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OHS&W Useful Websites

DISCLAIMER

AISSA does not warrant that the information contained in all or part of any websites referred to is correct, still exists or has not changed. Persons using such websites do so at their own risk. Nor does AISSA imply that any material referred to is able to be copied or downloaded. When referring to websites, users should be aware of any copyright requirements of those websites.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Funding for this project has been provided by Employers Mutual, as WorkCover SA’s claims agent, to assist with the provision of best practice injury prevention in Independent Schools in South Australia. To go to the Employers Mutual South Australian website CLICK HERE.

BACKGROUND

This part of the AISSA website has been designed with the aim of providing member schools with access to other suitable websites which may enable them to obtain information and guidance relating to Occupational Health Safety and Welfare requirements and systems used by other relevant organisations.

In the construction of the website notice has been taken of the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986 (SA) as amended and Regulations and the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare (SafeWork SA) Amendment Act (SA) 2005 as well as standards AS/NZS 4801:2001 and AS/NZS 4804:2001. However the site is not an attempt to prescribe a specific Occupational Health and Safety management system for Independent Schools each of which must still develop its own unique management system of consultation and policy development, planning, implementation, measurement and evaluation, and management review leading to continual improvement in their school.

The site has been divided into three sections:

Those sites which are generally useful to schools over a wide range of areas
Those sites which cover the general responsibilities of employers in South Australia regarding Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare
An index of various topics which might be useful to schools.

Finally, in the interest of keeping the website relevant, users are asked to email Roger Anderson if sites can no longer be accessed or if other useful sites are available. This will not lead to an immediate update of the site but will be used when the site is updated periodically.

USEFUL SITES - GENERAL

SafeWork SA
This site provides a variety of information across a range of employment issues. Go to the >OHS button to open a range of relevant items including:

Event Safety
Hazard Management
Health and Safety committees
Health and Safety Representatives
Managing Safety
Plant
Reporting Accidents and Incidents

WorkCover
This site has useful information relating to rehabilitation and compensation as well as prevention. Go to the >Employers button at the top of the home page for topics such as:

Reporting injuries
Suitable duties
OHS&W
Browse the forms at the bottom left hand of the page.

Victorian Workcover Authority/WorkSafe Victoria
Go to >Safety and Prevention>Your Industry>Education Sector for a useful outline of managing OHS&W in Education.

There may be other useful areas in this site, but the area referred to above does provide a simple overview.

OTHER SITES - GENERAL

Catholic Education SA
This is a very comprehensive site for Non-Government Schools in South Australia albeit for an exempt employer. It operates on the basis of having policies and procedures covering a number of issues rather than having a comprehensive OHS Policy supported by procedures or a procedures manual.

Go to Safety Manuals for an abundance of policies and procedures as well as a Workshop and Technology Machinery Safety Manual.

Go to Updates (Circulars and notices) for a variety of documents, the most useful are;

Chemical Safety guidelines
Risk assessment Guides
Safe Work Procedures (SWP) Guides

Go to Resources for items such as:

OHS Information Sheets (Eye Safety, Manual handling etc.)
Position Information Documents
Bullying and Harassment

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Victoria
Go to Occupational Health and Safety under Health and Safety.

This is an interesting website that takes you in to each area of the school and provides the resources that are needed for that part of the school.

Additional information is available by going to OHS and Site-map above the school.

Australian Safety and Compensation Council
A variety of information that may be useful in particular circumstances, or to access each States’ Health and Safety websites.

Click on >Health and Safety Topics for specific issues.

Australasian Legal Information Institute
For all the legal databases from Australian jurisdictions plus links to others.

This site will probably not be all that useful at the school level, but may be of use in tracking down a particular or recent decision.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYERS

Occupational Health, Safety, and Welfare Act 1986 (SA) as amended
Go to the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act.

While all sections of the Act are relevant, the following may be the most useful:

Section 19 – Duties of employers
Section 20 – Provision of Health and Safety Policies and Procedures
Sections 26-34 – Health and Safety Representatives and Committees
Section 55A – Bullying and Harassment
Section 59C – Liability of officers of corporations

AISSA Compliance
Go to “Employer Responsibilities” on the AISSA Compliance Website.

This will provide a detailed summary on employer responsibilities as well as useful links.

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA)
Go to the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations.

