Health & Safety Plan 2012–2015

A Guide for Managers

Occupational Health & Safety

Health & Safety Plan 2012–2015

Macquarie University and Controlled Entities

Health & Safety Vision

All members of the University Community have the right to a safe and healthy work or study environment. Therefore, prevention of injury or illness is of the foremost importance in all of the University’s activities.

Macquarie University is committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of its employees, students and others by increasing awareness of workplace safety, providing a safe workplace, eliminating or reducing hazards that could result in injury or ill health, and implementing initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of its employees and students and other members of the Community.

To meet its vision, the University and its controlled entities will:• Implement and maintain safe systems

of work;• Undertake risk management activities

to identify, eliminate and/or manage risks in the workplace;

• Provide and maintain safe systems for the use, handling, storage and transportation of plant, equipment and hazardous substances;

• Consult with employees to enhance the effectiveness of the Health & Safety Management System;

• Provide appropriate Health & Safety training, information, instruction and supervision for all staff and students;

• Provide adequate resources, including finances, to facilitate the University’s Health & Safety responsibilities;

• Comply with relevant Legislation, Regulations and Australian Standards.

Safety Plan 2012–2015

Health & Safety PlanThe Macquarie University Health & Safety Plan 2012–2015 outlines the strategic, outcome and enabling objectives that the University and its controlled entities are required to achieve, in order to deliver our Health & Safety Vision. The primary objective of this plan is to reshape the University’s Health & Safety System and to realise performance improvements.

The Plan provides a planned and quantifiable approach for the management of Health & Safety across the group. It encompasses the key areas of leadership, consultation and participation by employees, incident prevention, incident management and supporting management arrangements. It provides the architecture to embed health & safety processes and practices, whilst remaining sufficiently flexible and responsive to meet changing demands.

The University however, seeks to move beyond legislative compliance. It aims to evolve into a values based, proactive and responsive organisation that manages workplace hazards to protect our people across the spectrum of activities we are engaged in. These values are designed to guide the behaviour of our people, at every level of the University, and will underpin our desired Health & Safety culture at Macquarie.

Implementation of this plan occurs on two levels – the Central Level and at the individual Entity/Faculty/Office level. At the Central level, the objective is to deliver the strategic objectives required for a coordinated approach across all members of the Macquarie University group. At the local level (Entity/Faculty/Office), the objective is to develop strategies that support the needs at the local level, as well as supporting the group’s strategic objectives.


We will have achieved our desired Health & Safety Culture when:

• Health & Safety is recognised as a multiplier by its importance in preservation and sustainability; and is embedded in all capability development; acquisition and purchasing; contracting; design and operational planning across all business units.

• Health & Safety roles are clearly articulated and understood at all levels of the organisation. These roles are supported by Senior Management and are fully integrated into our people management systems.

• Health & Safety information is accurately captured and disseminated in an efficient manner; and that the information is used in decision making.

• All members of the University Community accept responsibility for their own Health & Safety, and that of others in the workplace. Health & Safety is an integral part of what we do and how we work.

• Health & Safety is supported through reward and recognition. We encourage and support the development of safe workplaces and systems of work.

• The identification of root causes of incidents, the remediation of risks and hazards are essential to the prevention of work place accidents.

Emerging Issues

The delivery of this plan must be considered in the context of the following issues:

• An increased risk profile due to the research undertaken and the working environments we work within across the group. Despite our best efforts, there are inherent risks in the research we undertake.

• Increasing expectation of employees, Government and the wider community on the effective management of Health & Safety. Our ability to attract, recruit and retain quality staff and students will be impacted on by our reputation.

• Changes to Health & Safety legislation have been enacted, and have exposed the University to greater regulation and scrutiny.

• The pace of work undertaken at the University is unlikely to diminish; indeed it is likely to increase. Increased activity invariably leads to increased health & safety risks to our people.

• Increased demands on productivity can lead to increases in the levels of psychological injuries.

• Purchases of new equipment and the building of new facilities are expected to generate new health & safety challenges.

The University will continue to operate in an environment of both increased risk and increased levels of scrutiny. Greater emphasis will be placed on the University group to reduce the frequency and severity of workplace injuries; reduce the impact of injuries on employees and reduce costs associated with claims.

Governance:

The University Health & Safety Policy is consistent with existing governance arrangements within the University and its controlled entities. The Health & Safety Unit reports to the Audit & Risk Committee of University Council, and to the Vice Chancellor through the Director, Human Resources.

