OHS Newsletter March 2000

Electrical Safety:

Surge Protector or RCD?

With the University banning the use of double adaptors and the increasing awareness of staff on electrical testing, areas are now looking to buy power-boards with surge protectors or RCDs (Residual Current Device) instead of double adaptors. This can be confusing with the immense amount of equipment available.

Surge Protectors: these protect equipment not people. A surge is a swift, momentary increase in voltage and may damage equipment. It can be caused by: neighbouring large scale electricity users e.g. factories or shopping centres switching their power on or off; close lightening strikes; and, inside the building by simply switching electrical equipment on or off.

Most surge protectors work by taking the extra voltage that a surge can cause and transferring it to neutral. The protectors also have a limited life span, the more surges that pass through the mechanism, the more its life is shortened.

RCDs: sometimes called safety switches, these are designed to switch off the current when electricity is detected leaking to earth, through your body or some other conductor. This will be done within 300 milliseconds and should prevent any serious risk or harm befalling a reasonably fit or healthy person.

NOTE: RCDs will not stop you being electrocuted in all cases. If you come in contact with both the Active and Neutral conductors, the charge will pass through your body with non leaking to earth, the device will not detect a difference in current and will not activate. You must still take extreme care when using electrical equipment.

RCD Operation (Source: Guidelines for Electrical Hazards - Workcover)

An RCD operates by monitoring the current "flowing" in the Active conductor (wire) and in the Neutral conductor: this will be equal in normal operation(fig 2a). Should a short circuit occur, either through the earth conductor or through someone coming into contact with the circuit and the ground, then an imbalance occurs with unequal current passing along the Active and Neutral (fig2b). The device will then shut down the supply.

When you go to the suppliers, it can be confusing, but remember: surge protectors protect equipment, safety switches/RCDs protect people &endash; to some extent.

For further information contact Alan Walker: Technical Assistant &endash; OH&S Unit Ph. 12094.

Sports Centre Courses

The Sports Centre offers various courses for students and staff and they have asked OH&S to let staff know about three courses in particular.

Back in Balance

A back care course allowing you to discover and practice strengthening and flexibility exercises. $25 for 5 weeks: one session of 45 minutes each week.

Relaxation Massage

Learn how to massage. $40 for 5 weeks: one session of 1.5 hours each week.

Health Weight Loss Programs

Three different programs are available, varying in cost from $30 (theory only) to $65 (theory and exercise sessions, including personal training).

Please contact the Sports Centre for further information and for bookings.

Note: the OH&S Unit does not pay for these courses.

Don't let new style double adaptors fool you!

Old style double adaptor.

New style: the flat design makes it look a bit like a 'mini-powerboard'.

One of these new style double adaptors was recently used incorrectly in 'piggyback' fashion onto a powerboard in an office and the adaptor started burning: luckily it was noticed before the heat caused a larger fire.

If the papers in your office are precious to you, it's up to you to make sure that you don't put them at risk.

Please check what your electrical devices are plugged into and DISCARD any style of double adaptors.

If you have any questions about electrical appliance safety, please ask Alan Walker (OH&S, 12094) or your electrical safety liaison person. A list of electrical appliance safety liaison people is shown below:

Library	Lynda Clarke
Central Administration	Alan Walker
EHLTh (coordination)	Marelle Piche
EHLTh (technical)	Andy Hollitt (South)
EHLTh (technical)	Graham Woods (Sturt)
Social Sciences (coord)	Vickie Armstrong
Social Sciences (technical)	Leon Snigg
Science & Engineering	Alex Wiseman
Health Sciences	Ion Wallace
Health Sciences	Tadija Petronijevic (Med)

Mick Booth, Maintenance Superintendent, is the University's electrical safety Project Officer &endash; he is coordinating testing University wide.

Hazardous Substances Management

All chemicals you use at work must have a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) available so that you can see the hazard and health information relating to each chemical.

The MSDS also shows what must be done for First Aid in the event of exposure to the chemical.

All laboratories and workshops should have a folder of MSDS readily accessible to all staff.

You should also have a folder of MSDS sheets with the chemicals in the cupboard in your tea room, for 'everyday' chemicals like the dishwashing powder and de-scaling powder used in the Dishwashers.

If you don't have a folder, please let your nominated Hazardous Substances Manager know that it is missing and ask them to provide you with one.

A list of Hazardous Substances Managers is shown below:

Library	Ashton Claridge
Central Administration	Kerry Jaunutis
Central Administration	Mick Booth
EHLTh	Matt Schlitz (South)
EHLTh	Tom Benson (Sturt Science labs)
Social Sciences	Paul Douglas
Science & Engineering	Robert di Giusto
Science & Engineering	Lyn Spencer
Science & Engineering	Chris Malcolm
Science & Engineering	Glenn Solly
Health Sciences (Sturt)	Tom Benson
Health Sciences (Medicine)	FMC system is being used

Jennie Cumming, Head OH&S Unit

EAP - Counselling For Staff

The EAP-Counselling for staff program continued to be well supported throughout 1999 and will be continued through 2000.

This year one of the previous psychologists is not available - the three psychologists who are continuing the service are:

MsJane Fowler

Ms Helen Holmes

Mr Chris Edwards

All consultations are strictly confidential.

Further information can be obtained from the OHS Homepage at http://www.flinders.edu.au/OHSW/ohs-home.html or from information flyers available in your tearoom.

Kerry Jaunutis, Occupational Health Nurse

Occupational Health and Safety Training

Did you know that there are several OHS training courses available to staff, including Health and Safety Representative Training, Radiation Safety Training (for those working with radiation), First Aid Training (if approved by Head of Department) and several other courses.

For a full list of Occupational Health and Safety Training courses see the Staff Development and Training Program.

Kerry Jaunutis, Occupational Health Nurse

OH&S Accident/Incident Summary Statistics

During the fourth quarter of 1999 there were 49 accidents and incidents reported to the Occupational Health and Safety Unit.

41 from staff of which 10 workers compensation claims were lodged, (24% of accidents reported resulted in workers compensation claims)

8 accidents were reported by students.

A total of 162 accidents/incidents were reported in 1999.

Accident statistics by Cost Centre over a 4 year period

Accidents by month for 1999

Workers Compensation costs over a 4 year period

Chris Euripides, Administrative Assistant