Planetary Health - June 2022

This June, the Health and Wellbeing Team invites you to join in the range of activities to learn more about Planetary Health, and take action to create a healthy planet and people for a healthier future. 

Planetary Health recognises the relationship between human health and the health of the planet, and climate change is the single biggest global challenge humanity is facing. 

Check out all the activities below: 

• Join Monash's Planetary Health research leads, Professor Jane Fisher AO and Professor Karin Leder to explore the concepts of planetary health, the intersection between planetary health and mental health and the relevance of this framing for human health and wellbeing. Register here.
• Join Chief Medical Officer A/Prof Vicki Ashton, Sustainable Development Planner Dr Kendra Wasiluk and Sustainability Coordinator Shane French to take a closer look at what Monash is doing to respond to climate change and foster thriving communities. Register here.
• Join Dr Rosemary Stanton OAM to explore how our dietary choices can affect planetary health, the dietary changes needed and the need to tackle those who oppose change. Register now.
• Take part in the “Meat” Me Halfway Challenge and pledge to go meat-free for at least 2 days each week. Join now.
• Tips and resources on Workplace

Check out the programs, resources, podcasts and previous webinar recordings on our Planetary Health website. If you’re participating in Green Impact, check out your toolkit for additional wellbeing actions that you can adopt! 

Planned evacuation drills - MMC areas

On Tuesday 31 May, the following areas will undergo a planned evacuation drill. Staff are expected to participate in these, or notify in advance if their work does not allow them to leave their workplace during the drill.

• 9:30 AM
• Bld 261, 262 & TRF warden briefing - under the MHRP Bridge  
• 10:45 AM
• MIMR Building (Hudson / 261) - all floors (Fire panel: Rod E)
• 11:15 AM
• MHRP Building & Bridge (262) (Fire panel: Rod E
• 2:30 PM
• TRF Building, Levels 4-7 (Fire panel: Rod E or silent drill) 
• 3:00 PM
• E block, Levels 3 - 5 (Fire panel: silent drill)

In all areas, the wardens will do a sweep to evacuate staff and students from the area, in a mock emergency. The "silent drills" will not have any announcements or tones over the PA system to communicate with staff about the drill. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please email scs.ohs@monash.edu

What is work design?

From The WorkSafe WorkWell Team. 

Poor work design isn’t about ill-chosen office wallpaper - it’s a serious risk to your employees’ wellbeing, and therefore your business.

Masks update on behalf of the MNHS COVID-19 Task Force

As you will already know, people living in metropolitan Melbourne, and the Mitchell Shire, will be required to start wearing face masks when out of the home from tonight (22 July 2020) at 11.59pm.

The University has updated its advice for the use of face masks for staff working on-campus.

University and Faculty position on use of masks

As you're aware, the Victorian Government advises that adults living in areas under Stage 3 restrictions wear a face mask when outside home if it is difficult to keep 1.5 metres apart from other people.

MMC/MCH Safety Alert: Personal Safety

Please see important information below from Monash Health about your personal safety when coming to and from work.

Please also see attached our Staying Safe poster, with further details for our MMC site.

Updates to SCS: Return to Work and COVID-related matters

Staged Return to Work for SCS Staff

Following the instruction from the Vice-Chancellor earlier this week, SCS has commenced a staged return to work.

The initial priority will be for a staged return of research staff who require access to labs and specialist equipment. As per Government and University guidelines, there will be occupancy limits in all spaces, including offices, meeting rooms, and laboratories.

Mental health of doctors in training suffering under long hours

“A healthy medical profession is vital to patient safety and quality of care, and the sustainability of the medical workforce.” However, we are seeing an increasing amount of evidence linking long hours to poor mental health outcomes for junior doctors. Read more

Correct disposal of electronic equipment (eWaste)

From 1 July this year the Victorian Government banned all e-Waste from entering landfill. e-Waste can be described as anything with a plug or battery, in working condition or faulty.

SCS OHS procedures

This year, we will developing a number of important OHS procedures to better align with the University's OHS management system. These will be drafted in consultation with the SCS OHS committee.

Call for Nominations: FMNHS OHS Committee Representative Membership 2020-2022

The current membership term of the Faculty OHS committee ceases at the end of 2019. The Faculty is therefore seeking nominations for representation on the OHS Committee for the next three years (2020 -2022). Previous committee members are eligible to apply.

SCS OHS committee - call for agenda items

The next SCS OHS committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, 4 December 2019. Please send any items for discussion to clare.westhorpe@monash.edu. Meeting minutes are available on the intranet here.

Introducing iLab for SCS laboratory management

The School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health is launching its new iLab site. The SCS iLab site is the one-stop-shop for requesting laboratory OHS inductions, training, and equipment or facilities maintenance.

Safety alert

This important message is to highlight the need for constant vigilance and increased situational awareness to personal safety for all employees transitioning to and from Monash Health sites.

MMC/MCH Site Alert: The Walking Bus

The Monash Medical Centre site introduced a Staff Walking Bus late last year. A Staff Walking Bus is an opportunity for staff to assemble together to walk to a common destination.

Evacuation drills at MMC

All Monash University and Hudson Institute areas will be holding evacuation drills on Tuesday, 29 October, excluding the Monash Children's Hospital. Please plan your experiments accordingly, and comply with any instructions given by the wardens during the exercise. For any enquiries about the evacuation drills, please email clare.westhorpe@monash.edu

MMC/MCH Site Alert: MMC Service Road Impact - Loading Dock Area

Installation of Infrastructure for the Electrical Upgrade project will be occurring in the Building Plant & Equipment area alongside the MMC Loading Dock. Whilst works are in progress the available width of the MMC southern service road will be reduced.

Laboratory OHS training

Laboratory OHS training requirements are listed in the OHS training guide under Technical Staff. Please refer to your training records in myDevelopment to identify modules you need to complete.

Will we see you at Health and Safety Month in 2019?

Health and Safety Month 2019 takes place from 2-31 October with events being held across Melbourne and regional Victoria. For more information about 'What's On' please visit the link.

MMC/MCH Site Alert: Planned Code Yellow - Black Start Exercise - Wednesday, 18 September 2019

Monash Medical Centre (MMC) and Monash Children’s Hospital (MCH) have scheduled the annual Planned Code Yellow “Black Start” emergency power supply exercise for Wednesday, 18 September 2019.