Curriculum
- Overview
- Systems, tools and procedures
- Risk Assessment Tools and Procedure
- Student Orientation
- Information for Subject Coordinators
Overview
Certain undergraduate teaching activities such as demonstrations and lab-work may present a hazard that warrants a risk assessment. It is the responsibility of the Subject Coordinator to ensure that any hazards are adequately managed.
Systems, Tools and Procedures
Risk Assessment Tools and Procedure
Where there are hazards that have the potential to cause harm to health and safety in the workplace, it is a legal requirement to assess the health and safety risk arising from those hazards. This is called an EHS Risk Assessment.
Subject Coordinators are required to perform a risk assessment on any undergraduate subject with activities that possess EHS hazards listed in the Hazard Table below.
| Hazard or source of risk | Examples |
|---|---|
| Physical | Noise, hazardous plant/equipment, lasers, ionising radiation source or apparatus, extreme temperature, compressed gases, pressure vessels, lifts/hoists/cranes, electrical equipment, lifting or moving awkward or heavy objects, repetitive or awkward movements |
| Work Environment | Outdoor work, work in confined space, work in isolation, work at a height, potentially volatile or violent clients/interviewees |
| Genetically Modified Organisms | Any dealings with GMOs, genetic manipulation |
| Pathogenic Micro-organisms | Pathogenic bacteria, parasites, fungi or viruses, human blood or bodily fluids. |
| Imported Biological Material | Imported: cell lines, culture media, laboratory animals, microorganisms, reagents of biological origin, animal serum, animal tissue extracts |
| Ionising Radiation | Radioactive substances |
| Chemical | Dangerous goods, hazardous substances, dust, fumes, vapours and gases |
| Cytotoxins | Carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens |
Risk assessments are recorded on the "EHS Risk Assessment - For Undergraduate Practical Work" form (MS Word format, 152 Kb) and then stored by the Subject Coordinator on UTSOnline. This form is designed to lead the assessor carefully through the risk assessment process.
Where dangerous goods or hazardous substances are to be used, chemical risk assessment (MS Word format, 153 Kb) must be recorded.
Where an overnight excursion out of University grounds is to take place, the 'UTS Fieldwork Guidelines' must be followed.
Any risk control strategies identified through a risk assessment can then be communicated to the student in course notes or laboratory manual and in student orientation.
EHS Risk Management in CurriculumStudent Orientation
New students should be orientated in University procedures related to:
- accident/incident reporting,
- first aid and
- emergency response (watch the "Escape from UTS" emergency evacuation video.
Students may also need to be provided with specific hazard information based on the outcome of coursework risk assessments.
Subject coordinators
For specific information on risk assessment procedures, such as how to store completed risk assessments, and the correct forms to use, please see Procedure for Risk Assessments of Undergraduate Subjects.