Occupational Health and Safety Auditing at University of Queensland Presented by Gary Chaplin Executive Manager Occupati

1. Occupational Health and SafetyAuditing at University of QueenslandPresented by Gary ChaplinExecutive ManagerOccupational Health and Safety

2. 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

3. University System • Not based on a propriety system • Comprises • hazard identification • Risk assessment • Control method evaluation • Implementation of new controls • Regular evaluation

4. 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

5. 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%

6. 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

7. 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

8. Tri-Safe (cont’d) • Provision of information • Training • Workplace specific issues • Reporting and Investigation • Emergency planning

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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?

14. 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

15. Summary (cont’d) • Negatives • Philosophical sabotage during the audit • Subjectiveness of the scoring system • 70% required • 53% minimum standard according to Tri-Safe publication.