Your OHS responsibilities

OHS is a responsibility shared by students and staff alike.

Staff OHS Responsibilities

Staff and HDR students at all levels within The University of Queensland have specific responsibilities for ensuring Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S), depending on their role/s within the University. Refer to Staff Responsibilities for Occupational Health and Safety. View more details about the legislative and governance framework underpinning our practice.

OHS responsibilities should be incorporated into staff position descriptions, and the associated performance criteria should be utilised during annual performance reviews.

Responsibilities for Deans, Senior Managers, Heads of School/Organisational Units, Supervisors, individual staff and students are outlined in detail below.

Specialist Workplace Health and Safety Roles at UQ

UQ appoints and elects staff to undertake specialist workplace Health and Safety duties at UQ.

Responsibilities for Work Health and Safety Coordinators/Managers (WHSC) and Health and Safety Representatives (HSR) are outlined in detail below.

Executive Deans and Senior Managers

Set a clear OHS policy
Allocate responsibility for OH&S management and delegation of authority
Establish a faculty/division occupational health and safety committee
Allocate sufficient resources for OHS management
Ensure implementation of the risk management program within Schools/Organisational Units
Ensure implementation of a scheme for hazard and accident follow-up
Enthusiastically assist and support University procedures for identification, processing and managing Workers’ Compensation Claims and Workplace Rehabilitation
Ensure that Schools/Organisational Units have effective systems for the provision of OH&S information, training and supervision
Ensure that Schools/Organisational Units have effective emergency procedures

Heads of Schools and Organisational Units

Set a clear OHS policy
Allocate responsibility for OHS management and delegation of authority
Allocate sufficient resources for OHS management
Implement a risk management program
Implement a scheme for hazard and accident follow-up
Enthusiastically assist and support University procedures for identification, processing and managing Workers’ Compensation Claims and Workplace Rehabilitation
Ensure provision of OHS information, training and supervision
Establish and disseminate emergency procedures

Supervisors

Individual Staff/RHD Students

Work Health and Safety Coordinators/Managers (WHSC)

The University has determined that in order to assist it in maintaining it's health and safety duties, organisational units must consider the need to train and appoint Work Health and Safety Co-ordinators (WHSCs). This will assist in the effective management of workplace risk. In areas where work activities present the potential for significant risk to the health and safety of staff and others, the need to train and appoint a WHSC is considered higher.

In Faculties, Institutes and Schools where the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Committee believes there is sufficient risk, a dedicated OHS Manager may be appointed. Where this is the case, the OH&S Manager carries out the functions listed for a WHSC, in addition to the specific responsibilities of an OH&S Manager.

The appointment of WHSCs (including OHS Managers) does not relinquish the responsibilities of heads of department, managers, supervisors or staff under the Work Health and Safety Act. Rather, the appointment of WHSCs is part of the strategy to assist all parties in meeting their legislative responsibilities.

Refer to the following PPL's for additional information:

Health and Safety Consultative Mechanisms Procedure

Health and Safety Representatives

The Work Health and Safety Act (2011) allows for workplace health and safety representatives (HSRs) to be elected in the workplace. The staff member does not need any experience or qualification to be a workplace health and safety representative. Contact the Faculty safety manager to discuss further. Training can be supplied through UQ Staff development once the representative is elected.

Refer to the following policy for additional information:

Health and Safety Consultative Mechanisms Procedure