Occupation Health & Safety (OH&S)

• Overview
• Current initiative
• Contacts

Aim of OH&S Act

The basic aim of the NSW OH&S Act 2000 No 40 is to provide a safe workplace for all.

General principles

1. Identify hazards & hazardous jobs
2. Prioritise hazards by severity & probability
3. Assess the risks
4. Eliminate, reduce or control the risk
5. Periodic review of the OH&S efficacy

Employer's responsibility

To provide a safe workplace that complies with the OH&S act. To ensure that sub units are effectively managing OH&S risks. Large fines for non compliance.

Supervisor's responsibility

To consult with workgroup, identify hazards, assess risks and then eliminate, minimise or control the hazard. To provide any safety equipment required and ensure that safety procedures are followed. To provide supervision and training for staff/students in appropriate safety procedures. Fines and gaol for non compliance.

Employee's/student's responsibility

To assist in identifying hazards and risks. To cooperate with the OH&S policies, follow safety procedures and use safety [P.P.E.] equipment where required. Fines for non compliance.

Incident reports

All safety incidents, including "near misses" should be reported by the casualty the Occupation Illness, Injury of Incident Report form (PdF) available online from the OHSIM website or from your local Safety Officer, and returned to OHSIM within 24 hours. These reports help identify hazards and risks that may have not been addressed. When incidents occur at other institutions (e.g. hospitals) casualties should ALSO complete the incident report form from that institution. Serious injuries may require some other officer to initiate the incident report.

Emergency procedures

Each building develops it's own unique emergency procedures by the occupants of that building. The chief warden should ensure that effective emergency procedures are in place. See the OHSIM site for further details.

Campus Infrastructure Services

Responsible for maintaining the University building fabric including sprinklers, emergency equipment, etc. Contact CIS for buildings and grounds repairs and service.

The major current initiative is to promote OH&S at all Clinical Schools, affiliated Area Health Services, Research groups - including remote sites. The OH&S Director hopes to visit all sites during 2007-8 to meet key stakeholders.

Staff and students may come under different OH&S management, depending upon the site; e.g. University Campus or Hospital/Area Health Service.

• Zone 2 Occupational Health and Safety Committee [Covers the Faculty of Medicine.]

For OH&S, safety, policies, incidents, first aid and Chem-Alert:

OHSIM [OHS & Injury Management]
Ground Floor, Margaret Telfer Building, K07
Phone: 9351-4335
Fax: 9351-5868
Website: www.usyd.edu.au/ohs/

Risk Management Office
Ground Floor, Margaret Telfer Building, K07
Phone: 9351-4127
Fax: 9351-5868
Website: www.usyd.edu.au/risk/

Campus Property Services Helpdesk
Level 2, Services Building, G12
Phone: 9351-7838 (business hours)
Fax: 9351-6489
Website: e~Service Desk (requires your Unikey login)

Roland Smith
Faculty of Medicine OHS Director

Phone: 9351-2518
Fax: 9351-2817
Mob: 0403-359-011
Email:

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