The most relevant regulations appear to be:

1.3.1 - 1.3.7 Responsibilities of Employers
2.1.1 Access and Egress
2.2.1 – 2.18.1 Employers duty to control risk
4.1.9 – 4.1.20 Employers duties relating to hazardous substances
4.2.1 – 4.2.12 Asbestos
6.1.1 – 6.2.1 Health and Safety Representatives and Committees

Workplace Heath and Safety Handbook
Follow the links >Resources>OHS Publications Index>Workplace Health and Safety Handbook

The handbook provides a comprehensive cover for all employer responsibilities that are covered in the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act and Regulations.

Safework SA
Follow the links >OHS>Safe Work Management Program.

This outlines the benchmarks for employers in South Australia.

OHS & W TOPICS

Agricultural Studies

Department of Education and Children’s Services Go to >Resources>OHS&W Manuals>Agricultural Education for a complete manual.

Art Rooms

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Victoria Go to Occupational Health and Safety under Health and Safety>Art Rooms under Safety School. This leads to a visual tour of various rooms which can then be accessed to view useful information relating to OHS&W in those rooms.

Department of Education and Children’s Services Follow the links to >Resources>OHS&W Manuals>Visual Arts for a comprehensive manual covering all the visual arts.

Asbestos

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) Go to >Current>Division 4.2-Asbestos.

SafeWork SA Go to OHS>Asbestos for all the information about asbestos in South Australia including its removal and a list of firms licensed to remove asbestos and check air quality.

AISSA Compliance Go to Asbestos on the AISSA Compliance Website.

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Go to >Policies & Procedures>Asbestos Management Procedure for a detailed and comprehensive coverage of asbestos management.

Catholic Education SA Go to Safety manuals>Asbestos Policy and Procedure for a complete policy and procedure on all aspects of asbestos in schools in South Australia.

Bullying and Harassment

AISSA Compliance Go to “Workplace Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying” on the AISSA Compliance Website.

SafeWork SA Go to SafeWork SA and then go to OHS>Work Environment>Workplace bullying for booklets and suggested links to assist with dealing with workplace bullying.

Catholic Education SA Go to Safety Manuals>Bullying and Harassment for policy and procedure in this area. Note that this will not necessarily be appropriate in its existing format for all schools, but it may provide a start for developing policy and procedures.

Go to Resources>Bullying, Harassment Discrimination> Responding to Bullying in the Workplace for a useful Power Point presentation on the topic. This may require modification for individual schools

Camps and Excursions

AISSA Compliance Go to Excursions and Camps on the AISSA Compliance Website.

Department of Education and Children’s Services Go Camps and Excursion Guidelines for Schools and Preschools.

This is a complete set of guidelines covering all aspects of the topic from educational rationale, through planning and day to day activities while on camp.

Catholic Education SA Go to CESA Services>Policies, Procedures & Guidelines>Excursions, Camps, Adventure, Physical and Sporting Activities: Procedures and appendices for Catholic Schools and Preschools 2005 for a complete coverage of any of the items listed. This site provides not only risk assessment proformas, but covers every aspect of any of the activities, each of which will need to be modified to suit the needs of the individual school.

Canteens/Tuck Shops

Department of Education and Children’s Services Go to >Resources>OHS&W Manuals>Canteen and Support Services for a complete manual.

Chemicals

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) Go to >Current>Division 4.1-General Hazardous Substances

SafeWork SA Go to Hazard management>Chemical use for various booklets and brochures including a useful PowerPoint presentation on Chemical use.

Catholic Education SA Go to Safety Manuals>Management of Workplace Substances for policy and procedures as well as links to a “Chemical Safety Manual”.

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Go to Haz Management>Haz Substances>Hazardous Substances Presentation (at bottom of page) for a tour of this topic.

Also go to Haz Management >Haz Substances>Approved List of Substances for a detailed list of substances listed by subject or activity together with handling codes.

Also go to >Policies & Procedures>Hazardous Substances Procedure

Also go to >Resources>OHS&W Manuals>Science Guideline

Australian Safety and Compensation Council and then go to >Health and Safety Topics>Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods for a variety of information. Make sure that the recommendations here comply with State Government Legislation and accompanying Regulations.

Confined Spaces

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) go to >Current>Division 2.4-Confined Spaces

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Go to >Policies & Procedures>Confined Space Procedure. This includes proformas for records and signage.

