers 
Evacuation Wardens 
University Health Service 
University Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Injury/Incident/Hazard Reporting 
Workers Compensation 
Rehabilitation/Injury Management
Policies, Procedures & Guidelines
Staff Responsibilities
Safety Induction

HEALTH & SAFETY STRATEGY
The aims of this strategy are:

  1. To integrate the management of health & safety into the teaching, research and administrative functions of the University so that all staff, students and visitors are provided with a safe and appropriately supervised working environment, a safe system of work, information about health and safety hazards in their workplace and instruction and training in safe operating procedures.
  2. To effectively control the risks of injury and illness to staff, students, and visitors arising out of University activities.
  3. To encourage the development of teaching, research, scholarship, and administrative work that regards good health and safety practice as an integral part of daily life at the University.

HEALTH & SAFETY TEAM
The University has a Health and Safety Team established to provide information, advice and joint problem solving for health and safety issues to the University Community, and develop and oversee the implementation of a Health and Safety Strategy for the University. The Health and Safety Team is part of the Human Resource Services and is able to assist with all aspects of strategic and operational support for workplace supervisors (Heads of Department/ School and Managers) as well as for senior management.

The Health & Safety Team produces, updates and monitors the University's OH&S Policies and Programs.

Full details of staff within the Health and Safety Team can be found in the Health and Safety contacts page.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE
The University has an active OH&S Committee which comprises both management and staff representatives. This Committee makes recommendations to the Vice-chancellor on how to:

The Committee also provides a forum for discussing all matters affecting the occupational health and safety of employees, students and visitors in the workplace.

The University has two Technical Committees - Chemical and Radiation Technical Committee (CRTC) and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). These specialist Committees function to provide specialist advice and information on health and safety issues related to either Chemical, and/or Radiation, and/or Biological hazards, assess health and safety implications of research projects and teaching practicals, provide safety clearances for research projects and teaching practicals, conduct OGTR (Office of the Gene Technology Regulator) and general health and safety inspections of laboratories undertaking certain work with Chemical, Radiation and Biological hazards.

FACULTY/DIVISION SAFETY COMMITTEES AND CO-ORDINATORS
The University has safety committees and/or co-ordinators for each Faculty and Division. These Committees and Co-ordinators provide a focussed point for OH&S consultation, risk analysis and implementation of OH&S systems.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
It is important that each member of staff be aware of what to do and who to contact in the event of an emergency. Click on this link to familiarise yourself with the procedures applicable to the Callaghan and Central Coast Campus'.

FIRST-AID OFFICERS
The University supports a comprehensive network of over 115 fully trained and accredited First-Aid Officers. These staff are able to provide emergency first-aid in the event of an injury, and are located in each building which ensures good access for staff, students, and visitors who require this assistance. The co-ordinator of this service is the OHS/Rehabilitation Officer who can be contacted by telephoning 4921 7721. All Security Staff are trained first-aid officers. The University Directory also contains a full listing of First-Aid Officers.

EVACUATION WARDENS
The University also has a network of fully trained Evacuation Wardens. See the University Directory for a full listing of these staff. The co-ordination of this service is the Senior Safety Officer who can be contacted by telephoning 4921 7330. Security services personnel have responsibility for practical implementation and they can be contacted by telephoning 4921 5728.

UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICE
The University Health Service, operated by a number of general practitioners on the Callaghan Campus, provides general practice services to staff, students and community members and is a source of information on health and health education. All consultations are strictly confidential and appointments are necessary (except in emergencies). The Health Service is both an emergency and general practitioner service which bulk bills Medicare directly for most consultations with a doctor. The Health Service is open Monday to Friday between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm, with a nurse available from 8.30am to 5.30pm. Appointment can be made by telephoning 4921 6000.

The Health Service works other professional services as necessary, in the treatment of patients. The Service also contributes to the University's Workplace Health and Safety program by conducting tests on the University's behalf, eg for staff and students who work with lasers. Some staff will require ongoing health checks and health checks at the completion of their employment. These may include laser eye tests, audiometric testing and testing for staff who work with certain chemical or biological agents. Dr Stephanie Brookman is the Director of the Service.

The Ourimbah Campus Health Service provides part-time medical care for students and staff.

UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
The Employee Assistance Program is available to all employees and their immediate family. It is a free service offered by the University members that provides confidential, external professional counselling for personal or work related issues. This service is accessed by telephoning: New Psych Psychologists (Newcastle and Gosford) 49265055 or Life Matters Psychology Services (Newcastle) 49653530.

