Responsibilities of personnel

Health and Safety responsibilities

Health and safety responsibilities of personnel have been determined on the basis of legislative requirements and University delegations and structures.

The below statements of responsibilities should be read in conjunction with the Health & Safety: Responsibilities and legal requirements. Reference should be made to these statements of responsibility in the position descriptions of University staff.

General health and safety responsibilities, authority to act and reporting relationships have been established for the following classifications of personnel:

  • Senior Officers (GOVERNANCE)

    General responsibilities

    Senior (Governance) Officers shall:

    • provide leadership with respect to health and safety in a way that demonstrates commitment to continuous improvement;
    • ensure they understand their OHS obligations and those relating to their organisation, and how they are managed;
    • ensure a Council/Board member and/or executive is appointed to oversee the health and safety program;
    • ensure decision-making processes include consideration of health and safety implications;
    • ensure the organisation has procedures and mechanisms in place to consult with employees on health and safety matters;
    • monitor the implementation and review of management systems for managing and improving health and safety.

    Authority to act

    Senior (Governance) Officers' authorities to act are defined in the legislative framework, which includes:

    • Melbourne University Act 1958 (Vic)
    • University Statute and Regulations

    Reporting

    Senior (Governance) Officers' reporting structures:

    • University of Melbourne organisational structure
  • Senior Officers (EXECUTIVE)

    University of Melbourne - Senior (Executive) Officers shall ensure that:

    General responsibilities

    • a member of Senior Executive is allocated overall responsibility for the health and safety management system;
    • specific health and safety responsibilities, authority to act and reporting requirements have been defined documented and communicated to all levels within the organisation;
    • Divisional Senior Officers, managers and supervisors and other personnel are held accountable for their health and safety responsibilities;
    • effective consultative arrangements are in place;
    • sufficient financial and physical resources are allocated to ensure the effective implementation of the University’s health and safety management system (including legislative compliance);
    • sufficient qualified and competent personnel are engaged to ensure the effective implementation of the University’s health and safety management system (including legislative compliance);
    • procedures in place for the systematic identification of workplace hazards, evaluation of their risk and implementation of controls to manage risk;
    • health and safety information, training and induction are provided to all personnel;
    • a system is in place for the reporting of hazards and incidents, and for prompt response to investigate and rectify them;
    • they have a understanding of the University’s health and safety performance and monitor it over time;
    • relevant specific responsibilities described in the University’s health and safety policies and procedures are implemented.

    Authority to act

    University of Melbourne - Senior (Executive) Officers' authorities to act are defined in the legislative framework, which includes:

    • Melbourne University Act 1958 (Vic)
    • University Statute and Regulations

    Reporting

    University of Melbourne - Senior (Executive) Officers' reporting structures:

    • University of Melbourne organisational structure
  • Divisional Senior (Executive) Officers'

    Divisional Senior (Executive) Officers shall ensure that in all areas and for all personnel within their management and control:

    General responsibilities

    • a competent management representative is allocated responsibility for the resolution oflocal of health and safety issues;
    • effective health and safety consultative arrangements are in place;
    • elected HSR and Deputy HSR are provided with sufficient time and resources to effectively undertake their respective roles;
    • general health and safety responsibilities, authority to act and reporting requirements for all personnel within the division have been defined and documented in relevant position descriptions;
    • managers and supervisors and other personnel are held accountable for their health and safety responsibilities;
    • sufficient financial and physical resources are allocated to ensure the effective implementation of the division’s health and safety management system (including legislative compliance);
    • sufficient qualified and competent personnel are engaged to ensure the effective implementation of the division’s health and safety management system (including legislative compliance);
    • procedures are in place for the systematic identification of workplace hazards, evaluation of their risk and implementation of controls to manage risk;
    • effective health and safety supervisory arrangements are in place;
    • systems for reporting of hazards and incidents, and for prompt response to investigate and rectify them, are in place;
    • they have a understanding of the division’s health and safety performance and monitor it over time;
    • effective emergency procedures are in place and practiced regularly;
    • relevant specific responsibilities described in the University’s health and safety policies and procedures are implemented.

