10 OH & S MATTERS

10.01 Complying with O H & S Requirements

10.01.02 The Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 is the main relevant legislation. It has regulations on a wide range of matters including:

• OH&S committees;
• first aid and notification of accidents;
• confined spaces, floors, passageways and stairs;
• manual handling; and
• hazardous substances and synthetic mineral fibres.

10.01.04 The University has comprehensive OH&S policies and procedures (listed in Attachment 10). These are designed to protect your right:

• to have a safe and healthy workplace;
• to not have to carry out unsafe work;
• to be represented by an OH&S committee member;
• to know what hazards you might be exposed to at work;
• to have the information you need to work safely, e.g. material safety data sheets.

• a workplace where, as far as possible, you are not exposed to hazards;
• safe systems of work;
• induction (see 7.06.03), instruction, training and supervision;
• consultation and cooperation on OH&S issues;
• access to sick leave, first aid, counselling, temporary work placements, and rehabilitation programs as appropriate;
• protective clothing or equipment (if required); and
• safe use of plant and substances.

10.01.07 You must:

• ensure your own safety and avoid any action which may adversely affect the health and safety of any other person;
• keep to instructions and cooperate with managers and supervisors;
• use protective clothing or equipment (if required); and
• not misuse or damage equipment.

10.01.08 You should take the following steps if you see a hazard or think that the work being done is unsafe or unhealthy and cannot fix it yourself:

• raise all OH&S matters in the first instance with the supervisor and/or the appointed OH&S Coordinator;
• if hazard control measures fail or do not meet the situation, refer your concerns to the OH&S Officer or the OH&S Committee;
• ask the Committee to call in a WorkCover Authority inspector to investigate any health or safety matter that has not been resolved.

10.02 Medical Examinations

• infectious or contagious material or infected animals;
• hazardous substances;
• radioactive or ionising radiation sources, lasers or X-rays; or
• the risk of contracting tetanus, Hepatitis A or Hepatitis B;
• you may be advised or told to get immunisation and/or medical examinations and reports. The University will refund the cost to you.

10.03 Noise Levels

10.04 First Aid

10.04.02 You will be paid an allowance at the appropriate rate if you are appointed to be responsible for first aid facilities, injury records and providing first aid to other staff and/or students. You must have a current first aid certificate of the St John Ambulance or an equivalent first aid qualification.

10.04.03 The rates shown in Attachment 1 have been decided as the annual value of the following rates:

First Aid Officer	1.6% of Step 6 of Level 3
Occupational First Aider	1.6% of Step 5 of Level 6

10.05 OH&S Coordinators

10.05.02 You will be paid an allowance at the same rate as a First Aid Officer in Attachment 1 and must attend a University approved safety training program at least every 3 years.

10.06 Clothing and Safety Equipment

10.06.02 You will be supplied with all safety equipment required by Acts or Regulations (e.g. gloves, masks, goggles, helmets, steel capped boots, and safety shoes).

10.06.03 You must wear protective clothing or safety equipment provided to you under 10.06.01/2 while performing duties for which it has been provided.

10.06.04 Any clothing you are provided will remain the property of the University and will be given back by you at the end of your employment. This does not apply to uniforms unless they have the University logo.

10.06.05 Your protective clothing and equipment will be replaced when you give back the earlier issues but this will not apply to uniforms unless they have the University logo.

10.07 Staff Amenities and Facilities

10.08 Compensation for Loss or Damage to Personal Property

• due to the negligence of the University, another staff member, or both, in carrying out their duties;
• by fire, molten metal or corrosive substances;
• by a defect in the University's materials or equipment; or
• where you have protected or tried to protect the University's property from loss or damage.

• clothes and accessories;
• spectacles or contact lenses;
• hearing-aid;
• other medical aids; or
• books or tools of trade needed for your University work.

10.09 Employee Assistance Program

10.09.02 The EAP is paid for by the Personnel Office and is a confidential service that can help you to:

• develop strategies to maintain your motivation and effectiveness at work, especially during periods of change;
• cope with personal concerns affecting your work performance;
• manage your interviews with advisers and supervisors;
• manage stress and deal with conflict at work; and
• communicate and relate effectively with others.

10.10 Alcohol and Drug Abuse

10.10.02 An individual's dependence on alcohol or other drugs is an illness that will respond to treatment and moral judgements will not be made. It is to be treated like any other illness.

10.10.03 If your performance is not satisfactory due to your dependence on alcohol or other drugs, you will not be dismissed or have any promotional opportunity risked simply because of this dependence. You can expect encouragement and help in getting and maintaining appropriate treatment.

10.10.04 Once your dependence has been suppressed and your performance is satisfactory the matter will be at an end.

10.10.05 Information about your dependency on alcohol or other drugs, the help provided, and the outcome will be treated with confidence as for any other health problem.

Alcohol and Drug Testing in the Workplace

10.10.06 You will not be tested for any form of alcohol or drug in the workplace.

10.10.07 If you appear to be strongly affected by alcohol and/or any other drugs, you will not be allowed to work until you have an acceptable level of sobriety and your supervisor believes that you are fit to work.

10.10.08 There is no legal limit on alcohol under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 for workplaces. You must not drive a University vehicle if you have a blood alcohol level above the limit in the traffic laws.

10.10.09 Testing for the presence of legal or illegal drugs is inconclusive. It is hard to conclude that you might be affected by drugs.

Early Workplace Intervention

10.10.10 If you have an alcohol or other drug abuse problem, this may be helped by supervisors and/or advisers seeing any decline in your performance, an early effect of the disorder. You will be referred for diagnosis and treatment only on the basis of your performance.

10.10.11 Workplace supervisors are not qualified to diagnose alcoholism or drug abuse. They will be given a checklist to help them to detect signs that suggest that dependence is affecting your performance.

10.10.12 If your performance is affected, you will be interviewed by your adviser under the PMS procedures and asked to take corrective action. Judgements on substance abuse will be avoided.

10.10.13 If your performance does not improve, you will be interviewed and warned in writing under the PMS.

Employee Assistance

10.10.14 You will be offered professional help on a confidential basis. If you accept, the Personnel Office will refer you to the UCHS, which may refer you on to the EAP provider or other appropriate sources of help.

10.10.15 You, your supervisor or Head, or a Personnel Officer may refer your case to the UCHS but you decide if you will use the service. You may ask for help from an external practitioner or agency of your own choice.

10.10.16 If you decide not to accept or ask for treatment or if, after a review period following treatment, there is no improvement in your performance, further action will be taken under the Disciplinary Procedures.

10.11 Smoke Free Environment

10.11.02 You must not smoke in any indoor areas, external areas near windows, doors and air intake vents, or in vehicles used for work purposes.

10.11.03 No smoking signs are to be displayed on entrances to buildings, foyers, class/meeting rooms, offices, amenities, and University vehicles.

10.11.04 You are not allowed frequent or long smoking breaks.

10.11.05 All applicants for vacant positions will be told about this policy.

10.11.06 Heads are responsible for carrying out the policy in their areas. If you smoke in the University enclosed areas, your supervisor or Head should informally counsel you and ask you to comply with the policy.

10.11.07 If you do comply, no further action will be needed. If you do not, your action will be dealt with under the PMS.