INJURY/ILLNESS/INCIDENT/HAZARD REPORTING
You should familiarise yourself with the Ingury/Illness/Incident/Hazard reporting system at the University of Newcastle. This information is available on the Health & Safety web site under the heading Reporting Injuries/Incidents or Hazards.

HAZARDS
If you witness an incident involving an Occupational Health & Safety hazard, or notice such a hazard, you should: 

1. Report the hazard to your supervisor.
2. Assess the risk. If the hazard has the potential to cause death or serious injury, illness or might cause harm to a number of people report the hazard immediately. Talk to the supervisor of the work area to assess how dangerous the hazard is, consider the severity of the consequences of an accident, and the likelihood of the accident occurring.
3. Identify solutions and implement control strategies. For assistance in identifying control strategies, contact the Health and Safety Team or Faculty/Division Safety Committee/Co-ordinator. Evaluate the control strategy.
4. Ensure that an Incident/Hazard Report form is completed.
5.

The Incident/Hazard report form should then be forwarded to your supervisor for completion, and on completion to the Health & Safety Team.

NOTE: If the supervisor is not able to complete the Incident/Hazard report form within 48 hours of being reported, a copy of the original should be forwarded immediately to the Health & Safety Team with the original being forwarded on completion of the supervisor.

INCIDENTS RESULTING IN AN INJURY/ILLNESS OR NEAR MISS
If you experience an accident/injury or illness at work or on approved work related travel you should:

1. Get appropriate treatment from either:
  • a First-Aid Officer, and/or
  • the Doctor of your choice, and/or
  • a Hospital.
2. Report the accident/injury/illness to your supervisor.
3. Ensure that an Incident/Hazard Report form is completed.
4.

The Incident/Hazard report form should then be forwarded to your supervisor for completion, and on completion to the Health & Safety Team.

NOTE: If the supervisor is not able to complete the Incident/Hazard report form within 48 hours of being reported, a copy of the original should be forwarded immediately to the Health & Safety Team with the original being forwarded on completion of the supervisor. WorkCover have advised employers that a proposal for financial penalties levied against employers for late reporting may be introduced effective 1st July 2007.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION
If medical treatment is required for a work related injury or illness you should ask your treating Doctor about making a claim for Workers' Compensation.

Any claim for Workers' Compensation must be supported by a WorkCover Medical Certificate which clearly identifies the injury or illness, treatment recommended by your Doctor and your fitness for work.

If your treating Doctor considers that your employment with the University has been a "substantial contributing factor" to your injury or illness, your Doctor may issue you with a WorkCover Medical Certificate.

When your treating Doctor provides you with a WorkCover Medical Certificate you are eligible to make a claim by contacting the Workers Compensation & Injury Management Coordinator on 492 15263.

The Workers Compensation & Injury Mangement Coordinator will advise you on how to make a claim, and on the procedures to follow while the University Workers' Compensation Insurer determines whether or not your claim will be accepted.

PLEASE NOTE: Workers Compensation legislation places a strong emphasis on prompt reporting of work related injuries/illnesses, and claims for compensation. This is done to ensure a prompt return to full duties (where appropriate). Recent changes to legislation have indicated that a proposal for financial penalties levied against employers for late reporting may be introduced effective 1st July 2007.

INJURY MANAGEMENT (REHABILITATION)
The University supports the rehabilitation of staff with injuries and illness, where this is practicable, within the University's operations. Rehabilitation is supported to achieve the best possible restoration of physical, psychological, vocational and social functioning of the staff member concerned, at the earliest appropriate time.

STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES
The University recognises that the effective provision of safe work environments, and safe systems of work, places reciprocal responsibilities on staff and management to identify, assess and develop controls for occupational health and safety risks, and to co-operate in maintaining control systems. The effectiveness of the University's safety systems is dependent on the co-operation and good will of staff to bring the system into effect. This duty of staff to co-operate with management in safety matters is reflected in State law, and is considered to be a key area for assessment of performance, across all classifications.

POLICIES, PROCEDURES & GUIDELINES
Smoking is not permitted within the confines of all University buildings, University vehicles and designated non-smoking areas, eg adjacent to air intakes, building entrances and thoroughfares.

Click here to view a list of OH&S and related policies, procedures and guidelines.

An alphabetical listing of the University's policies can be found by accessing the Policy Library Index.