OHS Newsletter December 2002

Confined Space Training

Staff members in Maintenance, Communication Services and Buildings and Property Division recently completed a 2 day training course on safety in confined spaces.

Jeremy Hassan, Buildings & Property Division (right) receiving his Confined Space Entry certificate

Confined spaces do not have to be small. They are defined as:
an enclosed or partially enclosed space that is at atmospheric pressure during occupancy and is not intended or designed primarily as a place of work, and

a) is liable at any time to:

• have an atmosphere which contains potentially harmful levels of contaminant;
• have an oxygen deficiency or excess; or
• cause engulfment; and

b) could have a restricted means for entry and exit.

The training had been organised to coincide with introduction of the University Confined Spaces Entry Permit, in accordance with OHS Regulations, requiring any person who enters a confined space to be suitably trained, carry out a risk assessment and test the space atmosphere prior to entry.

If you consider you need access to a confined space or require further information contact Alan Walker at the OHS Unit.
Alan Walker, Technical Officer - 12094

Unsafe electrical cords recalled

‘Yun’ and ‘Sweda’ brand cord extension sockets pose a serious threat of fatal electrical shock and fire and have been recalled.

The sockets were fitted to extension cord sets and sold in packets marked Mayvic, Sweda, Cafelighting, Sansai, GI, Canopower - and various other brands.

Most feature a white coloured enclosure with a protective ‘skirt’ around the socket contacts - i.e. an enclosure around the end of the extension cord that has the ‘holes’ that the ‘prongs’ go into.

The sockets have the following markings near the "holes" – a logo for the Yun or Sweda brand, or the number YA3-Z and N16180 or N17533 and ratings 10A250V.

Please check any recently purchased leads, powerboards or similar electrical equipment and if it corresponds to the above, please arrange for a replacement.

The OHS Unit does not recommend makes of equipment but we have found Clipsal and HPM brands to be suitable for use in the University.

For further information contact the OHS Unit.
Alan Walker, Technical Officer - 12094

Snakes, Bees and Wasps

The Maintenance Manager, Mick Booth, has advised that with the return of warmer weather snakes, bees and wasps are getting more active.

If they are bothering you please do not attempt to remove them as they will then bother you even more. Left alone they are unlikely to attack.

Seek immediate professional medical attention if you are bitten or stung - individual reaction to venom varies greatly and may be extremely serious.

Grounds Maintenance staff do not remove snakes, bees or wasps, but they engage companies to deal with them. Call the Maintenance Office (12177 / 12178) for assistance.

Snakes are a protected species and must not be harried or harmed. Please note details of colour / markings, approximate length and general location so that you can let the snake catcher know.

Honey Bees swarm when the queen produces a pheromone: they then send out scout bees to seek a cavity to nest in, and they will move there to build their hive as soon as a suitable place is located. If the hive is in a building cavity pest-control specialists will remove it.

Wasps may be local or ‘imported’.

European wasps are particularly hazardous due to the toxicity of the venom, the ability to sting repeatedly, the numbers in their nests and the ferocity of attacks when nests are threatened.

They are attracted to rotting fruit, other food and food scraps and liquids – so don’t leave any of those things in the open. They like to fly into open drink cans and could sting your mouth or throat if you don’t notice them.

Don’t swat or annoy wasps that are hovering around food – they are attracted to a moving target.

Please report the location of nests to the Maintenance Office – they will engage a pest control company to remove any nests.
European wasps may attack you within about 7 metres of their nest.Other wasp species are less harmful than European wasps, but all should be treated with caution.

Thanks to Mick Booth and Vickie Armstrong (Social Sciences) for the above information.

Manual Handling Training

Recently two manual handling training sessions, presented by Shan Needham from Safe Work Practice, were held for staff of the University. In all 17 staff members (academic and general) from different areas attended the session.

