School of Environmental and Life Sciences

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• School of Environmental and Life Sciences
• Occupational Health and Safety Induction
• For all Staff, Students and Visitors

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Welcome to the School of Environmental and Life
Sciences

• The University has an obligation to its employees
  under the Northern Territory Workplace Health and
  Safety Act. To meet its obligations the
  University has this induction program to provide
  you with knowledge of occupational health and
  safety factors in the workplace.
• As an employee of the University you have an
  obligation to follow safe working procedures at
  all times, and to take all reasonable precautions
  to prevent personal injury or injury to others
  and damage to plant and equipment.
• This session will enable you to complete the
  University New employee health and safety
  checklist and it requires you to tick off each
  action as it is completed. Check with your
  supervisor on any actions which are not completed
  by the end of the first week.

New employee health and safety checklist
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Contents

• Legislation Including the Workplace Health and
  Safety Act, Workplace Health and Safety
  Regulations
• The Charles Darwin University Occupational Health
  Safety policy and related processes
• Employee and Employer responsibilities under the
  Work Health Act
• Faculty and School safety procedures and
  practices
• Safe Work Procedures (SWPs) and Risk Assessments
• Hazards - Identification, Assessment, Reporting
  and Control
• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
• Workplace Advisory Group University and Faculty
• Reporting and Resolution of Occupational Health
  and Safety issues

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Contents (contd)

• Workers Compensation
• Rehabilitation
• Manual Handling
• Ergonomic Assessment
• First Aid
• Emergencies
• University Emergency Management Plan
• The content of this presentation here is on the
  CDU website in Health, Safety and Environment or
  in the Faculty Safety Manual and/or Field Manual

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Legislation

• The Workplace Health and Safety Act.
• An Act to promote occupational health and
  safety in the Territory to prevent workplace
  injuries and diseases, to protect the health and
  safety of the public in relation to work
  activities, to promote the rehabilitation and
  maximum recovery from incapacity of injured
  workers, to provide financial compensation to
  workers incapacitated from workplace injuries or
  diseases and to the dependants of workers who die
  as the results of such injuries or diseases, to
  establish certain bodies and a fund for the
  proper administration of the Act, and for related
  purposes.

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Legislation contd

• The aim of the Act is to protect workers at work
  by promoting a culture of safety awareness. Both
  the Act and the Regulations have mandatory
  requirements and fines for breaches of the Act
  and regulations are outlined within the
  documents.
• Codes of Practice under the Act provide practical
  guidance on how a health and safety standard can
  be achieved. These are mandatory requirements and
  should be followed. Minimum standards are stated
  and if there is another solution which achieves
  the same or better standard of health and safety
  it may be used
• Australian Standards provide guidance on how a
  standard can be achieved. These standards are
  developed by Standards Australia and contain
  requirements that should be followed. Minimum
  standards are stated and if there is another
  solution which achieves the same or better
  standard of health and safety it may be used.

IF IN DOUBT, ASK!!!
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University Policy

• The University recognises its corporate
  responsibility under the Northern Territory
  Workplace Health and Safety Act and Regulations
  and associated legislation. This policy provides
  the framework to enable the University to fulfill
  its commitment to providing a healthy and safe
  workplace and to eliminating conditions and
  incidents that could result in personal injury or
  ill health.
• University has guidelines and processes based on
  the Workplace Health and Safety Act and
  Regulations, Codes of Practice and Australian
  Standards.

Must read
University OHS Policy
University Health and Safety Policy
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Employer and Employee Responsibilities

• Responsibilities of employers and employees are
  outlined in the Workplace Health and Safety Act
  and the University Health and Safety Policy.

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Inspections of the Workplace

• Regular inspections of the workplace are designed
  to identify hazards for assessment and control to
  maintain a safe environment
• Inspections must be carried out on a regular
  basis and form part of the overall OHS
  management system of the University
• Inspections are carried out on a scheduled basis
  by a team who complete the checklist and identify
  hazards for correction
• Where there is a significant change in activities
  and/or area use an inspection must be performed
• High risk areas should be inspected more
  frequently
• It is the responsibility of staff in the area
  inspected to take remedial action within
  timeframes set.

