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Work Health and Safety Policy

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Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) To promote the highest practicable standard of work health and safety for the University of Western Sydney, and to ensure compliance with the New South Wales Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) and associated regulations, standards and codes of practice for ensuring work health and safety.

(2) To provide the necessary direction and support to ensure the University meets its responsibility and accountabilities under the requirements of the work health and safety legislation and associated regulations and to provide clear guidelines for all UWS workers, students and others in meeting their legal obligations.

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Section 2 - Definitions

(3) Nil.

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Section 3 - Policy Statement

(4) The University of Western Sydney is unequivocally committed to ensuring a safe and healthy environment for staff, students, visitors, contractors, related entities and other individuals or external organisations which may be affected by its operations. 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 work health and safety measures of University activities.

(5) 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 workplace health, safety and welfare issues affecting its activities.

(6) In observance of these commitments, the University includes this obligation in the Corporate Plan and has established this Workplace 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.

(7) The University of Western Sydney (as a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking - PCBU) will ensure, so as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of their workers, as well as students, contractors, visitors and others. The implementation of this policy includes:

  1. the provision and maintenance of a work environment without risks to health and safety;
  2. the provision and maintenance of safe plant and structures as well as safe systems of work;
  3. the safe use, handling and storage of plant, substances and structures;
  4. the provision of adequate facilities including ensuring access to those facilities;
  5. The provision of any information, training, instruction or supervision necessary to protect all persons from risks to their health and safety;
  6. That the health of workers and the conditions at the workplace are monitored to prevent illness or injury arising in the workplace.

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 Work Health and Safety policy. The Vice-Chancellor is empowered to enforce such actions as are considered necessary to protect th e occupational health and safety of employees, students, contractors and other individuals, the environment and University premises and plant. The Vice-Chancellor is considered an "Officer" under the WHS Act and this link will provide more details of the responsibilities and requirements of all "Officers" for the University.
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. Provosts and the Deputy Vice-Chancellors are considered an "Officer" under the WHS Act and this link will provide more details of the responsibilities and requirements of all "Officers" for the University.
Senior Executive and Deans The Senior Executive and Deans 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. The Senior Executive and Deans are considered to be an "Officer" under the WHS Act and this link will provide more details of the responsibilities and requirements of all "Officers" for the University.
Deans & Heads of Functional Areas, 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 reasonably 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 workplace health and safety requirements.
Work Health and Safety Unit The Work Health and Safety Unit functions within the University structure and are responsible for providing professional advice and consultancy to Schools and Functional Areas and developing appropriate policy and strategic programs. It is accountable to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Corporate Strategy and Services, through the Director, Human Resources.
Health and Safety Committees(HSCs) and Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) Health and Safety Committees (HSCs) and Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) shall be constituted in accordance with legislative requirements and function as consultation mechanisms available to a "Work Group" in making recommendations to management regarding workplace health and safety issues. They are accountable to the Dean of each School or Functional Area. The requirements, roles and responsibilities of HSCs and HSRs are detailed in the UWS Work Health and Safety Procedures.
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.

(8) This Policy will be reviewed by the University of Western Sydney every two years or in response to legislative changes.

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Section 4 - Procedures

(9) Nil.

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Section 5 - Guidelines

(10) Nil.