Managing hazards and working safely

The University is a complex working environment with unique hazards you need to incorporate in your risk management strategies and be aware of as you work.

A hazard is anything which has the potential to cause harm. A risk is the likelihood that something will happen combined with the severity of the outcome.

The Health and Safety at Work Act (2015) requires that every person conducting business at the University:

  • identifies hazards that may put people at risk
  • has controls in place to mitigate those risks
  • coordinates with others whose responsibility it is to manage the risks (for example, University contractors).

The University is large and complex. Common risk environments include:

  • public spaces with events
  • teaching spaces such as laboratories
  • shared access ways—designed for vehicle and pedestrian traffic
  • high pedestrian traffic areas
  • construction or maintenance sites
  • service areas, like plant rooms, tunnels, risers, lift motor rooms
  • roofs
  • storage areas containing hazardous goods
  • workspaces with hazardous equipment, like electron microscopes, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) devices
  • hazardous substance storage—toxic, corrosive, biological and flammable substances workshops.

High risk and notifiable work

High risk and notifiable work needs robust controls to help manage the risk to workers and others.

Disruptive work

Disruptive work is any work that will negatively affect the way the University operates. Find out when it's best to undertake disruptive work.

Disrupted access

Before an important access route can be disrupted, you need to consult with your University liaison.

Fire prevention

Any work carried out on University property may affect the University fire plan in some way. This work must be managed with your University liaison.

Potential hazards and disruptions

Find out how to plan for, deal with and respond to hazards and disruptions while working at the University.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

You must use the personal protective equipment (PPE) that applies to the work you are doing, and it must be detailed in the risk assessment.