Catholic Education SA Go to OHS>Safety Manuals>Confined Space Procedure.

While this gives a comprehensive coverage of the issue of working in confined spaces, it may be too detailed for some schools.

Australian Safety and Compensation Council This site provides similar information plus a link to Australian Standard AS2865-1995

Contractor Management

AISSA Compliance Go to Contractor Management on the AISSA Compliance Website.

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Go to the Department of Education and Children’s Services and then go to >Policies & Procedures>Contractors Procedure for useful and comprehensive material.

Catholic Education SA Go to Catholic Education SA and then click on Safety Manuals>Contractor Management Policy and Procedure for detailed procedures and associated documentation. Be aware that this is designed for system wide processes and procedures rather than for a single school. However it does address the issue of a schools responsibility for the activities of contractors while they are on site.

Electrical Safety

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA)

Go to the Regulations and then go to >Current>Division 2.5-Electrical

SafeWork SA Go to OHS>Hazard management>Electrical Safety for an Electrical Safety booklet which will provide most of the information required in South Australia, and also provides check lists and recording systems.

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Go to the Department and then go to >Policies & Procedures>Electrical Test Procedure for a guide on all aspects of testing.

Catholic Education SA Click on Safety manuals>Electrical Policy and Procedure. This site provides a comprehensive outline of electrical safety requirements in South Australia.

Emergencies

AISSA Compliance Go to Emergency Management Planning on the AISSA Compliance Website

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Go to the Department’s Emergency and Crisis Management section of their School Care Website. This site provides a useful framework for most if not all emergency situations that a school is likely to encounter.

Emergency Access and Egress

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) Go to the Regulations and then go to >Current>Division 2.6-Emergency Facilities and procedures

Event Safety

SafeWork SA click on OHS>Event Safety for an Event safety checklist and Event Safety Risk assessment.

Evacuation/Lock Down/Lock In

Catholic Education SA Click on Safety Manuals>Emergency Evacuation and Lock In policy and Procedure for a complete set of procedures for different sized schools in a variety of emergency situations. Adaptation may be needed for individual schools.

Fire Extinguishers

Catholic Education SA Click on Resources>OHS Information Sheets>Fire Safety

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) Go the Regulations and then go to Part 2 Division 2.6 and 2.7 for most of this information

Fire Regulations

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) go to Part 2 Division 2.6 and 2.7 for general regulations. However, if searching for regulations relating to a specific topic e.g. flammable liquids, then a further search of the regulations will be required.

First Aid

AISSA Compliance go to “First Aid” on the AISSA Compliance Website.

SafeWork SA go to >Legislation>OHS and first Aid Regulations Review. This provides a comprehensive set of materials relating to First Aid.

Food Technology/Home Economics

Fragile (Brittle) Roofing

SafeWork SA Go to OHS>Hazard Management>Working at heights & Fall Prevention for a Booklet and Power Point presentation. Click on Fragile Roofing or Ladders for succinct fact sheets to theses two topics.

Glass in School Buildings

Department of Education Tasmania go to “Glass in Schools” on the Department’s website. The site has a useful summary of the Australian Standards.

SAI Global go to >Publications and enter the Australian Standard that you are searching for. Note that you will only be able to view the first page of the actual standard without purchasing it.

Ground Staff

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Go to >Resources>OHS&W Manuals>Canteen and Support Services. Part of this manual covers ground staff.

Hazard Management

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Go to >Policies & Procedures>Hazard management Procedure.

Hazardous Substances (see Chemicals)

Health and Safety Committees

AISSA Compliance go to Health and Safety Representatives and Committees on the AISSA Compliance Website.

SafeWork SA Go to OHS>Health and Safety Committees for a coverage of

Committee Functions
Establishing a Committee
Committee Meetings
Committee resources and FAQs
Committee training – the Health and safety handbook is available here

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) Go to Division 6.2 of the Regulations covering Health and Safety Committees.

Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)

AISSA Compliance Go to Health and Safety Representatives and Committees on the AISSA Compliance Website.

SafeWork SA Go to OHS>Health and Safety representatives for a complete coverage of HSRs including:

HSR functions and powers
Electing a HSR
HSR resources and FAQs
HSR training
Resolving health and safety issues

Note that the HSR portal (available only to registered HSRs) is accessible here.