The Health & Safety unit is responsible for reporting on significant Health & Safety issues on a regular basis to University Council and Audit & Risk Committee. Yearly, the unit prepares a report on the Health & Safety performance for Council and is summarised in the University’s annual report.

The Manager, Health & Safety is the University’s principle Health and Safety advisor and is responsible for providing overall Health & Safety policy, strategy and advice to the University.

Executive Deans and Directors are responsible for the Health & Safety performance of their respective areas.


In order to meet the Health & Safety requirements outlined in its Vision, the University Commits itself to the following objectives.

The University has established a tri-level approach to its Health and Safety.

Strategic Objectives – are the overarching activities at the corporate level. In establishing minimum standards and common outcomes, the strategic objectives will allow practices and outcomes to be tailored for each Group Members specific requirements. The development of a systematic Health & Safety capability, which is integrated with the University’s risk management approach, provides a foundation on which to improve our Health & Safety performance.

1. Further develop and implement a Group wide Health & Safety Management System.

2. Implement a Group wide Health & Safety Information Management System to improve the recording, analytics and reporting quality of Health & Safety information available to decision makers.

3. Allocation of sufficient resources across the University group for Health & Safety activities and to eliminate risks, within the financial constraints of the University.

4. Implement a system of Health & Safety Consultation, consistent with the principles enumerated in the Workplace Health & Safety Act 2011.

5. Improve Health & Safety Leadership and culture across the University Group.

6. Embed Health & Safety learning and practices into the curriculum and learning materials.

Objectives

*WHSMS – Workplace Health & Safety Management System

Strategic

Outcome

Enabling

Health &

Safety Vision

Strategic Objective No 1 Further develop and implement a Group wide Health & Safety Management System.

Key Strategy Measure Responsible Officer

The Groups WHSMS will have principles based policies and implementation plans that are adaptable to the needs of the Individual Group Members – so that their individual Health & Safety management system can be configured to support integration with the overall Group WHSMS.

Development of appropriate policies, procedures and governance materials.

Manager, Health & Safety.

Gaps between current practice and WHSMS requirements will be identified and implementation plans developed for each entity and the group as a whole.

Regular WHSMS audits (Internal & External) to identify gaps in practice and development of remediation plans.

Health & Safety Unit.Individual Group Members.Audit & Risk Committee (for external audits).

Mechanisms to drive cultural change, including the role of education and training, communications, recognition and reward, will be determined and appropriate actions incorporated into implementation plans.

Development and provision of appropriate training across the University in Health & Safety matters.Introduction of Safe Work Awards across the group.Regular Health & Safety Newsletters, seminars and information sessions.

Health & Safety Unit.

Strategic Objective No 2 Implement a Group wide Health & Safety Information Management System to improve the recording, analytics and reporting quality of Health & Safety information available to decision makers.


An enterprise-level WHS Management Information System (WHSMIS), based on the Group’s needs, will be implemented; and provide group wide performance information allowing trend analysis within the grouped entities, and aggregation for group performance analysis and reporting.

Implementation of a group wide online WHSMS system.


OHS performance targets will be determined, within the controlled entities and across the Group, where they perform a useful purpose in driving improvement.

Health & Safety KPI’s are established for each entity, which are then broken down into the performance plans of Officers, management and employees.

Executive Deans, Directors, CEO’s in consultation with the Health & Safety Unit.


Strategic Objective No 4 Implement a system of Health & Safety Consultation, consistent with the principles enumerated in the Workplace Health & Safety Act 2011.


An agreed system of Consultation, including the establishment of relevant Committees, structures and Constitutions.

Consultation policy and procedures in place across the group.


Election of Health & Safety Representatives in all work areas.

100% of all work areas have an elected Health & Safety Representative.

Executive Deans, Directors, HOD’s and CEO’s, with support of the Health & Safety Unit.

All HSR’s have undergone appropriate training.

100% of all HSR’s have completed relevant training within 3 months of election.


Copies of all Committee Meetings are listed on the Health & Safety Committee Pages

100% of all Committee minutes are listed on the Health & Safety Pages.

HSR’s and Health & Safety Unit.

Health & Safety is listed for discussion at all team and staff meetings; meetings of Faculty/Business Unit management and Senior Management Group meetings.

Copies of minutes of meetings including Health & Safety as a standard item.

