Responsibilities for Occupational Health and Safety

The Heads of Schools and Centres are responsible for implementing and maintaining occupational health and safety standards and practices in laboratories and teaching facilities under their control. The following should be ensured:

• Buildings and equipment provided for practical classes are safe and suitable for the types of work carried out;
• Financial provisions are made for health and safety equipment and materials;
• Practical classes are run by persons who are competant in occupational health and safety matters (Note: local information sessions for tutors are encouraged);
• Staff and students receive the appropriate information, instruction and training necessary for them to perform their work safely;
• Rules and procedures are prepared and enforced for students undertaking practical classes;
• Emergency equipment is provided for practical classes and that staff and students are aware of emergency and evacuation procedures;

Staff (in charge of, or teaching in practical classes) are responsible for providing a healthy and safe environment for students. The following should be ensured:

• Health, safety and environmental aspects of the practical are considered;
• Students receive the appropriate information and supervision necessary for them to carry out their studies safely;
• Students are warned about particular hazards, and how to avoid, eliminate or minimise their exposure to them;
• Proper attitudes towards health and safety are practiced and transferred to the students;
• Students under their control are using safety equipment, where considered necessary;
• Accidents and Incidents are recorded on the UQ Workplace Injury, Illness and Incident Report Form

Students also have responsibilities under section 36 of the Workplace Health and Safety Act, 1995. Students are required to:

• Avoid, eliminate or minimise hazards of which they are aware;
• Comply with all occupational health and safety instructions;
• Make proper use of all safety devices and personal protective equipment;
• Not wilfully place at risk the health and safety of themselves or any other person;
• Seek information or advice where necessary, or when in doubt, before carrying out new or unfamiliar work;
• Wear protective clothing and footwear;
• Be familiar with emergency and evacuation procedures;
• Report and record all accidents and near miss incidents on the Workplace Injury, Illness and Incident Report Form.

The laboratory

A laboratory can be a place of specialised research, clinical or diagnostic evaluation, teaching and/or learning. Laboratories are commonly used in many scientific disciplines across the University ranging from health sciences to biological and physical sciences.

The term laboratory may also equate with a workshop in some engineering areas, as well as animal houses.

Introducing health and safety to students

It is essential that health and safety principles and concepts are integrated at all levels of organisation of practical classes.

The lecturer should provide the students with a general health and safety induction at the commencement of each semester. This induction should ensure the following information is conveyed to the students:

• The University Occupational Health and Safety Policy and how it applies to them;
• The Health and Safety responsibilities which apply to students in practical classes;
• Emergency procedures for the laboratory;
• The requirement for the reporting of accidents and ‘near miss’ incidents to the lecturer and/or tutor. Students should also be advised to report any medical conditions or allergies that could put them at risk during the class;
• Laboratory policies and procedures relevant to the course of practical classes;
• The requirement for mandatory wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) which has been considered necessary by the lecturer. Students must be advised that failure to bring required PPE (e.g. lab coat, closed footwear, safety glasses) with them to the class could result in them being refused participation in that prac class. Lecturers should also ensure that specific issues relating to health and safety in specific practical classes are brought to the attention of students.

It is recommended that a brief section on health and safety be included in all manuals for undergraduate practical classes.

Tutors and demonstrators also should be reinforcing safe work practices with the students since they have most of the practical contact with the students.

The lecturer must also ensure that the student has understood the information which has been explained to them by signing the Student Declaration Form for Practical Class Work.