OHS Newsletter September 2000

Hazard Identification Checklists

Are you a supervisor? Do you routinely check that staff and students in your area are working in a safe environment?

You are responsible for ensuring that Hazard Identification Checklists are completed on a regular basis and that any hazards identified are remedied.

At a time suitable to the Faculty/Cost Centre the Occupational Health and Safety Committees will remind all supervisors of the need to carry out these inspections.

Unfortunately some of the Checklists previously used are not cross referenced to specific OH&S Regulations - so they have to be amended by the Cost Centres.

The OH&S Unit is liasing with all areas to ensure that the Checklists used by each area include reference to specific OH&S Regulations.

A standardised Hazard Identification Checklist is available from the OH&S Unit and will be used by all areas of Central Administration, the Faculty of Social Sciences and the School of Nursing. The School of Medicine will use the FMC system.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering will continue to use their established Legislative Compliance Checklist. Their document covers the variety of equipment and processes used in that Faculty and includes all of the required Checklist elements.

Other laboratories and workshops may also find the Science & Engineering Checklist useful - please call me on 13703 if you would like a copy to adapt for your area.

Jennie Cumming
Head, OH&S Unit

Mobile Phone Base Station

Some people have expressed concern about installation of a mobile phone base station on the roof of the Central Library.

Brian Goodhind, Executive Officer in Buildings and Property Division, has advised that the station is to be located above the Library Plant Room.

The University's Occupational Health Nurse, Kerry Jaunutis, and the University's Radiation Consultant, Dr Gerald Laurence, have directed our attention to recent findings of a 12 month study conducted by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency.

The study found that radiation from mobile phone base stations was "dramatically lower" than the official public exposure limits.

A summary of this appeared in a recent article in The Advertiser (29 June 2000).

There is no substantiated evidence that RF emissions from mobile phone base stations, which operate at relatively low power, cause any adverse health effects.

The other aspect of the "installation" of the base station on campus relates to Schedule 3 of the Telecommunications Act, 1997, and the Telecommunications Code of Practice, 1997. This legislation allows communication carriers to access land and install low impact facilities without the consent of the land owner and without the need to obtain local planning approval.

Jennie Cumming
Head, OH&S Unit

Slippery - Especially When Wet!

The majority of injuries on the University campus are caused by Slips, Trips and Falls. There is generally an increase in these types of accidents at this time of year with the wet weather. However, some of the accidents reported could have been avoided with a little forethought.

Taking the path down to car park 1 may take you a couple of minutes longer, but it is better than risking injury by clambering down the hill side. Also, walking down the hill damages the grass and plants - so please have a thought for the environment as well as the potential for breaking an ankle.

When using staircases, again be aware of the potential risks. If possible use the handrail and take each step one at a time &endash; don't rush. A couple of weeks ago I was, with the Chair of an OH&S Committee, investigating an incident on a staircase. We witnessed someone walking down the stairs whilst reading a document. We didn't think it looked very safe.

These types of accidents can cost the University a lot of money - money that would be better spent elsewhere, to say nothing of the pain and inconvenience to the injured party. Not all accidents/incidents are preventable but around 97% are - and you can help if you think ahead. Please be careful when moving around the University.

Alan Walker
Technical Assistant, OH&S Unit

OH&S Accident/Incident Summary Statistics

During the second quarter of 2000 there were 46 accidents and incidents reported to the Occupational Health and Safety Unit.

Category	Number
Staff members	28
Students	14
Union employee	1
Visitor	1
Contractors	2
Total	46

Of the 28 accidents/incidents reported by staff members in this quarter, 16 resulted in workers compensation claims.

Organisational Unit	1997	1998	1999	2000
Central Administration	17	14	12	13
The Library	14	2	3	3
Faculty of Social Sciences	3	3	3	3
Faculty of Health Sciences	5	12	4	6
Faculty of EHLT	3	4	4	2
Faculty of Science and Engineering	11	8	6	1
Total	43	43	32	28

Staff accidents/incidents variance table

Major Cost Centre	2nd Qtr 1999	2nd Qtr 2000	Change
Central Administration	12	13	+1
Libraries	3	3	0
Faculty of Social Sciences	3	3	0
Faculty of Health Sciences	4	6	+2
Faculty of EHLT	4	2	-2
Faculty of Science & Engineering	6	1	-5
TOTAL	32	28	-4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workers Compensation Costs

Hazardous Substances Management

Robert Di Giusto, Hazardous Substances Manager for the Faculty of Science and Engineering, has advised of the following change in the Faculty. As Chris Malcolm is undertaking further studies this year, he is no longer the Hazardous Substances Lieutenant for the School of Informatics and Engineering. (Best wishes for the studies, Chris.) Terry Mackenzie has taken on this role. (Thank you, Terry.)

Storage and use of radioactive sources

There has been recent media coverage of the issues related to storage and disposal of radioactive sources in this State.

The University Radiation Safety Officer, Dr Gerald Laurence, is quite clear that all sources at Flinders University are safely stored in accordance with the requirements of the OHS&W Act and Regulations, the Radiation Protection and Control Act and Regulations, and the appropriate protocols.

He advises that the current situation is well under control and presents no hazard to the University community.

Relaxation exercises - free

Slow controlled movements, gentle stretching and correct breathing &endash; you can experience this.

Every Friday lunchtime (12 noon to 1 p.m.) from Friday 6 October for 10 weeks, you will be able to do "Chi-Kung" exercises in the Geoff Harrison Meeting Room (near the Clubs and Societies office).

You do the exercises standing up - with no rushing around and getting breathless. Loose, comfortable clothing will make it easier to stretch.

An instructor from the Tai Chi Academy of South Australia will conduct the classes.

Check our Web site for more information.

Remember and; it's free!