OHS

Occupational Health and Safety policies within the Faculty of Engineering:

Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S)

The Faculty of Engineering is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for its staff, students, contractors and visitors in accordance with the UNSW Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Policy. These pages provide information and resources to enable all those working within the Faculty to carry out their OHS responsibilities.

All staff, students, contractors and visitors are expected to:

  • comply with UNSW OHS Policy and Faculty procedures at all times;
  • conduct all research and teaching in a safe manner that ensures no harm can come to other persons, property or the environment;
  • cooperate with UNSW and Faculty management in the development, implementation and maintenance of safe working procedures and practices;
  • participate in all levels of training programs;
  • immediately report hazards and incidents; and
  • actively participate in sustaining the safety culture at UNSW.

Harm to Zero

Working safely is intrinsic to UNSW.

Our expectation is that no one will come to any harm while at UNSW, hence our goal of 'harm to zero'.

Our health and safety values are:

  • People are our most valuable asset - we are all committed to ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone in the workplace.
  • Everyone has a responsibility for safety.
  • Injuries can be prevented.
  • We work together for a safer workplace by communicating and consulting with each other.

OHS Documentation

To access the UNSW OHS Policy, Procedures, Guidelines and for general safety information visit http://www.ohs.unsw.edu.au

Here are some examples of OH&S documents:

OHS Policy

The OHS Policy gives an overview of the OHS system at UNSW and states the commitment of UNSW to the health, safety and welfare of all people who work or study at this institution.

HAZARD REPORTING

If you find an OHS hazard, if there is an OHS incident, or if you have sustained an injury or illness while at work you must report this through the Hazard Reporting system.

Hazard and Incident Reporting Procedure

WORKSTATION/ERGONOMIC ASSESSMENT

Whether working on campus or at home, your computer workstation should follow the Ergonomic Principles and Guidelines.

WORKING AFTER HOURS

Procedures apply for all UNSW staff and UNSW facilities where staff, students and visitors work or study after hours.

PDF icon Working After Hours Procedure [75 kb]

VISITOR PROTOCOL (TO HAZARDOUS AREAS)

The Visitors to UNSW Facilities Guideline applies to all UNSW laboratories, workshops and other facilities where visitors may be exposed to risks to their health, safety and welfare.

PDF icon Visitors to UNSW Facilities Guideline [98 kb]

HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL

The UNSW Laboratory Hazardous Waste Disposal Procedure must be used by all UNSW facilities and operations where hazardous substances are used.

For more information visit http://www.ohs.unsw.edu.au/ohs_waste/index.html

TETB Building OHS Induction

The Tyree Energy Technologies Building OHS Induction manual is provided for occupants – staff and HDR students.

PDF icon Tyree Energy Technologies Building OHS Induction Manual

OHS Consultation

School OHS Committees and Information

Each School in the Faculty of Engineering has either a workplace OHS Committee (Level 3 Committee) or an OHS Representative.

View the list of School OHS committees

FACULTY OHS COMMITTEE

The Faculty OHS Committee (Level 2 Committee) monitors and evaluates all OHS programs being implemented at the Faculty level across Schools and Centres, and also follows up any Faculty OHS topics and issues.

The functions of the Faculty OHS Committee are to:

  • set the Faculty OHS program priorities in consultation with the School and Centre OHS Committees;
  • ensure that the School and Centre OHS committees are adequately resourced;
  • respond to issues raised by the School and Centre OHS Committees, which have Faculty-wide impact; and monitor the performance of the School and Centre OHS Committees.

The performance indicators for the Faculty OHS Committee are outlined below:

  • All Schools and Centres have OHS Committees or OHS Representatives.
  • Identification of OHS policy issues with Faculty-wide implications.
  • OHS programs are being implemented on the three major risks.
  • Monitoring of follow-up action by the Schools and Centres on identified risks.
  • OHS training needs are identified and incorporated into the OHS training plan.
  • Generic risk assessment occurs on OHS risks common to the Faculty.
  • Monitoring the type and frequency of serious incidents to staff and students.
  • Preventative action taken at School and Centre OHS Committees.
  • OHS incorporated into the Faculty decision-making processes.
  • Health surveillance provided to staff and students when identified.
  • Annual reporting to Level 1 on Faculty OHS program implementation.

View the Faculty OHS Committee members list

OHS STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE NETWORK

The University of New South Wales has a policy allowing for undergraduate and postgraduate representation on School OHS Committees. The Faculty of Engineering has extended this policy by forming a Student Representative Network which meets regularly with Faculty senior staff and the OHS Coordinator.

The OHS Student Representative Network represents the Faculty of Engineering student body at School and Faculty OHS meetings. It also meets to discuss any student-related OHS topics and issues.

The role of the OHS Student Representative Network is to report to the student body, through appropriate means, the outcomes of reported OHS concerns and initiatives taken by the Faculty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of students.

Role of OHS Student Representatives

 

  • To represent the Faculty of Engineering student body at School and Faculty meetings.
  • To report to the student body, through appropriate means, the outcomes of reported OHS concerns.
  • To report to the student body, through representative bodies, the initiatives taken by the Faculty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of students.

 

FACULTY OHS COORDINATOR

The OHS Coordinator for the Faculty of Engineering has the primary role of providing information and advice on OHS matters, assisting the development of local OHS Management Systems, providing health and safety training programs, and assisting School OHS Committees.

If you have any queries regarding OHS, the Faculty OHS Coordinator is Veronica Mair ph 9385 7944 or Email iconv.mair@unsw.edu.au

OHS PROBLEM RESOLUTION PROCESS FLOWCHART

Not sure how to resolve an OHS issue? This OHS Problem Resolution flowchart has been created to help you.

Flowchart: