OHS update July 2017

(1) OHS information and resources for SCS staff and students

SCS staff and students are reminded that the School intranet has a wide variety of information and resources relating to OHS management and practices, including:

-       Chemical Safety 

-       Emergency Procedures

-       Forms and Policies

-       Incident and Hazard Reporting

-       Inductions and Training

-       Manual Handling

-       Radiation Safety

-       Risk Assessments

-       OHS Personnel

-       SCS OHS Committee meetings

-       Security and Access

Staff and students are encouraged to raise OHS matters and provide feedback through their respective Department Heads and OHS office-bearers. In addition, SCS personnel can contact the School Lab Resources & Safety Officer, Dr Clare Westhorpe (clare.westhorpe@monash.edu), or the School Manager, Dr Eugene Fredericks (eugene.fredericks@monash.edu).

(2) OHS Procedures, Policies, and Information

In reviewing the management of OHS systems across the School, it is timely to reminder for staff and students about a number of procedures and policies, including:

-       Mandatory on-line training: Fixed-term and continuing staff are required to complete the four mandatory University on-line training modules: ‘OHS Induction’, ‘Ethical and Professional Conduct’, and ‘Privacy’ must be completed every three year. The ‘Equal Opportunity’ module must be completed every two years. This is to ensure that the training keeps abreast of changes in legislation. Please click the following hyperlink to access the mandatory compliance training.

-       OHS Training & Inductions: For more information about upcoming training activities, please see: https://sites.google.com/a/monash.edu/school-of-clinical-sciences-intranet/oh-s/inductions-training-workshops

-       After-Hours Approval Form: Staff and students undertaking any after-hours research in a laboratory or the Animal House are required to complete the Approval Form (https://sites.google.com/a/monash.edu/school-of-clinical-sciences-intranet/oh-s/forms-policies)

-       Risk Assessments: Each department is required to review and update their risk assessments and submit into the Safety and Risk Analysis Hub (SARAH: http://www.monash.edu/ohs/report-incident-hazard). When naming a Risk Assessment, please use the prefix ‘SCS’ in each title, so that they can be readily searched (e.g. ‘SCS – Agarose Gel Electrophoresis)

-       MyPlan: The University’s performance development system is myPlan and it is intuitive and user-friendly. The system is used to support the important ongoing conversations between staff and supervisors. When staff are completing their myPlan goals with their supervisors, please ensure that OHS goals (e.g. relevant training courses – both face-to-face and on-line) are discussed and included.  It is particularly important for OHS office-bearers across the School to include OHS activities in their myPlan. To login to myPlan, please go to: https://www.intranet.monash/hr/tools-and-resources/staff-resources/performance-development

-       Information about SCS OHS Personnel: https://sites.google.com/a/monash.edu/school-of-clinical-sciences-intranet/oh-s/scs-oh-s-personnel

-       SCS OHS Committee meeting papers: All staff and students can access the SCS OHS Committee papers (https://sites.google.com/a/monash.edu/school-of-clinical-sciences-intranet/oh-s/scs-ohs-committee-papers) and can also submit OHS matters for tabling at the SCS OHS Committee by contacting the SCS OHS Officer, Dr Clare Westhorpe (clare.westhorpe@monash.edu) 

(3) Reporting incidents/hazards

The Safety And Risk Analysis Hub (S.A.R.A.H.) is the online reporting tool used by the University. It provides staff and students with a user-friendly way to report occupational health and safety (OHS) related hazards and incidents. Paper-based Hazard and Incident report forms are no longer accepted. Further information and links to S.A.R.A.H. can be found here.

Staff and students should report OHS hazards that could pose a risk to:

• a person's health or safety, including instances of unsafe work practice
• the environment (e.g. air, water, land)

Staff and students should report OHS Incidents such as:

• Work-related injuries, illnesses and near misses to staff, students, contractors and visitors
• Allegations by staff being subjected to unacceptable behaviour

Supervisors and Managers at Monash University have additional responsibility with respect to investigating and actioning hazards and incidents reported by staff under their direction.

If you are unable to access the reporting tool, please contact the eSolutions Service Desk.