Occupational Safety & Health Policy
By Johan Boonzaier, Jodie Bunney
Illustrations by Samantha Cromar
Rationale
The school is committed to the health and safety of all persons associated with our operations.
The primary goal of the Policy, and associated procedures as contained in the Staff Handbook, is to assist in providing a safe and healthy work environment for employees, students, contractors, visitors and the general public.
Our goal is to have an injury free school. We will work to eliminate hazards, practices and behaviour that could cause accidents, injuries or illness.
The school aims to achieve best practice in OSH and to fulfil its statutory duties with regard to OSH at all times.
Scope
The scope of the Policy is to:
- Identify, assess and control the risk of injury or illness;
- Comply with all relevant statutory obligations and industry standards, as a minimum;
- Provide adequate resources to establish and maintain safe practices;
- Maintain health and safety competency and integrate health and safety requirements in all aspects of
operations; - Provide health and safety information and training for employees and students;
- Employ only those contractors who aspire to the same health and safety standards as the school;
- Promote a positive health & safety culture which is based on the principle that most incidents can be
prevented; - Provide an emergency response program for unforeseen events so as to minimise hazards to people,
assets and the environment.
Occupational Safety & Health Policy Policy & Procedure # PR 12.2
Policy STATEMENT
- The promotion and maintenance of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is primarily the responsibility of the Principal.
- The Principal is to ensure that the College has a designated OSH Officer who is trained in the role and who is the Chair of the OSH Committee. Resources will be made available in order to comply with all relevant legislation and to ensure the health and safety of employees and others. There will be two meetings of the OSH Committee per term and two whole school site inspections each year by the school OSH Officer and and committee members. These yearly inspections could be completed by the start of Term 2 and the end of Term 3. The Committee comprises the OSH Officer (Chair), Principal, Deputy Principal, Property Manager, Laboratory Technician, Staff Representative, Student Representative and Sustainability Officer.
- Executive staff have a responsibility to promote a culture of safe practice in their areas. All employees, contractors and visitors are required to comply with all safe working requirements, report hazards to their supervisors and wear, where necessary, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- The school will ensure that an effective OSH program is implemented to identify and assess school risks and that appropriate measures are introduced to control the risks.
- The OSH program will be monitored and reviewed to take account of changing conditions and circumstances in the school.
- Employees of the school will be consulted on OSH issues. A staff representative will also be elected each year.
- The school will ensure that all necessary inspections, maintenance, repairs, cleaning and modifications are undertaken in a timely manner with an external audit every 3 to 4 years.
- The school will ensure all necessary registration, certification and licensing requirements are complied with.
- The school will ensure that all accidents, incidents and near misses are investigated, recorded and reported to the Principal. Appropriate records will be kept in relation to the risk assessment program.
- The school will ensure to maintain the health and wellbeing of the environment.
- The school will ensure a clear accountability approach for safety, environmental and social sustainability across the whole school, nurturing a culture of safety, environmental and social sustainability.
- The school will strive for global best practice.
- The school will ensure continuous improvements by measuring, evaluating and reporting sustainability program performances and the progress against objectives and targets.
- The school will consult with our stakeholders to improve the safety and sustainability of our school environments.
- The school will consistently strive to establish and exceed environmental sustainability goals.
SAFETY IN THE CLASSROOM
Workplace (ventilation and heating)
Workplace (ventilation and heating)
- Does the room have natural ventilation?
- Can a reasonable room temperature be maintained during use of the classroom?
- Are measures in place, for example blinds, to protect from glare and heat from the sun?
- Are fixed electrical switches and plug sockets in good repair?
- Are all plugs and cables in good repair? Has portable electrical equipment, eg laminators, been visually checked and, where necessary, tested at suitable intervals to ensure that it’s safe to use? (There may be a sticker to show it has been tested.)
- Has any damaged electrical equipment been taken out of service or replaced?
- Have trolleys been provided for moving heavy objects, eg boxes of paper and books?
- Are gangways between desks kept clear?
- Are trailing electrical leads/cables prevented wherever possible?
- Is lighting bright enough to allow safe access and exit?
References
Behance. [image]. (n.d.). Don’t turn your back on safety. Retrieved from https://au.pinterest.com/pin/245798092132714902/
Csiroau. (2016). Csiroau. Retrieved 29 May, 2016, from http://www.csiro.au/en/About/Policies-guidelines/Our-core-policies/Health-Safety-and-Environment-Policy
Googlecom. (2016). Googlecom. Retrieved 29 May, 2016, from https://images.google.com
Health and Safety Executive. (2011). Health & safety checklist for classrooms. Retrieved from http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/classroom-checklist.pdf
Prochoice.com.au. (2015, 29 September 2015). The business case for Workplace Health and Safety (WHS). [Weblog]. Retrieved 29 May 2016, from http://blog.prochoice.com.au/workplace-safety/business-case-for-whs/
Safety Posters 365. [image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.safetyposters365.com/catering-safety/a-guide-to-safe-lifting-detail
Behance. [image]. (n.d.). Don’t turn your back on safety. Retrieved from https://au.pinterest.com/pin/245798092132714902/
Csiroau. (2016). Csiroau. Retrieved 29 May, 2016, from http://www.csiro.au/en/About/Policies-guidelines/Our-core-policies/Health-Safety-and-Environment-Policy
Googlecom. (2016). Googlecom. Retrieved 29 May, 2016, from https://images.google.com
Health and Safety Executive. (2011). Health & safety checklist for classrooms. Retrieved from http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/classroom-checklist.pdf
Prochoice.com.au. (2015, 29 September 2015). The business case for Workplace Health and Safety (WHS). [Weblog]. Retrieved 29 May 2016, from http://blog.prochoice.com.au/workplace-safety/business-case-for-whs/
Safety Posters 365. [image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.safetyposters365.com/catering-safety/a-guide-to-safe-lifting-detail