University Staff OHS and EHS Responsibilities
This statement forms a part of your responsibilities and is included in your Position Description
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Responsibilities
All staff are responsible for the following safe work procedures and instructions:
Employees must:
- cooperate with the University in relation to activities taken by the University to comply with OHS and EHS legislation.
- comply with the OHS and EHS manuals
- adopt work practices that support OHS and EHS programs
- take reasonable care for their own health and safety and the health and safety of other people who may be affected by their conduct in the workplace
- seek guidance for all new or modified work procedures
- ensure that any hazardous conditions, near misses and injuries are reported immediately to the supervisor
- participate in meetings, training and other environment, health and safety activities
- not wilfully place at risk the health or safety of any person in the work place
- not wilfully or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interest of environment health and safety or welfare
Supervisors are responsible for:
- developing new work procedures, as required, in conjunction with relevant persons
- providing all staff with relevant OHS and EHS information in an appropriate manner
- providing personal protective equipment and clothing if hazards cannot be fully eliminated
- providing adequate supervision through technical guidance and support
- identifying and controlling hazardous conditions
- providing appropriate facilities for safe storage, handling and transport of hazardous substances
- ensuring that all accidents and incidents are reported
Managers and Section Heads are responsible for:
- maintaining compliance with all OHS and EHS policies and procedures by regular performance review
- conducting regular inspections to identify risk/aspects, implementing corrective action and arranging monitoring where required
- ensuring that all staff, including contractors under local control, are appropriately inducted
- providing relevant OHS and EHS information and ensuring appropriate training;
- identifying health monitoring needs, in consultation with the Occupational Physician
- maintaining appropriate records as required by the University's Records Services Department
- ensuring consultative structures and staff participation by conducting regular section meetings to discuss OHS and EHS issues
- Investigating all reported incidents and reporting to department heads all action taken to prevent a similar occurrence
In addition, Academic Staff are responsible for ensuring that an equivalent standard of OHS and EHS is afforded to their students as is afforded to University staff generally. Academic staff are deemed to have principal supervisory duty for undergraduate and postgraduate student activities.