Vice Chancellor, Executive Deans, Directors, CEO’s in consultation with the Health & Safety Unit.

Strategic Objective No 3 Allocation of sufficient resources across the University group for Health & Safety activities and to eliminate risks, within the financial constraints of the University.


Appropriate levels of resources are made available across the Group and at an individual entity level to fund Health & Safety activities and eliminate identified risks.

Annual statements of Health & Safety funding are to be provided to the Health & Safety Unit from each entity member.

COO, CEO’s and Executive Deans.

Strategic Objective No 5 Improve Health & Safety Leadership and culture across the University Group.


Implement a health & safety leadership program for all managers.

100% of all managers have completed the health & safety leadership program.

Manager, Health & Safety in consultation with Organisational Development.

Officers and Senior managers are kept abreast of changes within Health & Safety.

Develop a Colloquia series (3 sessions) for Members of the Executive, Officers and managers on key issues in Health & Safety.


Strategic Objective No 6 Embed Health & Safety learning and practices into the curriculum and learning materials.


Health & Safety to be a part of the learning and built into the curriculum and learning materials.

Development of training for lecturing staff on how to build in Health & Safety into the Curriculum.

Pilot programme to monitor implementation.

Manager, Health & Safety in consultation with the Office of the Provost and the Learning & Teaching Centre.


Outcome Objectives – are objectives which the University and the controlled entities use to manage the Health & Safety risks of our activities and their effects on people.

1. Reduce the frequency and severity of risks to our people’s health & safety.

2. Improve prevention of injury & illness in our people.

3. Reduce the impact of injury or illness on our people.

4. Increase health & safety information and communications across the University.

5. Increase the understanding of and compliance with Health & Safety by Students.

6. Implements systems and procedures for the effective management of rehabilitation and return to work of injured employees.

Outcome Objectives No 2 Improve prevention of injury & illness in our people.


Completion of workplace inspections, safety walks and audits.

100% of all workplace inspections completed.

Work area Management Representative in conjunction with the local Health & Safety Representatives.

Introduction and completion of safety walks by managers.

Completion of quarterly safety walks.

Work area Manager.

Improvement in risk management of high consequence operations, including:Lone or Field work, Plant, Laboratory work, Working with animals, Heights, Hazardous and toxic chemicals, Diving.

Identification, risk assessment and control of all high risk operations.

Executive Deans, Directors and CEO’s.

Improve psychological risk management Develop and implement a program for the early identification, and intervention in areas where conflict occur, with the aim of maintaining relationships.

Executive Deans, Directors CEO’s, HOD’s/Heads of Work Areas, in conjunction with the Health & Safety Unit.

Implement education and preventative programs on psychological resilience and risk.

Health & Safety Unit, in conjunction with the Organisational Development Unit.

Improve manual handling risk management.

Identification, assessment and control of manual handling tasks.100% of all staff trained in manual handling techniques and risk assessment.30% decrease in manual handling injuries.


Improved incident reporting and incident investigation.

100% of all incidents, hazards and injuries are investigated and elimination strategies eliminated.


15% increase in the number of incidents reported on the year past.

All staff.

Outcome Objectives No 1 Reduce the frequency and severity of risks to our people’s health & safety.


Reduction the number of injuries/illness occurring in the group.

10% reduction on the past year result.

All staff.

Reduction of the severity of injuries/illness that occur.

10 % reduction in the severity of injuries/illness occurring.

Health & Safety unit.

Reduce the Lost Time Rate. 20% reduction in the number of employees totally unfit for work.


Increase the rate of suitable duties being offered to injured workers.

Suitable duties to be provided to all injured employees.


Increase the numbers of claims being reported online - within 24 hours of injury.

90% of all claims are reported within 24 hours of injury.

All staff.

Reduction in the average cost of claim. Maintain or reduce the average cost of claim on the past year result.


Reduction in the claims duration rate. 80% of claims to be closed within 26 weeks.

Health & Safety unit and Work Area Managers.


Outcome Objectives No 3 Reduce the impact of injury or illness on our people.


Health measurement and monitoring. Implement a system of health measurement and monitoring across the group, consistent with legal requirements.


Promote health and healthy lifestyle programs on campus.

Provide smoking cessation programs to staff wishing to quit smoking.


Develop a staff wellbeing strategy and program.

Manager, Health & Safety, Director Wellbeing and CEO – Campus Experience.

Outcome Objectives No 4 Increase health & safety information and communications across the University.


