OHS PRACTICES

Evaluation of OHS Practices in the University Of Newcastle



Table of Contents

Introduction1

Discussion1

Current OHS and Risk Management Practices1

Effectiveness of the communication processes and consultative arrangements2

Role of the Manager/Supervisor in the OHS Process3

Communication and Documentation of OHS Issues4

Awareness of Duty of Care under the Act6

Frequency and the Ways of Record-Keeping6

Conclusion7

Evaluation of OHS Practices in the University Of Newcastle

Introduction

OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) and risk management is an integral part in the management of any organization, regardless of the industry in which it is operating (Stubbs et al. 2004: 63). For the purpose of understanding the policies and management of OHS and risk management, we have selected the University of Newcastle. The University and its management are always seen, as committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of the environment in order to protect its staff, students, contractors, and visitors from any bad experience about health. As a result, it encourages the management of the University to prevent their working environment continuously and work safely as a collective and individual responsibility (newcastle.edu.au).

Discussion

Current OHS and Risk Management Practices

The management understands its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) under the NSW OH&S Act of 2000 and associated legislation. Managers consider it as their fundamental and foremost responsibility to ensure the health, safety and welfare of staff, students, contractors and visitors. For this purpose, the management of the University has a duty for providing and maintaining a safe and risk free working environment (datamonitor.com). Therefore, the following practices are followed by the University (newcastle.edu.au):

Risk management activities tried to be understood for effectively managing risks that also include review of changes to methods and practices adopted in the work.

It ensures that the university is complying with all standards and other requirements, which are necessary to be adhered.

It ensures that all plants, equipment and substances are safe and risk free in accordance with standard operating methods when they used.

Systems are provided, monitored and maintained to ensure safe use, handling, storing and transportation of plant, equipment and substances.

In order to ensure emergency safety, all systems are managed in an appropriate way.

All employees are provided adequate facilities to ensure the welfare of these employees.

All employees provide appropriate training to all employees about OHS.

Adequate resources are provided to all employees such as financing, and for facilitating the OHS responsibilities of the University.

Health and Safety Management systems are reviewed and evaluated regularly such as audits and workplace inspections.

Measurable objects and targets are established for ensuring continued improvement that is aimed at eliminating work-related injury and illness.

Effectiveness of the communication processes and consultative arrangements

The University of Newcastle considers the following main factors in order to ensure effectiveness of the communication process and consultative arrangements:

What communication channels do they access?

Is the emergency communications systems will function properly in all circumstances?

Is the work done in an isolated or remote? Note that the workstation is not necessarily a considerable distance when it comes to an isolated or remote. A storage room where no one will occasionally be seen as isolated (Bennett ...