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Information for Zone OHS&E Committees
In each area of the university, occupational health and safety and environmental issues are managed by a zone OHS&E committee, providing a consultative forum for the discussion, resolution and implementation of occupational health and safety and environmental issues. OHSE, in consultation with work areas, will establish zone OHS&E committees as appropriate for the area.
Membership Of Zone OHS&E Committees
A zone OHS&E committee should ideally have no more than 12 members, including
- a chairperson who is a senior academic or general staff equivalent;
- the safety officer(s) located in the zone;
- the environmental officer(s) located in the zone;
- one laboratory manager (in laboratory/studio-based faculties);
- the health and safety representative(s) and/or deputy health and safety representative(s) in the area;
- a postgraduate student representative; and, where appropriate
- one radiation safety officer; and/or;
- one biosafety officer.
The Functions Of A Zone OHS&E Committee
- Formulation and implementation of occupational health and safety and environmental improvement strategies for the zone including consideration and implementation of university occupational health and safety and environmental policies and procedures;
- Promotion of a strong occupational health and safety and environmental culture in the zone through regular communication and consultation, promotion of improvements and highlighting of specific hazards or incidents;
- Review and analysis of injury/incident reports and data and development of injury/incident prevention strategies for the zone;
- Formulation and implementation of local zone occupational health and safety and environmental programs, policies and procedures;
- Monitoring of the zone occupational health and safety and environmental performance with regard to the:
- conducting of regular workplace inspections (minimum 2 per year required);
- conducting of regular trial evacuations (minimum 2 per year required with at least one in semester with student involvement);
- induction of new staff and students;
- training of staff and students in the zone; and
- conducting of annual environmental assessments of the workplace and activities.
- Auditing and analysing the occupational health and safety and environmental legislative compliance of the zone and, in particular:
- ensuring that a risk management approach is taken to hazardous tasks, new activities, research and equipment;
- ensuring that emergency procedures are developed and implemented for the zone; and
- trade and hazardous waste management.
- Supporting and assisting the work of:
- Safety officers;
- health & safety representatives/deputy health & safety representatives; and
- environmental officers.
Zone OHS&E Committee Meetings
- Zone OHS&E committees are required to meet at least quarterly; and
- Minutes of meetings must be:
- kept;
- made accessible to all staff and postgraduate students (eg copies on safety notice boards and in the lunch room);
- minutes may be circulated electronically;
- only accessible to Monash staff and students when posted on web sites;
- sent to Occupational Health and Safety or the area OHSE consultant as soon as possible after the meeting;
- Staff and students of each unit must be informed of the zone OHS&E committee, its purpose and membership; and
- A list of zones and the zone OHS&E committee chairpersons is available at the Occupational Health and Safety web site.
Documents Useful To Zone OHS&E Committees
Documents include:
OHSE Resources For Zone OHS&E Committee Members
Templates for zone OHS&E committee meeting minutes and agenda
Training courses are also tailored to meet the needs of individual units or campuses. Contact your OHSE consultant.
Occupational Health and Safety can be contacted on (03) 9905-1013 or by email
Training Recommended For Zone OHS&E Committee Members
It is recommended that zone OHS&E committee members attend relevant Occupational Health and Safety training courses in the first 12 months of their appointment. Further information can be obtained from the OHS Training Guide.
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