Safety Officers

• List of current safety officers

Heads of Budgetary Units are responsible for appointing a suitable safety officer for the areas under their control. In large laboratory based departments with diverse research interests it is generally appropriate to appoint several safety officers each with responsibility for a particular facet - for example general safety, radiation safety and biological safety.

Safety Officers should be free to devote as much time as necessary to occupational health and safety matters. All staff should have direct access to their Safety Officer.

Duties

Each Safety Officer should have some delegated authority in occupational health and safety matters which will be determined by the department heads to whom they report, in consultation with the Zone OHS Committee.

The appointment of a Safety Officer does not diminish the particular responsibilities of department heads and supervisors or the primary responsibility of every individual for maintaining occupational health and safety standards. The main role of a Safety Officer is to act as a focal point for all occupational health and safety matters arising at the particular location. Carrying out the role involves:

• assisting with promoting occupational health and safety awareness;
• advising on occupational health and safety problems or obtaining advice on unfamiliar problems from Occupational Health and Safety or other sources;
• bringing to the attention of staff and students, occupational health and safety hazards associated with their work;
• bringing to the attention of the relevant department heads unresolved occupational health and safety problems;
• investigating and reporting on all incidents, injuries and occupational health problems and notifying Occupational Health and Safety of incidents and hazards in line with reporting requirements;
• liaison with Occupational Health and Safety including providing requested information to Occupational Health and Safety;
• co-operation and liaison with occupational health and safety representative(s) on occupational health and safety activities in their zone or department in line with the procedures detailed in the Appendix to the Occupational Health and Safety Policy; and
• dealing with health and safety issues in line with the procedures detailed in the Appendix to the Occupational Health and Safety Policy.

Absences from Duty by Safety Officers

If a safety officer is absent from duty, the relevant department heads(s) should make arrangements for OHS matters to be directed to a deputy safety officer or the health and safety representative covering that area.

Training

Safety officers are required to attend a minimum of 2 days Occupational Health and Safety training per year in order to effectively fulfill their Occupational Health and Safety roles.

Newly appointed safety officers are required to attend the following Occupational Health and Safety training courses in the first 6 months of their appointment:

• Introduction to Occupational Health and Safety (1 day) OR the following separate modules
  • Monash policies and procedures (2 hours)
  • Hazard & incident management (2 hours)
  • Risk management workshop (2 hours)
  • Workplace safety inspections (2 hours)
• Emergency warden training (2 hours)
• Prevention of Occupational Bullying & Violence at Monash

Please refer to the A-Z listing of courses  for further information.