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Managers and Supervisors

• Staff in a supervisory capacity are required to
  ensure that regular inspections are carried out
  and that appropriate remedial action is undertaken

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Health and Safety Inspection Check List

• Download the
• Health and Safety Inspection Checklist

• Regular Inspections provide a means for you to
  measure your OHS performance.
• Keep records
• Complete the checklist and dont forget to
  identify who will be responsible for correcting
  identified hazards

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Safe Work Procedures (SWPs)

• Where a specific hazard exists it may be
  appropriate to have safe work procedures clearly
  described and posted close by so as they can be
  easily read and understood
• International signage is useful where there may
  be difficulty in communication
• DO NOT rely on verbal information for it may not
  be received by all who need it.
• Document all information
• Procedures should be reviewed at inspection time
• Safe Work Procedure Template

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Hazardous Substance Risk Assessments

• Hazardous Substance Risk Assessments must be
  completed when dealing with Hazardous Substances
• They are designed to address the key points
  associated with the substance such as Usage,
  Health Effects, Hazard Identification, Control
  Measures and Disposal Processes
• All this information can be obtained from the
  Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the
  substance.

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Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)

• MSDSs can be obtained from manufacturer/supplier
  or through a chemical database such as ChemWatch
• Electronic information may not be available when
  needed so hard copies of the information must be
  kept where they are easily accessed
• Every chemical substance in the workplace should
  have a printed MSDS to inform the user of the
  nature of the product in use.
• The MSDS provides valuable information on
• what the formula is, its appearance, odor and
  use
• permissible exposure limits (PEL), exposure
  effects
• monitoring and measurement procedures
• health hazard information
• emergency first aid
• personal protection
• leak/spill procedures, waste disposal and storage

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Labelling of chemicals

• Labelling of substances is governed by the
  National Code of Practice for the Labelling of
  Workplace Substances NOHSC2012 (1994)
• LABELS FOR HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
• The label on a hazardous substance should draw
  the attention of a user who is handling or using
  the substance to the significant hazards
  involved. It should take into account all the
  hazards which are likely to occur during the use
  of the substance.
• INFORMATION NEEDED ON LABELS FOR CONTAINERS WITH
  A CAPACITY OF MORE THAN 500 mL(g)
• Product Name
• Chemical Name
• Concentration or formulation details
• Signal words, Dangerous Goods class and
  subsidiary risk labels
• UN number
• Risk Phrase(s)
• Safety Phrase(s)
• Directions for use (as appropriate)
• First Aid procedures
• Emergency Procedures
• Expiry date
• Manufacturer details
• Reference to MSDS

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Labelling of chemicals

• Small containers may have insufficient space to
  include all the information needed on the label
  in a style and size that is legible and clearly
  distinguishable from other markings on the
  container. The information needed on labels for
  small containers is therefore a subset of that
  for containers of more than 500 mL(g).
• INFORMATION NEEDED ON LABELS FOR CONTAINERS WITH
  A CAPACITY OF LESS THAN 500 mL(g)
• Product Name
• Chemical Name
• Concentration or formulation details
• Signal words, Dangerous Goods class and
  subsidiary risk labels
• UN number
• Risk Phrase(s) at least the most significant
• Safety Phrase(s) at least the most significant
• First Aid procedures
• Manufacturer details
• Reference to MSDS
• Where a container of a hazardous substance is so
  small that this information cannot be provided on
  the actual container, the container should be
  labelled with at least
• Product Name/Chemical Name
• Signal words, Dangerous Goods class and
  subsidiary risk labels

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Label Example
Product name
Signal word
Dangerous Goods
Concentration
First Aid
Safety Phrase(s)
Directions for use
Emergency procedures
Risk phrase(s)
Manufacturer
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Resolution of OHS issues

• Initially the OHS issue should be discussed with
  your supervisor
• Should the supervisor not be able to assist, the
  matter should be referred to your Health and
  Safety Representative on the Faculty Workplace
  Advisory Group (WAG) and seek advice from Health,
  Safety and Environment (HSE).
• Refer paperwork to WAG or HSE for action
• If the matter remains unresolved it can then be
  referred to the University Health and Safety
  Group (UHSG)

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Hazards

• A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm
  or adverse health effects on something or someone
  under certain conditions at work.
• Sometimes a hazard is referred to as being the
  actual harm or the health effect it caused rather
  than the hazard. For example, the disease
  tuberculosis (TB) might be called a hazard by
  some but in general the TB-causing bacteria would
  be considered the "hazard" or "hazardous
  biological agent".
• What are examples of a hazard?
• Workplace hazards can come from a wide range of
  sources. General examples include any substance,
  material, process, practice, etc that has the
  ability to cause harm or adverse health effect to
  a person under certain conditions. See Table 1
  (next slide).