    Authority to act

    Divisional Senior (Executive) Officers' authorities to act are defined in the legislative framework, which includes:

    • Melbourne University Act 1958 (Vic)
    • University Statute and Regulations

    Reporting

    Divisional Senior (Executive) Officers' reporting structures:

    • University of Melbourne organisational structure
    • Divisional Organisational Charts
  • Managers and supervisors

    General Responsibilities

    Managers and supervisors shall ensure that in all areas and for all personnel within their management and control:

    • University and divisional procedures for effective health and safety consultative arrangements are implemented;
    • elected HSR and Deputy HSR are provided with sufficient time and resources to effectively undertake their respective roles;
    • University and divisional procedures to define and document general health and safety responsibilities, authority to act and reporting requirements for all personnel are implemented;
    • University and divisional procedures to hold personnel accountable for their health and safety responsibilitiesare implemented;
    • University and divisional procedures for the systematic identification of workplace hazards, evaluation of their risk and controls to manage risk are implemented;
    • University and divisional procedures for reporting of hazards and incidents and for prompt response to investigate and rectify them are implemented;
    • University and divisional procedures for emergencies are implemented;
    • effective health and safety supervisory arrangements are implemented;
    • University and divisional procedures for health and safety, information, training and induction procedures of all personnel are implemented;
    • University and divisional procedures for monitoring of health and safety performance, eg regular workplaces inspections are undertaken, health monitoring requirements for individual personal are identified are implemented;
    • relevant specific responsibilities described in the University’s health and safety policies and procedures are implemented.

    Authority to Act

    Managers and supervisors' authorities to act are defined in:

    Managers and supervisors have the authority to act:

    • In all areas and for all personnel within their management and control, direct work to cease where the nature and degree of the health and safety risk results in an immediate and serious threat to the health and safety of any person.

    Reporting

    Managers and supervisors' reporting structures:

    • Local Organisational Charts
    • Individual position descriptions
  • Staff

    General responsibilities

    Staff shall be responsible for:

    • the reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of other personnel who may be affected by their conduct;
    • cooperating with others in relation to actions taken by the University to comply with Occupational Health and Safety legislation;
    • not wilfully placing at risk the health or safety of any personnel;
    • not wilfully or recklessly interfering or misusing anything provided in the interest of health and safety or welfare of any personnel;
    • undertaking tasks in accordance with relevant standard operating procedures or work instructions;
    • wearing correct personal protective equipment specified in standard operating procedures or working instructions;
    • seeking supervision and guidance from the relevant supervisor for all new or modified work procedures;
    • using University and divisional procedures to report hazards and incidents;
    • where required, participating in health and safety consultative arrangements, including meetings;
    • where required, participating in health and safety information, training and induction procedures;
    • following University and divisional procedures for emergencies;
    • implementation of relevant specific responsibilities described in the University’s health and safety policies and procedures.

    Authority to act

    Staff have the authority to act to:

    • commence an emergency response in accordance with emergency procedures;
    • report workplace hazards and incidents to the local manager or supervisor;
    • raise health and safety issues in accordance with the Issue Resolution Procedure;
    • after consultation with the local manager or supervisor, cease a task and seek alternate duties where the nature and degree of the health and safety risk results in an immediate and serious threat to the health and safety of the staff member.

    Reporting

    Staff reporting structures:

    • Local Organisational Charts
    • Individual position descriptions
  • Emergency response personnel

    General responsibilities

    Emergency Response Personnel shall be responsible for:

    • the reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of other personnel who may be affected by their conduct;
    • where required, participating in health and safety information, training and induction procedures;
    • following University and divisional procedures for emergencies;
    • implementation of relevant specific responsibilities described in the University’s health and safety policies and procedures.

    Authority to act

    Emergency Response Personnel have an authority to act to:

    • commence an emergency response (including requesting assistance from emergency services) in accordance with emergency procedures;
    • report directly to the relevant personnel on emergency response;
    • advise relevant personnel to evacuate or cease a task in accordance with emergency response procedures;
    • to enter relevant areas of the University of Melbourne, where practicable after consulting with local managers or supervisors, to undertake their emergency response role;
    • other authorities to act as documented in relevant position descriptions.

    Reporting

    Emergency Response Personnel reporting structures:

  • Health & Safety Advisory/Support Personnel

    General responsibilities

    Health and Safety Advisory/Support Personnel shall be responsible for facilitation and/or coordination of implementation of University and divisional procedures for:

    • provision of health and safety information and, where relevant, advice, to personnel and health and safety committees;
    • the systematic identification of workplace hazards, evaluation of their risk and implementation of controls to manage risk;
    • reporting of hazards and incidents and for prompt response to investigate and rectify them;
    • procedures for emergencies;
    • effective health and safety supervisory arrangements;
    • health and safety information, training and induction procedures for all personnel;
    • monitoring of health and safety performance, eg checking that regular workplaces inspections are undertaken;
    • implementation of relevant specific responsibilities described in the University’s health and safety policies and procedures;
    • other health and safety responsibilities as documented in relevant position descriptions.