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) Go to Division 6.1 of the Regulations covering Health and Safety Representatives.

High Risk Work Standards

SafeWork SA Go to OHS>Hazard Management where the high risk areas in schools are covered.

Home Economics (see Food Technology/Home Economics)

Induction and Training

Catholic Education SA Click on Safety Manuals>Induction and Training Policy and Procedure for an outline of the principles of OH&S training and the procedures that are necessary to ensure that staff are able to perform the tasks allotted to them.

Infectious Diseases (Response Plan)

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Go to >Policies & Procedures>Infectious Disease Control Procedure for procedures on the control of Infectious Diseases. (This is not about pandemics.)

Interstate and Overseas Trips

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Go to >Policies-A-Z Topics>International Travel Policy for comprehensive policy documents.

Catholic Education SA Click on >CESA Services>Policies Procedures and Guidelines>Excursions, Camps, Adventure, Physical and Sporting Activities: Procedures and Appendices for Catholic Schools and Preschools 2005.

Ladders (see Working at Heights)

Lock Down/Lock In (See Evacuation/Lock Down/Lock In)

Machine Guarding

SafeWork SA Go to OHS>Hazard Management>Machine Guarding for a variety of resources including a booklet, a Power Point presentation and Assessment sheets.

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Click on >Machine Guarding for a comprehensive coverage of this topic including:

A list of approved DECS plant
Fact sheets
Hazard Alerts
SOPs
Standards for machines

Manual Handling

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) Go to the Regulations and then go to >Current>Division 2.9-Manual handling

SafeWork SA Go to OHS>Hazard Management>Manual Handling for a variety of resources including

Manual handling Booklet
Risk Factor Checklist
Brochures on lifting, Repetitive Work and Stressful Postures
Click on Office Equipment for information on Computer Station Guidelines

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Click on >Policies & Procedures>Manual Handling Procedure for a useful methodology including risk assessment.

Catholic Education SA Click on Safety Manuals>Manual Handling Policy and Procedure for policy and procedure plus various useful documents and check lists.

Noise at Work

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) Go to >Current>Division 2.10-Noise

SafeWork SA Go to OHS>Hazard management>Noise for a variety of information. The link to Noise Control [ASCC] is possibly the most useful.

Notifiable Incidents

AISSA Compliance Go to Reporting Accidents and Incidents on the AISSA Website.

SafeWork SA Go to OHS>Reporting Accidents and Incidents for information relating to this topic including forms and telephone numbers for reporting.

Office/Administrative Employees

WorkSafe Victoria Go to “Officewise – A Guide to Health and Safety in the Office” published by WorkSafe Victoria. This is a comprehensive coverage of all aspects of health and safety in the office.

Performing Arts

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA follow the links to >Resources>OHS&W Manuals>Performing Arts for a complete manual.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) Go to >Current>Division 2.12-Personal protection

Catholic Education SA click on Safety Manuals>Workshop & Technology Machinery Safety Manual and refer to the Chapter on Personal protective Equipment for a complete coverage of this topic as well as a list of the AS/NZS standards that apply.

Photocopiers

SafeWork SA Go to OHS>Hazard Management>Manual Handling>Office Equipment>Photocopiers in the Workplace for an outline of the risks associated with photocopiers and processes for dealing with them.

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Victoria Go to OHS>Safety School>School Admin>Photocopying Room for a variety of resources associated with the safe use of Photocopiers as well as useful material on Health and Safety in the office environment.

Physical Education (see Sport)

Plant Management

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) Go to >Current>Division 3.2-Duties>Subdivision 6-Duties of employers and Subdivision 7-Employer’s specific duties for the control of risk

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Click on >Policies & Procedures>Plant Management procedure for procedures on introducing plant to and removing plant from sites and examples of records that might be kept.

Psychological Health

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Go to >Policies & Procedures>Psychological Health Procedure for a detailed procedure. Schools need to evaluate the necessity for such a detailed procedure before embarking on developing one.

Also go to >Psychological Health for more detail if the school has decided it requires such a policy.

Catholic Education SA Click on Safety Manuals>Psychological health Policy and Procedure for suggestions relating to how this topic might be dealt with. This is a sensitive issue which needs to be dealt with on an individual school basis.

Purchasing

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Go to >Policies & Procedures>Purchasing and Supply procedure for a useful example of a procedure to prevent the unauthorized purchase of equipment that may not meet the school’s safety standards.