Evaluation responses were received from 15 staff members.
General responses:

• 100% responded that they enjoyed the training
• 100% responded that they had learned something from the training
• 100% responded that they had learned something from the training
• 100% responded that they would implement suggestions made

Individual comments:

• Explanations of how to lift, bend etc were very clear and physically doing it was excellent. I enjoyed the session and found it very helpful
• It was excellent, especially as she geared it to the needs of the various groups. The stuff in the workload was excellent.
• Let more people know how useful and beneficial a short session can be. I've never done this training before and have been at Flinders 27 years
• Timing, requirement for new staff. I have been at Flinders for 12 years and this is my first training

Manual Handling training sessions will be held again throughout 2003, if you are interested in attending the 2 hour session please contact, Kerry Jaunutis ext 13117
Kerry Jaunutis, Occupational Health Nurse

Plant Hazard Management Training

Machinery that is manually powered and hand held does not fall under the Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Regulations for "Plant Safety". All other machinery is covered by the Regulations.

Graham Woods and Les Day - Education Workshop recently successfully completed a Plant Hazard Management training session run by the OHS Unit.

If you wish to participate, the training includes:
Hazard Identification; Risk Assessment; Hierarchy of Control; Plant Management in the University; and, Legislative requirements.

The training is based on the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission - Core Training Elements for the National Standard for Plant. It consists of 2 x 11/2 hour sessions carried out in the workplace.

For further details contact Alan Walker on 12094.
Alan Walker, Technical Officer

Security Assistance – Threatened? At Risk? Phone 12880

If you are in a situation where you feel at risk, or an incident occurs where you feel threatened, you may need to contact Security on 12880.

All Security staff members are trained in First Aid and Emergency Procedures, including strategies for interacting with people whose behaviour may be causing you concern.

Security staff can assist both staff and students 24 hours a day. See the web page:
www.flinders.edu.au/studentinfo/security_service.html

The University has procedures for management of a ‘critical incident’ – that is, "an unexpected and emotionally demanding event, usually outside the normal range of experience of the people affected, which has the potential to cause on going distress in individuals directly and indirectly involved in the incident."

Further information is available at www.flinders.edu.au/ppmanual/registrar/incident.html

If you are new to the University or supervise someone who is new to the University please be aware that during the first 3 months of employment a new staff member should participate in a number of short Induction Workshops organised by the Staff Development and Training Unit. These sessions include information about the Security system.

Further information is available at www.flinders.edu.au/staffdev/orientation/supervisor/3.htm

Calling An Ambulance

If you need to call an ambulance, you also need to call Security so that they can meet the ambulance and escort them to the area as quickly as possible.

• Call the ambulance on 0 – 000
• Describe the problem and tell them Security will meet the ambulance at the Sturt Road entrance to the University
• Call Security on 12880
• Tell them about the problem and that you have called an ambulance
• Remain with the injured / ill person until help arrives.

Jennie Cumming, Head OH&S Unit

Summary Statistics for 3rd quarter 2002

During the 3rd quarter of 2002 there were 49 accidents and incidents reported to the Occupational Health and Safety Unit.

Accident/incident statistics - 3rd quarter 02

Of the 38 accidents/incidents reported by staff members in this quarter, 13 resulted in workers compensation claims.

No. staff accidents/incidents by cost Centre

In 32 of the 38 matters reported by staff, prevention would have been "reasonably practicable". Of the 32 that could have been prevented, 14 occurred because correct procedures were not followed.

Comparison of staff accidents/incidents for 3rd quarter of year over a 4 year period

Mechanism of accident/incident in each major cost centre during 3rd quarter of 2002

Thank you

Thank you to all who have been involved with health and safety this year.

Staff University wide showed a high level of commitment to meeting the requirements of the WorkCover Performance Standards for Exempt Employers. The combined effort resulted in a very good WorkCover audit outcome – and the effort is very much appreciated.

With Health and Safety Representatives and Deputies, Hazardous Substances Managers, Electrical Safety liaison staff, Plant safety liaison staff, staff in workshops and laboratories, supervisors, managers, first aiders, internal auditors and OH&S Committee members there are over 200 staff who have direct involvement with safety management.

Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable end of year break.
Remember the sunscreen!