| Responsibilities
7.1 Vice-Chancellor
The Vice Chancellor as "Responsible Officer" under
the Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act 1986 (OHSWA),
is ultimately responsible for ensuring the University meets
its obligations in the area of Asbestos management.
In accordance with the University Occupational Health Safety
and Welfare Policy, the Vice-Chancellor must ensure the University
has in place a policy and procedures to provide, so far as
is reasonably practicable, a safe working environment for
all staff members and contractors and ensure the safe implementation
of projects undertaken within the University by such, and
that appropriate resources, both human and financial, are
made available to meet legislative requirements and policy
objectives.
7.2 Executive Deans/Major Organisational Unit Heads
The Executive Deans/major Organisational Unit management have
overall responsibility for the health, safety and welfare
of staff, students and visitors (including contractors) in
their Faculty/Area. They will manage the implementation of
the University’s OHSW policies and programs and allocate
resources to ensure the University standards are achieved.
They will assist the Project Managers in identifying hazard
situations, which may pose risks to persons entering and/or
working within the areas under their control
7.3 Supervisors
Supervisors are responsible for the management of exposure
to asbestos within their control, responsibilities include:
Supervisors are responsible for the management of exposure
to asbestos within their control, responsibilities include:
- Approving work on asbestos products via a work permit
system;
- Implementing of this procedure in their area of responsibility
and accountability;
- Planning work involving asbestos;
- Ensuring a risk assessment has been completed with the
staff members and/or their representatives and/or the Occupational
Health and Safety Unit prior to the commencement of any
work with asbestos;
- Keeping and maintaining asbestos exposure records;
- Providing training for all employees who carry out work
with asbestos at intervals not exceeding three years;
- Ensuring that all contractors who are engaged to carry
out work with asbestos are competent, have developed procedures;
- Liaising with Occupational Health and Safety Unit for
advice and compliance with the Policy document;
- Arranging for all individual who are required to work
with asbestos to attend a training program arranged through
the Buildings and Property Division prior to work with asbestos;
- Ensuring that individuals under their control are not
exposed to any potential hazardous situations from working
with asbestos;
- Ensuring that all individual always follow the example
of the Standard Operating Procedure applicable to working
with asbestos;
- Ensuring all appropriate equipment is provided and maintained
within safety requirements.
7.4 Staff members
Employees working with or near asbestos, must follow established
safe work practices and procedures to minimise the release
of asbestos fibres in the air. They must use and maintain
personal protective equipment and clothing provided and practice
high standards of personal hygiene, making proper use of facilities
provided for washing, showering, eating and drinking. Employees
must report immediately to their supervisor (who in turn reports
to the AHM) any defect in any control measure, device or facilities
or any item of personal protective equipment.
No person shall eat, drink or smoke in the vicinity of a place
where asbestos work is carried out or take home any equipment
or clothing contaminated with asbestos.
All persons must co-operate with the process of identification,
assessment and control and participate in suitable induction
and training programs.
Staff members working with asbestos are responsible for:
- Undertaking required training;
- Not placing themselves or others at risk of injury;
- Conforming to the requirements of this document;
- Consulting with supervisors and other staff members in
relation to a hazard analysis associated with working with
asbestos;
- Working with asbestos only after authorisation, knowledge
and approval by a manager or supervisor
7.5 Asbestos Hazard Officer
The University has appointed an Asbestos Hazard Officer (AHO)
to provide a focal point for all matters relating to asbestos
in the University and to co-ordinate all activities with regard
to managing asbestos hazards on campus.
The AHO will be functionally responsible to the Manager,
Buildings and Property Division but will work in close liaison
with the Occupational Health and Safety Unit and personnel
within the Buildings and Property Division in the execution
of asbestos related activities.
The duties of the AHO will be to:-
7.5.1 Maintain an Asbestos Register through
a systematic auditing and recording process
7.5.2 Undertake an assessment of the asbestos
hazards with assistance from those with accredited technical
expertise and recommend appropriate control measures
7.5.3 Co-ordinate the implementation of control
measures on a priority basis as determined through the consultative
process
7.5.4 Keep the University community informed
about asbestos hazards and its control
7.5.5 Administer a permit-to-work system
for all persons working with asbestos
7.5.6 Monitor the work environment and licensed
contract removal where appropriate
7.5.7 Identify persons requiring specific
information and instruction in asbestos work and co-ordinate
appropriate training
7.5.8 Oversee asbestos work in the University
in liaison with line management and health and safety representatives
7.5.9 Ensure appropriate personal protective
equipment/clothing is readily available and is cleaned, maintained
and where required, disposed of in accordance with the relevant
standards and codes of practice
7.5.10 Maintain all records in accordance
with the relevant standards and codes of practice for asbestos
work.
7.6 Buildings and Property Division
As caretakers of the University buildings, the Buildings
and Property Division (B&PD) must actively participate
in the development and implementation of the Asbestos Management
Plan and provide full authority, support and co-operation
to the AHO in the conduct of duties.
In particular, if the B&PD wishes to modify or refurbish
the building or fabric, to assess plant and equipment or to
enter ceiling spaces, eg for running cables, etc, they must
first check the Asbestos Register for incidences of asbestos
in the proposed work area. If asbestos is installed, they
must contact the AHO for a permit-to-work before proceeding.
All staff required to work with or adjacent to asbestos must
have attended an appropriate asbestos training session prior
to commencement of work and be issued with a permit-to-work.
External contractors engaged to undertake works must be authorised
by the AHO.
7.7 OH&S Unit
The OH&S Unit will provide expert advice on asbestos
related issues to the University community and will be directly
involved in the development of the asbestos management plan,
relevant policies and procedures and training of University
personnel.
7.8 Non-University Personnel
Flinders University recognises its obligations in relation
to non-University personnel, specifically persons working
with identified asbestos situations in University buildings.
Such personnel might include contractors and service personnel
All these persons will make contact with the AHO before conducting
any work activities. The AHO will provide information about
the asbestos hazards of the environment in which they are
required to work, explain the University's policies in relation
to asbestos management and instruct them in the operation
of the permit-to-work system.
All contractors will be required to provide copies of their
policies in relation to OHS&W and asbestos management
before commencing work on site and will be given copies of
the University's policies in this area.
The AHO will require all persons to provide evidence of competency
in working with identified asbestos situations to a standard
equal to or greater than that required of University personnel
and demonstrate an understanding of the relevant codes and
standards.
All persons will carry out work at the University in accordance
with relevant regulations, standards and codes of practice
for asbestos work and operate within the University's permit-to-work
system.
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