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Table 1 Hazards
As shown in the table, workplace hazards also
include practices or conditions that release
uncontrolled energy like an object that could
fall from a height (potential or gravitational
energy), a run-away chemical reaction (chemical
energy) or the release of compressed gas or steam
(pressure high temperature).
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Dealing with Hazards

• There are 3 basic steps to follow when dealing
  with hazards
• 1. Identify 2. Assess 3.Control
• IDENTIFY
• The inspection checklist should have identified
  any hazards in your work area. If you notice a
  hazard, report it !
• ASSESS
• Complete a Hazard Report
• 1. Rank the risk by probability - the likelihood
  of the hazard resulting in injury, illness,
  damage or loss
• 2. Rank the risk by consequence - the potential
  for injury, illness, damage or loss
• 3. Prioritise the risk for control - indicate the
  ranking of importance when control measures are
  to be implemented

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Dealing with Hazards contd

• CONTROL
• Now that the risk has been identified and
  assessed decisions need to be made about how best
  to eliminate or reduce the risk as much as
  possible.
• The following hierarchy of controls provides the
  steps to making the right decisions in this
  process. It is important to start at 1 and work
  though to 6 (ie. PPE is not the first control to
  put in place)
• 1. Elimination (remove the hazard)
• 2. Substitution (use an alternative)
• 3. Isolate (separation from hazard)
• 4. Redesign (change equipment or process)
• 5. Administration (change work practices)
• 6. Personal Protective Equipment (ie gloves,
  glasses, hearing protection)

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Field Work

• The Field Work Manual covers aspects of safety
  involved in terrestrial, freshwater and inshore
  marine field work in the Northern Territory.
• All information and links to forms are included
  in the content of the manual.
• It is imperative that all field work is assessed
  fully as the Top End of the Northern Territory
  experiences a wide range of conditions of which
  potential researchers should be aware. Great
  stretches of the country and coastline are
  relatively remote, but much of it is accessible
  with vehicles and small craft at favourable times
  of the year.
• Safety aspects of vehicular and small boat field
  work and foot traverse work are considered.
  Somewhat greater emphasis is placed on vehicular
  and boat work, because despite popular opinion on
  some perils of field work in remote localities,
  the greatest risks to the field researcher
  involve the vehicle or boat after it has broken
  down.

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Health and Safety Committees

• Charles Darwin University has a University Health
  and Safety Group and Workplace Advisory Groups
• The groups meet on a regular basis to resolve and
  communicate OHS issues to the university

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University Health and Safety Group (UHSG)

• The University Health and Safety Group (UHSG)
  comprises Representatives from each of the WAG of
  the university. The group is chaired by the
  Executive Director of Corporate Services and has
  the Manager of Health Safety and Environment (or
  proxy) in attendance.
• The group meets on a regular basis to resolve OHS
  issues raised by WAG and to discuss policy and
  procedure and legislative requirements.

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Workplace Advisory Group (WAG)

• The Workplace Advisory Group (WAG) comprises
  Health and Safety (HS) Representatives from work
  groups or areas in each faculty or department for
  OHS matters.
• The group meets on a regular basis to resolve OHS
  issues
• Faculty of Education Health and Sciences WAG -
  Casuarina Campus
• Chair Executive Officer
• Rep SELS Laboratory Manager
• Rep Health Building Warden Blue 5
• Rep Engineering/IT Engineering Technician
• Rep Education Building Warden Blue 5

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Accident, Injury and Incident Reporting

• Accidents, Injuries and Incidents should be
  reported within 24hours to Health, Safety and
  Environment on Accident, Injury and Incident
  report
• If a matter is considered to be serious,
  involves serious injury or involves a death,
  IMMEDIATE notification to HSE is required.
• Supervisors are responsible for the follow up and
  investigation of all incidents and accidents and
  are required to forward the accident, incident
  and incident form to the Health, Safety and
  Environment (HSE) unit.
• Supervisor is to keep a copy of the Accident,
  Injury and Incident report form and forward a
  copy to the Chair of the WAG

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Workers Compensation, Rehabilitationand Return
to Work

• The university has in place workers compensation
  for employees as required under the NT Workers
  Rehabilitation and Compensation Act.
• Guidelines on Workers Compensation are available
  through Health, Safety and Environment unit or
  through NT Worksafe
• Note Students and volunteers are not covered by
  workers compensation through the university as
  they are not employees. Coverage is either
  through Medicare or CDU Public Liability
  insurance (dependant on situation).
• Further information can be sought from CDU
  Health, Safety and Environment unit.

