UNIVERSITY WIDE POLICY
Occupational Health and Safety
- Hazards Management -
1. Purpose
To affirm the commitment of the University of Ballarat to the integration of hazards management into the core responsibilities of Supervisors and Managers of the University.
To provide safe and healthy conditions for employees, contractors, students, customers and visitors whilst on University premises or whilst engaged in University-sponsored activities.
2. Scope
The following policy principally applies to Supervisors and Managers of the University of Ballarat (as defined), but also defines responsibilities for all staff. It applies to all premises and facilities owned, occupied or managed by the University, and to all occupational, educational, commercial, and University-endorsed activities, whatever their location. It is especially applicable to the planning and design of intended facilities and activities.
3. Definitions
"Hazard": is the potential to cause harm to a person or to the natural environment.
"Hazards management": describes a structured process of hazard identification, risk assessment and control aimed at providing safe and healthy conditions for employees, contractors, students, patrons and visitors whilst on University premises or whilst
engaged in University-endorsed activities.
"Practicable": means practicable having regard to:
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the severity of the hazard or risk in question;
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the state of knowledge about that hazard or risk and any ways of removing or mitigating it;
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the availability and suitability of ways to remove or mitigate that hazard or risk; and
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the cost of removing or mitigating that hazard or risk.
"Risk": means a combination of the likely frequency and severity of harm arising from a hazard.
"Risk control hierarchy": ranks risk control measures in decreasing order of effectiveness:
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elimination of hazard;
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substitution of hazardous processes or materials with safer ones;
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engineering controls;
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administrative controls; and
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personal protective equipment.
The risk control measures implemented for the hazards identified should always aim to be as high in the list as practicable.
"Supervisor" and "Manager": apply to any employee of the University who:
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plans, organises or supervises the activities of other employees, contractors, students or visitors on behalf of the University; or
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designs or organises the design of new facilities for the University.
These terms include Heads of Schools and Heads of Sections.
4. Policy Statement
The University of Ballarat has determined that hazards management will form an essential element of its incident and injury prevention program. Therefore, all Supervisors and Managers must integrate the management of hazards associated with the areas and activities under their control within their day-to-day responsibilities.
The University will:
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develop, publish, and maintain procedures for the identification of hazards, and the assessment and control of risks for existing, new and proposed elements of the work environment;
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develop and conduct training sessions for Supervisors, Managers and Health and Safety Representatives;
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allocate resources for the implementation of risk control measures;
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monitor the implementation of the policy and related procedures; and
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assign responsibilities in relation to the implementation of this policy and related procedures.
5. Responsibility
The Vice-Chancellor of the University is ultimately responsible for the policy, and is accountable for the performance of the University in relation to this policy. The Vice-Chancellor will ensure specific budget allocations are made for the implementation of the control measures resulting from the hazards management process.
The Manager - Workplace Support will:
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develop, publish and maintain University-wide procedures for the implementation of this policy;
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develop and conduct training sessions for Supervisors, Managers and Health and Safety Representatives; and
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advise Supervisors and Managers in implementing the policy and related procedures.
Supervisors and Managers will:
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attend training sessions organised in relation to this policy and related procedures; and
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implement a hazards management program in the area under their control and for all the activities they plan, organise or supervise, in accordance with this policy and related procedures. (This requirement may include developing and implementing departmental
procedures adapting University-wide documents for the local conditions.)
Health and Safety Representatives will:
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attend training sessions organised in relation to this policy and related procedures; and
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assist local Supervisors and Managers in implementing a hazards management program in the area and for the work group they represent.
Contractors will, upon request from their University Supervisor or Manager, give details of the hazards relating to their activities, and of the measures they have adopted to control the
risks. They will comply with the risk control measures specified by the University that apply to their activities.
The University Health and Safety Policy Committee will monitor the implementation of the policy and related procedures.
6. Legislative Context
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Victoria) and subordinate regulations
Dangerous Goods Act 1985 (Victoria) and subordinate regulations
Common Law principles of (a) general duty of care, and (b) duties of occupiers of premises
7. Associated Documents
Occupational Health and Safety Procedure - Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control (HIRAC)
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Warning - Uncontrolled when printed! The current version of this document is kept on the UB website.
Authorised by: University Health and Safety Committee
Maintained by: Manager - Workplace Support
Review Date: Dec-2007
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| Original Issue: 30/11/1999
Current Version: 16/01/2006
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