    Authority to act

    Health and Safety Advisory/Support Personnel have the authority to act to:

    • after consultation with the local manager or supervisor, advise relevant personnel to evacuate or cease a specific task or process and seek alternate duties where the nature and degree of the health and safety risk results in an immediate and serious threat to the health and safety of personnel;
    • to enter relevant areas of the University of Melbourne, where practicable after consulting with local managers or supervisors, to conduct tests or to seek information required to undertake their role;
    • other authorities to act as documented in relevant position descriptions.

    Reporting

    Health and Safety Advisory/Support Personnel reporting structures:

    • Local Organisational Charts
    • Individual position descriptions
  • Contractors

    General responsibilities

    Contractors shall ensure that in all areas within University of Melbourne workplaces within their management and control, and for all personnel within their management and control:

    • compliance with all relevant state and federal laws, regulations, codes of practice and Australian Standards in relation to health and safety matters is maintained;
    • compliance with any reasonable direction given by the Nominated Representatives of the University in respect of health and safety matters is maintained;
    • a competent management representative is allocated responsibility for the resolution of local health and safety issues;
    • general health and safety responsibilities, authority to act and reporting requirements for all personnel have been defined and documented;
    • personnel are held accountable for their health and safety responsibilities;
    • sufficient financial and physical resources are allocated to ensure the effective implementation of the contractor’s health and safety requirements (including legislative compliance);
    • sufficient qualified and component personnel are engaged to ensure the effective implementation of the contractor’s health and safety requirements (including legislative compliance);
    • procedures are in place for the systematic identification of workplace hazards, evaluation of their risk and implementation of controls to manage risk;
    • all plant, equipment and tools used by the contractor are properly maintained and in good working order;
    • emergency procedures commensurate with the level of risk posed by the contractor’s activities are in place;
    • the contractor’s and the University’s procedures for emergencies are implemented;
    • procedures are in place and implemented for health and safety information, training and induction procedures of all personnel;
    • procedures are in place for the reporting of hazards and incidents and for prompt response to investigate and rectify them;
    • the contractor's and University’s procedures for reporting of hazards and incidents, and for prompt response to investigate and rectify them are implemented;
    • relevant specific responsibilities described in the University’s health and safety policies and procedures are implemented;
    • relevant specific responsibilities described in the contract documentation are implemented.

    Authority to Act

    Contractors have the authority to act to:

    • commence an emergency response in accordance with emergency procedures;
    • report workplace hazards and incidents to the supervisor or Nominated Representative of the University of Melbourne;
    • raise health and safety issues in accordance with the Issue Resolution Procedure;
    • after consultation with the contractor’s management representative, cease a task and seek alternate duties where the nature and degree of the health and safety risk results in an immediate and serious threat to the health and safety of the contractor.

    Reporting

    Contractor reporting structures:

  • Employee representatives
  • Others in the workplace

    Others in the workplace include students, visitors, members of the public, occupants of University of Melbourne controlled workplaces, clients and customers.

    General responsibilities

    Others in the workplace shall be responsible for:

    • the reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of other personnel who may be affected by their conduct;
    • cooperating with others in relation to actions taken by the University to comply with Occupational Health and Safety legislation;
    • not willfully placing at risk the health or safety of any personnel;
    • not willfully or recklessly interfering or misusing anything provided in the interest of health and safety or welfare of any personnel;
    • undertaking tasks in accordance with relevant standard operating procedures or work instructions;
    • wearing correct personal protective equipment specified in standard operating procedures or working instructions;
    • seeking supervision and guidance from the relevant supervisor for all new or modified work procedures;
    • using University and divisional procedures to report hazards and incidents;
    • where required, participating in health and safety information, training and induction procedures;
    • following University and divisional procedures for emergencies;
    • implementation of relevant specific responsibilities described in the University's health and safety policies and procedures.

    Authority to act

    Others in the workplace have the authority to act to:

    • commence an emergency response in accordance with emergency procedures;
    • report workplace hazards and incidents to the local manager or supervisor;
    • raise health and safety issues in accordance with the Issue Resolution Procedure;
    • after consultation with the local manager or supervisor, cease a task and seek alternate duties where the nature and degree of the health and safety risk results in an immediate and serious threat to the health and safety of that person.

Victorian Law Today contains all current statute law in Victoria.

Occupational health and safety legislation can also be monitored using Timebase: online legislation research or LawTracker. Both are available to University staff and students by searching the University Library A-Z ejournals and databases.