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Occupational Health and Safety Auditing at University of Queensland Presented by Gary Chaplin Executive Manager Occupational Health and Safety. Health and Safety Risk Management. A range of systems can be used
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Occupational Health and SafetyAuditing at University of QueenslandPresented by Gary ChaplinExecutive ManagerOccupational Health and Safety
Health and Safety Risk Management • A range of systems can be used • Confusion between health and safety risk management compared to global risk management • Compliance with AS 4360
University System • Not based on a propriety system • Comprises • hazard identification • Risk assessment • Control method evaluation • Implementation of new controls • Regular evaluation
OH&S Self Insurance • University of Queensland became a Self Insurer for Workers Compensation in April 2001. • A criteria for license approval included undergoing an audit of the Universities OH&S Management System • U of Q was the first organisation in QLD to have this audit conducted
Conduct of Audit • The audit is carried out by a Government Regulator approved, external consultant • The University is then audited against the Division of Workplace Health and Safety system, Tri-Safe • ‘Pass’ mark to gain or maintain Self Insurance license is 70%
Tri-Safe • Tri-Safe is a 3 tiered auditing system that specifically focuses on employee, supervisor and management • Audit is conducted as ‘desktop’ by interviewing personnel with some physical inspection
Tri-Safe (cont’d) • Tri-Safe comprises 10 separate elements • Health and Safety Policy communication • Allocation of Responsibility/Accountability • Suppliers, sub-contractors and purchasing controls • Health and Safety communication • Hazard Identification and control
Tri-Safe (cont’d) • Provision of information • Training • Workplace specific issues • Reporting and Investigation • Emergency planning
Audit Process • Employer representative accompanies the auditor but is not able to be involved in the interviewing process • Formal de-brief is conducted on a daily basis with the auditor • Although it is a systems based audit, some hazard identification inevitably occurs
Results • Individual audit reports provided to each of the individual Schools/Departments • Individual scores not provided • Problems with setting up an internal completion has been found to be counterproductive competition if departments separately funded
Discussion • Areas of most difficulty • Allocation of responsibility/accountability • Knowledge of roles in OH&S • Annual review • Hazard identification and control • System was found to be in place • New system, no record of monitoring evaluation and adjustment
Discussion (cont’d) • Other difficult element • Training • Formalised program in place • Staff aware of the program • Needs to be built in to a training needs analysis for all staff
Further discussion • In OH&S terms what is risk????? Risk = Probability of an injury X Severity of harm a consequence of exposure to the hazard • Does the audit process assist in assessing this risk?
Summary • Positives • Audit process can be used as a positive for an organisation if it is conducted in the correct manner. • Increased OH&S awareness • Consultative structures approved • Change to risk management process
Summary (cont’d) • Negatives • Philosophical sabotage during the audit • Subjectiveness of the scoring system • 70% required • 53% minimum standard according to Tri-Safe publication.