Radiation

Environment protection Authority (SA) Go to >choose a topic>radiation for a useful outline on mobile phones and mobile phone towers, power lines and sunburn among other issues.

Residual Current Devices (RCD's) (See Electrical Safety)

Responsible Officers

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) Information relating to Responsible Officers will be found in Part 8 Section 61 “Offences by bodies corporate”.

Risk Assessment

Catholic Education SA Click on >Updates (Circulars & notices)>Risk Assessments – Guides for an extensive list of pro formas which each school will need to adapt for their own use.

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Go to >Hazard management and to >Hazardous Substances for details.

Flinders University Go to >Risk and Hazard management where there is an abundance of information and ideas on organisation of hazard management and risk assessment.

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) Go to the Regulations and then search “Risk Assessment”.

Safety Inspection Checklists

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA for checklists for various locations and activities around the school.

Safe Work Procedures

Catholic Education SA Click on >Updates (Circulars & Notices)>Safe Work Procedures (SWP) Guides for a useful and comprehensive set of Safe Work Procedures.

University of South Australia go to >Policies and Procedures>Procedure

Flinders University go to >Policies, procedures and guidelines. There are other areas of this site that are worth looking over.

University of Queensland go to >OH&S Forms. These may provide practical ideas.

Science Laboratories

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA go to >Resources>OHS&W Manuals>Science Guidelines for a complete manual.

Skylights

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) access the Regulations then go to Part 2 Division 2.2.3 (3) for the regulations concerning skylights.

Sport

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA then go to >Resources>OHS&W Manuals>Physical Education for a manual covering most sporting and physical Education activities that would be undertaken in schools.

Stress Management (see Psychological Health)

Students at Risk - Anaphylaxis, Asthma etc

AISSA Compliance go to the AISSA Compliance Framework and then go to >Students>Health Support Planning or >Anaphylaxis or >Asthma Management.

Tagging and Testing Electrical Equipment

See Electrical above.

SafeWork SA go to >OHS>Hazard Management>Electrical Safety>Electrical Safety Booklet. There is also a checklist that may be useful.

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA go to >Policies and Procedures>Electrical testing procedure for a useful booklet on various aspects of electrical safety.

Technology Rooms (see Workshops)

Unserviceable Machinery - Tagging and Disposal

Catholic Education SA go to Safety Manuals>Workshop & Technology Machinery Safety Manual and refer to the relevant chapters.

Voice Management

Department of Education, Employment and Training Victoria for a comprehensive website that deals with most aspects of voice care in the teaching profession.

Catholic Education SA Go to Safety Manuals>Voice Policy and Procedure for a quick overview of how voice might be managed in a school.

Volunteers

SafeWork SA Go to OHS>Managing Safety where the download gives good information about employer responsibilities under Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Legislation when using volunteers.

Catholic Education SA go to Safety Manuals>Volunteers Procedure for a complete and useful coverage of this topic. Schools will need to use this site selectively to ensure that it complements their own school policy.

Working at Heights

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 (SA) go to >Current>Division 2.13-Prevention of falls.

SafeWork SA go to OHS>Hazard Management>Working at heights & Fall Prevention for a Booklet and Power Point presentation. Click on Fragile Roofing or Ladders for succinct fact sheets to theses two topics.

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA Go to >Policies & Procedures>Prevention of Falls from Height Procedure for risk assessments, working on fragile roofs and a draft safe work practice for retrieving balls from roofs.

Catholic Education SA Go to Safety Manuals>Fall Prevention Policy and procedure for details on a number of aspects relating to working at heights. This includes the use of ladders as well as safety equipment when working on roofs etc.

Workshops

Catholic Education SA Go to Safety Manuals>Workshop & Technology Machinery Safety Manual for a complete manual on all aspects of workshop safety. This includes:

Risk Identification, Assessment and Control
Layout of workshops
Purchase and disposal of plant and equipment
Workshop Safety
Use of Personal Protective Equipment
Tagging and Locking out Machinery
Training
Signage
Details on a range of machines used in school workshops

Department of Education and Children’s Services SA go to >Resources>OHS&W Manuals>Design and Technology for a complete Manual on all aspects of safety including:

Practical Activities and Safety
Workshop layout and design
Safety Issues relating to machinery
Hazardous Substances