Local occupational health, safety & environment committees
Across the University, a series of local committees (previously zone committees) manage and monitor occupational health, safety and the environment. Relevant department heads set up the committees and nominate most members. Some members, health and safety representatives, are elected by staff.
List of local OHS committees and chairpersons
Membership of local committees
Committees should have no more than 12 members and only 6-8 where they cover less than 100 staff.
The chairperson should be the head of academic/administrative unit or a senior academic equivalent. Other members should include:
- Safety officer
- Environment officer
- Health and safety representative, or deputy
- Postgraduate student representative
- Laboratory manager (in areas with laboratories or studios)
- Radiation safety officer (in relevant areas)
- Biosafety officer (in relevant areas)
Membership should aim to:
- Include key work groups, areas, floors or buildings
- Balance all categories of staff - academic, professional, trade, supervisory and managerial
- Cover each type of hazard in the workplace
Staff in health and safety roles who are not members should report to the committee via the safety officer or be invited to report directly each year.
Members should have a 3 year term. In some areas, to give more staff involvement in occupational health and safety, members should change after they serve a term.
Role of local committees
- Develop and implement OHS and environmental improvement strategies, programs, policies and procedures for their area
- Apply university OHS and environmental sustainability policies and procedures
- Promote a strong OHS and environmentally conscious culture through regular communication and consultation, particularly with hazards and incidents
- Review and analyse injury and incident reports and data, and develop prevention strategies for the area
- Monitor the OHS and environmental performance of their area and ensure:
- Regular workplace inspections - at least 2 each year
- Regular evacuation trials - at least 2 each year, once during semester with students involved
- Safety induction of new staff and students
- OHS training of staff and students
- Audit and analyse the OHS and environmental legal compliance of the area and ensure:
- Emergency procedures are developed and implemented
- Risks are managed for hazardous tasks, research, equipment and new activities
- Trade and hazardous waste disposal is managed
- Support and aid the work of safety officers, health and safety representatives and environmental officers
Meetings and communication
Committees should:
- Meet regularly - at least 4 times each year
- Keep minutes, make copies available to staff and postgraduate students (electronically, on notice boards, in lunch rooms)
- Ensure all staff and postgraduates know about the committee's role and membership
- Consult with OH&S branch about communicating issues to affected staff, students and department heads
Meeting templates will help you keep relevant records:
