WHS Message

Published in the Research School of Physics Event Horizon
Vol45 Issue46 16–20 November 2020

WHS Messsage

As you can imagine, 2020 has been the year for bush fires, hail stones and the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this there has been a greater focus on WHS within RSPhys that we must continue to improve on.

With the implementation of the ANU Work Health Safety Management Handbook, there is a greater requirement for adherence to WHS practices across RSPhys and the University as whole. RSPhys WHS have taken on the task of gradually implementing these practices with minimal disruption to the research capabilities of the School. There is a responsibility for all RSPhys personnel in understanding their obligations to WHS requirements across the School, not only for themselves but to their colleagues. The improvements to WHS can only be achieved through everyone working together to create a safe and healthy working environment.

As we move forward to 2021, work health and safety will be paramount to our continued success as a School and we must all continue to be involved in improvements to WHS practices

WHS SharePoint

RSPhys WHS now have a SharePoint for staff to access WHS documents and information and for updated legislation and requirements to ANU WHS. Please log into RSPhys WHS Intranet and follow the links on the information pages.

HSR introductions, Illya Shadirov and Huma Latif

After Hours Approval

Afterhours working can only be approved through your Supervisor and RSPhys WHS. There is a direct link to after hours working through the RSPhys Intranet with links to the WHS SharePoint.

All after hours work will be approved by RSPhys WHS and your direct supervisor. Access to laboratories or workshops will not be approved until the induction and mandatory training for that area has been completed and the appropriate risk assessment and safe work procedure has been implemented. To understand further the risks associated for after hours working, please see the RSPhys After Hours Risk assessment, link here.

ARPANSA

In preparation for the upcoming ARPANSA audit on 2nd December, RSPhys WHS have been coordinating checklists to inspect all registered sources in November. All labs should be checked thoroughly for:

all new sources that should be registered
sources that have moved from one location to another
decommissioned sources that we should report to ARPANSA (before the inspection)

All labs/areas should have risk assessments identifying the hazards and risks associated with the area and the auditors will be inspecting safety goggles are within specifications and all training up to date where appropriate. Mandatory training for Laser and Radiation can be found online through ANU PULSE.

WHS017 Ionising Radiation Safety
WHS018 Ionising Radiation Safety: Machines
WHS019 Laser Safety

Sonia in the WHS office is coordinating the information gathering in preparation for this audit, so please direct any inquiries to whs.physics@anu.edu.au

First Aid and Wardens

As stated before, 2020 has been a challenge in many ways. We would like to thank all the staff/students who have taken on the responsibility of our First Aid and Warden coverage throughout the School. It is a big commitment to put your hand up for these roles and with the people we have in place here, there is an added sense of safety knowing we have people committed to look after the health and safety of people while at work. There are too many to thank but the lists of our First Aid and Wardens can be found on our RSPhys WHS Intranet.

Work Experience

For any work experience students to be authorized to attend RSPhys, due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, an application must be submitted to the College Dean for approval.

Please review the University Child Protection Policy below:

https://policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/document/ANUP_000634

https://policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/document/ANUP_000387

Please follow the steps below in applying for work experience students in your area:

Email from the School Director expressing support for the work experience, indicating that if approved the students will be directed to read and agree to comply with the ANU COVID guidelines available on the RSPhys website. Also indicating that if approved the relevant COVID-19 Risk Assessment will be updated to add the students in (the student's acknowledgment that they have read the RSPhys COVID-19 RA).
Case for work experience written by the supervisor
Signed declaration on the ANU’s Working with Children Conduct Agreement from the supervisor ANU Working with Children Conduct Agreement
Copy of the supervisor’s WWVP card
ANU volunteer declaration form signed by the volunteer
The students School Public Liability Insurance cover

Tier 2 Inductions

Please be aware that currently RSPhys WHS are in the process of creating an online centralized Induction process to cover our Tier 2 School/Service/Divisional WHS Induction requirements. This will be through the ANU PULSE website and will negate the need for face-to-face inductions and will provide a more efficient process of Inductions to new and existing staff in RSPhys. We are aiming for this online induction to be operational by the end of Q1 2021.

Information can be found on the ANU WHSMS through this link: https://services.anu.edu.au/human-resources/health-safety/whs-management-system-handbook/chapter-32-whs-induction-training-and

In the interim, can all departments use the Tier 2 and Tier 3 templates for future induction process. Please document these and send the completed forms to whs.physics@anu.edu.au

To also prepare for this changeover to University prescribed templates, can all departments send through their current staff induction completions and induction processes to whs.physics@anu.edu.au

For specific Tier 2 and Tier 3 induction templates, please follow this link. https://physics.anu.edu.au/intra/whs/guide/chapter.php?id=5