Health Activities. 3 Health promotion activities to be held every 6 months.

Manager, Health & Safety, Director Wellbeing and CEO – Campus Experience.

Toolbox talks. Managers to hold 2 toolbox talks per quarter on safety topics relevant to their area.


Safe work week. Safe work week to be established and a safe work award to be created for the safest work area or novel safe work program.


Provide accurate, timely and useful data. Provision of reporting and data to all areas of the University group.


Provision of quarterly reports to Faculty, Council and Audit & Risk.

Provision of ad hoc reports.

Publish university and group performance data.

Performance against set targets are to be published in newsletters, on-line and in the Annual Report.



Outcome Objectives No 5 Increase the understanding of and compliance with Health & Safety by Students.


Develop appropriate Health & Safety information for students.

Availability of relevant Health & Safety information for students and which is easily accessible.

Manager, Health & Safety in consultation with Marketing.

Provision of Health & Safety information and awareness by Academic and Technical staff at the commencement of classes, laboratory work, and field work or on placement.

Students can demonstrate appropriate Health & Safety competencies for them to undertake their studies.

Executive Deans, Academics and Technical Staff.

Reduction in the number of incidents/accidents to students in academic programs.

All student course outlines identify Health & Safety accountabilities and responsibilities.

Reporting of incidents and accidents by students.

Increase in number of incidents and accidents reported by students.


Outcome Objectives No 6 Implements systems and procedures for the effective management of rehabilitation and return to work of injured employees.


Develop clear and effective rehabilitation and return to work policies and procedures for injured employees.

Policies and Procedures are developed and published following consultation with key stakeholders.


Return to work plans are developed for all injured employees.

100% of all injured employees have a return to work plan in place.

Health & Safety Unit in conjunction with the Injured Employee and the relevant Manager.

Return to work plans are regularly monitored and upgraded.

Return to work plans are developed prior to medical review and demonstrate progress towards return to work on Pre-Injury Duties.

Health & Safety Unit in conjunction with the Injured Employee and the relevant Manager.

Regular reporting to key stakeholders on the status of claims occurs.

Return to work meetings are held regularly with key stakeholders.



Enabling Objectives No 1 Train, support and motivate our people to identify, assess and eliminate hazards.


Staff training needs are identified. Health & Safety Training Matrixes completed for all positions across the group.


Develop and implement Risk management training for all managers.

100% of all managers have undertaken risk management training.


Provide Risk Management training to all applicable staff.

Training available to all staff who request it.


Executive participation in workplace inspections throughout the year.

Members of the Executive to participate in 6 workplace inspections in a year.

Members of the Executive or relevant boards.

Develop a rewards based system for completing workplace inspections.

Award provided to the area with the highest number of workplace inspections completed.


Relevant Health & safety Training is provided to all staff.

100% of all staff have completed the required health & safety training required for their position.


Develop and establish training for Officers and senior executive, focusing on discharging their responsibilities under the WHS Act.

100% of Officers and senior executives have completed the required training on discharging their responsibilities.


Develop information brochures, newsletters and posters.

Ongoing development of newsletters, brochures, FAQ’s and posters on Health & Safety.


Enabling Objectives – are those objectives that focus the University and its controlled entities on delivering the outcome objectives:

1. Train, support and motivate our people to identify, assess and eliminate hazards.

2. Embed the capability to identify, assess and eliminate hazards in the design, planning and purchasing processes of the University.

3. Establish processes that allow the University to manage the Health & Safety performance of third parties, consistent with University policies and procedures.

4. Implement a system of workplace risk assessments consistent with the risk profile of the work area.

5. Establish safe systems of work across the University, including, but not limited to – plant, equipment, dangerous and hazardous substances/materials.

6. Embed a system of emergency and crisis management across the University Community.

7. Improve health & safety related maintenance and upgrading of buildings and infrastructure.

8. Establish a network of safety implementers (ErgoLead; Health & Safety Representatives) across the University.


Enabling Objectives No 2 Embed the capability to identify, assess and eliminate hazards in the design, planning and purchasing processes of the University.


Improve purchasing procedures to include Health & Safety in purchasing decision matrices.

Health & Safety is included in all purchasing procedures and guidelines.

Policy central in consultation with the Health & Safety Unit.

All equipment, furniture and plant must be risked assess prior to purchase.

All equipment, plant and furniture has been risk assessed prior to purchase and all risks identified, assessed and eliminated prior to purchase.