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Manual Handling

• Manual Handling presents a significant risk in
  most workplaces and there is a Manual Handling
  Risk Assessment Checklist to determine risks
  associated with activities.
• Training is recommended for any person who is
  required to perform manual handling duties as
  part of their work and is available internally or
  externally to the University
• Check Health, Safety and Environment training
  dates
• Manual handling information is available as a
  Regulation and Code of Practice

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Screen based equipment and Ergonomic Assessment

• The procedure for users of keyboard and screen
  based equipment is available at Screen based
  equipment - Selection and Use
• Use the Workstation Checklist to make an
  assessment of your situation

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First Aid and Medical Assistance

• The University requires each work area to
  maintain trained First Aid personnel. Depending
  on the size of the area, one or more may be
  required to service the area
• First aid personnel are responsible for
  maintaining the kits to comply with the current
  Code of Practice and keeping records of all
  illnesses, injuries and treatments given.
• Security personnel are trained in first aid and
  can be called if you are unable to locate your
  first aid officer. If no first aid assistance can
  be provided call for Ambulance assistance.
• Medical practitioners are not currently available
  on campus. As a general rule, cases requiring
  ambulance attendance and further treatment are
  sent to Royal Darwin Hospital Emergency
  Department.
• Do not delay in seeking first aid and always
  remember to complete an Accident, Injury and
  Incident report

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Emergencies

• When the alarms sound
• 1. Evacuate building immediately by nearest safe
  exit or as directed by your floor warden.
• 2. Proceed directly to the designated Assembly
  Area
• 3. Wait until the all clear given by Fire
  Brigade Officer or Building Warden or Security
• DO NOT enter buildings if alarms are sounding
• DO NOT USE lifts/elevators during an evacuation.
• Familiarise yourself with the floorplan of the
  building you are in and the designated assembly
  area

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Fire and Fire Fighting Equipment

• Only attempt to extinguish minor fires do not
  take personal risks
• Fire brigade The fire brigade is alerted by the
  faculty's automatic alarm systems.
• The Building Warden or the deputy Building Warden
  must meet the Emergency Services personnel when
  they arrive at the fire panel of the building. As
  soon as possible inform the University Security
  on extension 7777 or 8946 7777 or 8946 6500
  (Casuarina Campus only).
• Each laboratory usually has a Fire extinguisher
  of DRY CHEMICAL General-purpose type
• Most laboratories also have a fire blanket. Fire
  blankets are the method of choice for small and
  contained fires.
• Each building also has fire hoses in them. See
  floor plans for their positions in each building

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After hours and Emergency response

• Outside normal working hours (1621- 0800
  weekdays, weekends, and public holidays)
  Building/ Floor Wardens more likely will not be
  available. If the alarm sound during these
  periods, Wardens in the building (if any) and the
  Security Officer will endeavour to ensure that
  all personnel leave the building.
• It is essential that all occupants sign in and
  out of the buildings, with appropriate entries in
  the After Hours books.
• After hours Books locations
• Yellow 2 Foyer adjacent to automatic door
• Pink 4 and 5 Preparation areas of both
• Orange 4
• Blue 5 Faculty front counter

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Emergency Management Plan

• Charles Darwin Universitys Emergency Management
  plan can be found at Emergency Management Plan

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Summary

• Everyone (including the University) has a
  responsibility to themselves and others to ensure
  a safe work environment
• Accidents and incidents must be reported and
  investigated with corrective action taken to
  prevent a reoccurrence
• Regular Inspections must be carried out to
  maintain a safe work environment

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Forms and Useful Links
Forms
Policy and Procedure

• New employee health and safety checklist
• Health and Safety Inspection Checklist
• Safe Work Procedure Template
• Hazardous Substance Risk Assessments
• Hazard Report
• Accident, Injury and Incident report
• Manual Handling Risk Assessment Checklist

• University OHS Policy
• University Health and Safety Policy
• Field Manual
• Safety Manual

Other Links

• ChemWatch
• Health, Safety and Environment
• NT WorkSafe

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Acknowledgements

• Mr. Neil Ludvigsen - for his initial contribution
  to the content.
• Mr. Horst Walter, Acting Manager of CDU Health,
  Safety and Environment Unit - for his proof
  reading and suggestions
• Ms. Kezia Lim, Technical Officer (Pharmacy) - for
  her keen eye and editing skills

Developed by Mr. Michael Howard Laboratory
Manager School of Environmental and Life
Sciences Faculty of Education, Health and
Science 2008