Information For Safety Officers

The main role of a safety officer is to act as a focal point for all occupational health and safety matters arising in a particular unit or controlled entity. Heads of academic/administrative units and controlled entities are responsible for appointing a suitable safety officer for the areas under their control. In the absence of an appointed safety officer, the relevant head of academic/administrative unit or controlled entity shall assume the responsibilities of the safety officer. The safety officer is the employer's representative as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 at the local level.

The responsibilities of the safety officer include:

• providing advice on local health and safety issues
• ormulating and implementing occupational health and safety policies and procedures;
• assisting with risk management of hazards and risks in the area
• investigating and reporting of all incidents, injuries and hazards
• liaising with Occupational Health and Safety and the head of unit or controlled entity;
• consulting with local health & safety representatives on occupational health and safety issues
• reviewing and analysing injury and incident reports and data
• developing injury and incident prevention strategies for the unit or controlled entity;
• monitoring occupational health and safety standards and compliance with occupational health and safety policies and procedures at a local level, including workplace inspections, building evacuations and induction and training of staff and students;
• auditing and analysing the department/school occupational health and safety legislative compliance in regard to risk, emergency and hazardous waste management;
• assisting with the promotion of occupational health and safety awareness; and
• liaising with environmental and green officers.

Documents Useful To Safety Officers

Documents include:

• Occupational Health and Safety Policy
• Monash University Occupational Health and Safety Strategic Plan 2007-2009
• Procedures for hazard and incident reporting, investigation and recording
• First Aid procedures
• Risk control program
• Workplace inspection program
• Bullying & occupational violence in the workplace - managing incidents
• Work & study during times when emergency response is limited
• Procedures for occupational health and safety consultation in the workplace
• Procedures for health and safety issue resolution
• Immunisation Procedures
• Alcohol and other drug issues among staff and students
• Guidelines for safe work instructions
• Guidelines for health and safety during:
  • off-campus activities in urban areas
  • field activities in country and remote areas
  • international activities
  • student placements

OHSE Resources For Safety Officers

• Your safety officer
• Your health & safety representative/deputy health & safety representative
• Your local OHSE consultant
• OHS documents
• OHS forms
• Employee induction program
• OHS training courses

Training courses are also tailored to meet the needs of individual units or campuses. Contact your OHSE consultant.

• Chemical safety information
• Radiation safety information

OHSE can be contacted on (03) 9905-1013 or by email

Training Recommended For Safety Officers

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.

Further information can be obtained from the OHS Training Guide.