All staff with a purchasing responsibility.

All providers of equipment, furniture and plant must provide a health and safety statement by the vendor.

All vendors must supply a statement to the health & safety of any equipment, furniture or plant provided to the University.

Vendors and purchasing staff.

All plant and equipment are regularly maintained.

Maintenance plans and records are kept and lodged yearly with Health & Safety Unit.

Property.

Enabling Objectives No 5 Establish safe systems of work across the University, including, but not limited to – plant, equipment, dangerous and hazardous substances/materials.


Safe systems of work to be established for all work with identified risks.

All work with plant, equipment, hazardous & dangerous goods, materials, animals, etc. have been assessed and appropriate controls put in place.

All staff.


Disposal procedures and records are kept for all hazardous substance, dangerous goods, biological, chemical, radioactive or medical waste.

A register of disposal of these wastes are maintained and available.

Property and Facilities.

An audit of and manifest created for all Hazardous, Dangerous chemicals and materials.

Dangerous, hazardous and toxic chemicals and materials audit completed. Relevant WorkCover approval is obtained and provided.

Health & Safety unit. Relevant Faculty and property/facilities staff.

Enabling Objectives No 3 Establish processes that allow the University to manage the Health & Safety performance of Contractors and other third parties, consistent with University policies and procedures.


Development and implementation of a University wide contractor management system.

Contractor management system implemented.

Health & Safety unit and Property.

Contractors will complete a University Contractor induction.

100% of all contractors will be inducted to the Macquarie University site.

Contractors and Contract Manager.

Development of appropriate policies and procedures for contractor management.

Policies, procedures and other relevant documentation are developed.

Health & Safety unit in consultation with relevant areas.

Enabling Objectives No 4 Implement a system of workplace risk assessments consistent with the risk profile of the work area.


Workplace risk assessments to be scheduled on a regular basis, dependent upon the risk profile of the work area.

Workplace and risk assessments undertaken according to a set schedule of assessments based on the work areas risk profile.



Enabling Objectives No 6 Embed a system of emergency and crisis management across the University Community.


Establish a Emergency Preparedness Plan for the University.

Emergency Management Plan developed and distributed.


Emergency preparedness system is audited and checked regularly.

Twice yearly emergency evacuations are held.


Desk top evacuation exercise held.

1 Full lock down evacuation exercise held.

Auditing and maintenance of emergency equipment is undertaken.

Regular audits and maintenance of emergency equipment is undertaken, and lodged with the Health & Safety Unit.

Property.

Review of all emergency documentation. Annual review of all emergency documentation is undertaken.

Health & Safety Unit in consultation with Emergency Management Group.

Enabling Objectives No 7 Improve health & safety related maintenance and upgrading of buildings and infrastructure.


Health & Safety related maintenance and upgrading of University maintained building and infrastructure.

Undertake an assessment of and rate health & safety maintenance requirement.

Reduce maintenance backlogs as identified.

Property.

Health & Safety related maintenance and upgrading of Faculty/Unit maintained building and infrastructure.

Undertake an assessment of and rate health & safety maintenance requirement.Reduce maintenance backlogs as identified.

Executive Deans/Directors/CEO’s.

University to fund Health & Safety related maintenance and upgrading.

Provide appropriate resources to fund works and upgrades.

Office of Financial Services.

Enabling Objectives No 8 Establish a network of safety implementers (Ergolead; Health & Safety Representatives) across the University.


Establish safety implementer groups – Ergolead; First Aiders Network.

Safety implementer groups set up.


Establish a specialised safety committees as required.

Subcommittees established. Health & Safety Unit and relevant Faculties.

The OHS plan is consistent with, supports and enables the following key University documents and strategies – Macquarie@50 – Establishing Macquarie as the Healthiest Campus in Australia by 2015 and Section 3.12: Improve Risk Management

Academic Plan – Strategic Item No 4: Build and maintain a high quality, safe and sustainable physical and social environment.

Sustainability Plan – Section 8.5 Human Resources – Item 4 - To improve the retention rate, health and satisfaction of staff.

University Priorities and Plans


Health and Safety Unit, Human Resources Building C4B, Maquarie University NSW 2109

Telephone (02) 9850 9725, Facsimile (02) 9850 7433

Macquarie University CRICOS Provider Number 00002J

www.mq.edu.au

Health & Safety Plan 2012–2015

Documents

Transcript of Health & Safety Plan 2012–2015