(1) To promote the highest practicable standard of occupational health and safety within the University of Western Sydney, and to ensure compliance with the New South Wales Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 and associated regulations, standards and codes of practice for occupational health and safety. To provide the necessary direction and support to ensure the University meets its responsibility and accountabilities under the requirements of the occupational health and safety legislation and associated regulations and to provide clear guidelines for all UWS employees, students and others in meeting their legal obligations. (2) Nil. (3) The University of Western Sydney is unequivocally committed to ensuring a safe and healthy environment for staff, students, contractors and other individuals. This commitment recognises that every person has the right to a safe and healthy working environment and that each individual has a prime responsibility to co-operate in the preservation and improvement of all occupational health and safety measures of University activities. (4) The University considers prevention of injury or ill-health to all individuals foremost in conducting its activities. Therefore, the University is not only committed to ensuring that all legislative requirements are met, but to maintaining a position of excellence through a systematic and preventative approach in handling the occupational health, safety and welfare issues affecting its activities. (5) In observance of these commitments, the University includes this obligation in the Corporate Plan and has established this Occupational Health and Safety Policy. In conjunction with this policy, a series of procedures and programs on specific safety and health matters will be prepared, issued and reviewed on a regular basis or as legislative changes occur. (6) The University of Western Sydney will ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees, including the health and safety of students, contractors and others. The implementation of this policy includes: (7) This Policy will be reviewed by the University of Western Sydney every two years or in response to legislative changes. (8) Nil. (9) Nil.Occupational Health and Safety Policy
Section 1 - Purpose and Context
Section 2 - Definitions
Section 3 - Policy Statement
Responsibilities
Position
Responsibilities
Vice-Chancellor
The Vice-Chancellor has overall accountability for the safety of all activities conducted by the University and will provide adequate resources and organisation to meet the aims and objectives contained in the Occupational Health and Safety policy. The Vice-Chancellor is empowered to enforce such actions as are considered necessary to protect the occupational health and safety of employees, students, contractors and other individuals, the environment and University premises and plant.
Provosts and Deputy Vice-Chancellors
The Provosts have overall responsibility for the safety of all activities within their campus of responsibility, and are accountable to the Vice-Chancellor for ensuring the health and safety of the University community within each campus.
Senior Executive, Dean , & Functional Areas
The Senior Executive, Deans, Directors and Heads of functional areas have overall responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of individuals under their control and are accountable to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. They are responsible for the development of School/Functional Area Policy, Safety Management Plans, appropriate Action Plans and consultative mechanisms within their area of responsibility.
Line Management, Supervisory and Academic Staff
In fulfilling their responsibility, line management, supervisory and academic staff have a duty to provide and maintain, so far as is practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risks to health. This includes the provision of resources commensurate with priorities.
Academic staff are also responsible for the oversight of students and to safeguard the health, safety and well-being of students in their charge.
They are responsible for ensuring that operations are undertaken in accordance with authorised procedures and that staff and students are appropriately trained in these operations and made aware of occupational health and safety aspects.
Occupational Health Safety and Information Services Unit
The Occupational Health Safety and Information Services Unit functions within the University structure and is responsible for providing professional advice and consultancy to each School/ Functional Area and corporately develop appropriate policy and strategic programs. It is accountable to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Research, through the Executive Director, People and Culture.
Occupational Health and Safety Committees
The Occupational Health and Safety Committees shall be constituted in accordance with legislative requirements and function as a peak consultative forum in making recommendations to management regarding occupational health and safety issues. They are accountable to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Research.
Employees, Students, Contractors, Visitors and Others
Accordingly, it is the responsibility of employees, students, contractors, visitors and others to ensure this policy is carried out and to regard accident prevention and safe working as a collective and individual responsibility.
Each person conducting activities on the University's behalf is responsible for observing all safety rules and procedures. These will be issued as safety policies, procedure manuals and programs, as necessary.Section 4 - Procedures
Section 5 - Guidelines
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