Health & Safety
Updated 10/04/2012
A major focus of the Union movement's general organising effort is around campaigns concerning Health and Safety. The ACTU's Safe at Work and Speak Up campaigns provide a focus for these efforts. Activists and grassroots members can participate via the following links: Safe at Work and Speak Up
2012 HSR Elections
The nomination process has closed for Health and Safety Representatives. For those Sub-Branches who have not completed the process you can download the letter advising of your representatives and fax it into the AEU office on 6273-1828.
For a list of schools sector HSR/Deputy HSR for 2012-2015 click here [updated 10 April 2012]
If your Worker Consultation Unit has still not elected anyone to the position of HSR or Deputy HSR that should be done immediately. Employers have a responsibility under the ACT Health & Safety Act 2008 to facilitate the selection/election of the HSR and Deputy HSR and to provide access to training for those individuals elected.
Complete the PROFORMA to fill your HSR and Deputy HSR vacancies.
The position of Health and Safety representatives is not optional. Under the Work Health and Safety Act, every site MUST elect a Health and Safety representative and ideally a deputy representative.
Updated 18/07/2011
In the schools sector, Health and Safety Representatives [HSR] and Deputy Health and Safety Representatives are elected every two years by the Worker Consultation Unit at every school site. It is the employer's responsibility to provide an environment that is "as safe as reasonably practicable" in terms of both physical and psychological safety and the HSR is empowered under the ACT Work Safety Act 2008 to actively pursue that safe environment. They represent the interests of ALL members of the work group [including CPSU and LHMU staff and the amalgamated preschool].
They monitor the Hazard Register and the site Accident & Incident Register. If you are involved in an incident or accident at your site you must file an Accident/Incident Report and should notify the HSR. If there are safety issues/concerns you should be requesting the assistance of the HSR. The Representatives will also inform the employer of potential risks, dangerous occurrences and any health and safety matters that will directly affect the workers/employees at the site. They are also empowered to inspect all or part of the workplace, issue PINs and exercise their emergency powers. The latter two options are only applied if, after consulting with the employer, no satisfactory resolution can be found.
When an external inspector [eg ACT WorkCover Inspector or Shared Services/Injury Prevention HSR or AEU Organiser/Inspector] is called in to assess your workplace or to discuss a particular safety issue, the HSR/Deputy HSR should accompany the Inspector and then report to the whole work group the outcome of the assessment.
The HSR/Deputy HSR should make sure that s/he is well-known across the work group so that members know where to turn with all their H&S issues. One way to ensure visibility is to secure a place on every staff meeting agenda for H&S issues to be presented by the HSR.
While the legislation will be amended slightly from 1 January 2012 with the introduction of the Federal Government's harmonised Work Health Safety Act, there are no changes anticipated in this regard. Nor will there be any less requirement for employers to consult widely, honestly and fully with their employees on all health and safety issues that will have an impact on the physical and psychological needs of the employees.
For additional information you can access the following links and contact the AEU office at 6272-7900:
www.workcover.act.gov.au/docs/hsr.htm
OHS Legislation: The Old and the New
Updated 24/2/2009
Extreme Temperatures in Schools:
There have been a number of concerns raised about working/teaching under duress in schools during times of Extreme Temperatures. The AEU policy on physical conditions in schools states that the minimum acceptable temperature is 17 degrees and the maximum is 30 degrees. Australian Standards [1837-1976] for offices states that the minimum temperature is 20 degrees and the maximum 26 degrees. For a stepped strategy and instructions on managing extreme temperatures at your school under the new Work Safety Bill 2008 click here.
Psychological Injuries:
Given the significance and increased awareness of Psychological Injuries at the workplace, members may be interested in following this link to the Government's Stress and Psychological Injuries Toolkit. There are components that may assist you through highly stressful periods or provide you with some direction and support to alleviate your personal stress. It is also useful for you to be able to assist your colleagues through difficult situations. Have a look www.psm.act.gov.au/stress.htm
Bullying Prevention Commitment:
The participants at the OH&S Forum in May 2008 contributed to a [still] draft commitment that will be introduced on a trial basis to some schools beginning 2009. The draft has been run passed the participants and some DET reps but needs to be finalised prior to running it through Executive and Council. When ready it will be posted on this website.
Union Journey Cover Insurance:
All financial* AEU members are protected by their Union during travel:
- to and from work;
- to and from authorised meal breaks;
- to and from out-of-hours PD;
- to and from Union meetings.
* Only financial members are protected.