SAFETY AND HEALTH AT CHALLENGER TAFE
Challenger TAFE is committed to achieving the highest standards of occupational safety and health. We aim to provide a healthy and safe working environment by eliminating any conditions that could result in personal injury or ill health.
This cannot be achieved without the commitment and cooperation of staff and students: together we have a collective responsibility and duty of care to comply with the College’s occupational safety and health policies, procedures and guidelines.
Challenger TAFE has an Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) team within the Human Resources Division. The team consists of an OSH Coordinator and an OSH Advisor. The College also has an overall Safety Leadership Steering Committee and a Safety Leadership Committee at each campus. These committees meet on a monthly basis.
Working together
This page provides more detailed information on how you can contribute to the safety and health of yourself and others while studying at Challenger TAFE.
For further information, or if in doubt, please speak to your lecturer or email the College OSH team.
Duty of care
It’s our legal ‘duty of care’ to make sure that we undertake our work in a safe manner, without detriment to ourselves or others.
This means that staff and students at the College:
• share the responsibility for Safety and Health in the workplace
• have to be familiar with Safety and Health policies, procedures and instructions and comply with them
• should take reasonable care of themselves and others in the workplace by being aware of the effects of their actions
• have to cooperate with Challenger TAFE staff
• are obliged to report all potential hazards, incidents and injuries, and
• should know who the safety representative is in their College location (every College location has an elected or nominated safety representative).
This legal ‘duty of care’ will also carry through to students’ current and future workplaces as a part of everyday work practices.
If you see something that you think could harm yourself or others and you can not eliminate the risk, tell your lecturer, the safety representative, another staff member or security about it. Please do not ignore it!
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Safety Induction
Challenger TAFE requires that all students who are new to the College or work area receive a safety induction by one of the lecturers.
During a safety induction, safe working procedures are explained and students are made aware of specific workplace safety hazards.
As a new student, familiarise yourself with the any known hazards and identify them prior to commencing work.
It is vital that you DO NOT perform any tasks for which you haven’t received the appropriate information, instruction and supervision for.
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Emergency Evacuation
In the event of an emergency you will be required follow the Emergency Evacuation Procedure for your workplace.
‘Location Building Evacuation Plans’ are strategically placed on the walls or back of doors in work areas throughout the College. Your evacuation pathway and nearest emergency assembly area is clearly marked on these plans.
The College has nominated wardens throughout the workplace whose role is to help you exit safely from the building in the event of an emergency evacuation. Wardens can be clearly identified by their orange high-visibility vest and/or red helmet.
In the classroom your lecturer is the warden. It is important that you respond to an emergency evacuation request immediately and follow the warden’s instructions.
Make sure you familiarise yourself with emergency alarms, exits and assembly areas in all areas that you go to.
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First Aid
First aid facilities are provided at various locations throughout the College. Any student that requires first aid assistance should contact the designated first aid officer.
Make sure you familiarise yourself with the location of the first aid kit/room and who your nearest first aid officer is. If you are unsure ask your lecturer.
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Accident and Incident Reporting
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 it is a requirement to report all accidents and incidents in the workplace.
All accidents and incidents must be reported using the College accident incident report form, which is available from you lecturer or any staff member.
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Chemical Management
It is important to use chemicals and other hazardous substances in a safe manner.
A ‘Material Safety Data Sheet’ (MSDS) must be kept in close proximity to any chemical used and stored on site. The MSDS must be read prior to use of the chemical and must be readily available in the event of a spill or other emergency.
A chemical manifest is kept on each site and, in accordance with statutory regulations, all flammable materials and substances must be stored in a secure, enclosed and isolated area, away from all sources of ignition.
For more information about the management of chemicals speak to your lecturer.
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Personal Protective Equipment
In designated work areas students must wear personal protective equipment and clothing.
At a minimum, students must at all time wear appropriate footwear while on campus, or whilst engaged in College activity off-campus.
Be aware that some areas, such as workshops, are restricted. These areas have mandatory safety policies and dress standards. Any student failing to comply may be refused entry to the workshop.
If you are unsure of the personal protective equipment requirements in your area contact your lecturer.
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Housekeeping
All staff and students are expected to adopt a 'clean up as you go' approach as this will ensure that work areas are maintained in a tidy and safe condition.
This practice promotes safety and good housekeeping and includes:
• returning all tools to their correct location after use
• rolling up hoses after use
• cleaning spillages as they occur
• keeping access and exit ways clear at all times
• guarding or barricading hazards
• keeping flammable liquids contained in appropriate flammable storage cabinets
• ensuring electric cables and cords do not lay across passage ways
• securing torn carpets
• storing away all equipment, materials, resources, files and documents after use
• turning off electrical appliances at night
It is important that you familiarise yourself with your working/learning environment and help keep it clean, organised and clear of rubbish as this will help reduce the potential of an accident occurring.
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Smoking
In response to medical and community concerns over the effects of passive smoking the College will implement a complete smoking ban on College grounds, effective 1 January 2010. By providing a smoke free working and learning environment we aim to reduce potential health risks to staff, students and visitors.
A total smoking ban already applies at the Australian Centre for Energy and Process Training (ACEPT) in Munster.
Until the implementation of the complete smoking ban in 2010, smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas and is not permitted inside any building or College vehicle.
When smoking in a designated area please ensure that cigarette butts are extinguished and placed in the bins provided.
More detailed information about our smoking policies is available in your student hand book.
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Drugs and Alcohol
Students should be aware of the effect of alcohol and other drugs on their ability to work and study safely.
The use of alcohol and other drugs (including any medications) can impair students to work and/or study in a fit, alert and safe manner.
Therefore staff and students must not attend classes or take part in any other College activities while intoxicated by alcohol or other drugs.
Medications and non-prescription drugs
Staff and students must ensure that their ability to work or to safely carry out College related activities is not affected by any medication or (non-prescription) drugs they may be taking. If a student or staff member suspects their behaviour and/or ability to work could be affected they should inform their lecturer or manager before commencing work or classes.
Reporting Medical Conditions
Please notify your lecturer and fellow students of any medical condition they may need to know about. This will enable the College to provide appropriate and timely assistance. All information provided will be treated confidentially.
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Harassment and Violence
Challenger TAFE aims to provide the best physical and learning environment for its students and will correct any instances of unlawful behaviour.
Harassment of any kind is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated at Challenger TAFE.
Violence and abuse are not tolerated within the College community.
You are actively encouraged to report to your lecturer, supervisor, or manager any incidence of physical or verbal abuse on campus premises.
You should always avoid provoking or placing yourself in confrontation situations. If you feel threatened, in danger or witness violence to someone else, alert security immediately.
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Ambulance cover
In the event of a student requiring emergency medical treatment, the College has a duty of care to call an ambulance.
As the cost of the ambulance and any medical expenses are not covered by the College, we strongly recommend that all students obtain personal health insurance and ambulance cover.
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Insurance
Challenger TAFE has adequate insurance cover for the event that a student or apprentice injures themselves whilst in the classroom or on campus grounds.
Students are responsible for their own medical costs. However if they are of the opinion that the College was negligent and responsible for their injury, they can lodge a claim seeking damages through the College's liability insurance.
The College holds an insurance policy and provides personal accident insurance for students on work experience programs.
Registered apprentices who injure themselves whilst on campus are covered under the provisions of their employer's workers compensation system and can make claim via this system.