Common areas includes the use of and management of buildings, outdoor spaces and facilities on the UTS campus. The UTS campus includes all indoor and outdoor spaces including building forecourts, common use areas of the university, libraries, open-air grassed and paved areas, entrances, walkways, courtyards, terraces, parking areas, cafeterias, bars and function areas.

The Campus Policy outlines the use and management of buildings, outdoor spaces and facilities.

Common areas

Responsibilities

All staff and students are required to report hazards, and incidents and take remedial action as soon as is practical. For hazards that cannot be easily rectified, a HIRO report form should be completed. If possible isolate the hazard to prevent injury. 

Common areas are regularly used for events and functions and as part of the planning, each of these events should have a risk assessment conducted to ensure the safety of all involved. This includes charity and student fundraisers, live performances in outdoor areas. Risk management guides you through the steps for risk assessment for these events.

Staff and students organising events (referred to as 'event coordinators') at UTS or on behalf of UTS have a duty to manage any risks to the health and safety of themselves, other staff or students, contractors and visitors (refer Event management).

This responsibility extends to risks arising from the activities before and after the event ('bump-in' and 'bump-out' respectively), as well as to risks during the event itself.

Smoke-free environment

UTS has a duty of care to protect its staff, students, contractors and visitors from hazards such as second-hand smoke. However, it is acknowledged that some members of the UTS community continue to smoke. In response to this, UTS has designated smoking areas intended to isolate the hazard presented.

Smoking is prohibited in any university building or university vehicle.  Smoking on campus outside university buildings is only permitted in clearly marked designated smoking areas (refer Smoking and the Campus Policy).

The use of electronic, e-cigarettes or vaping is also prohibited in any university building on campus and/or in any university vehicle.

Alcohol

Alcohol can be served or consumed at an event on campus provided the event complies with the Guidance for the Service of Alcohol at UTS and a UTS event approval request form has been completed and approved.

Animals

No animal is to be brought onto the UTS campus without the approval of the Manager, Security and Emergency Management. This excludes the use of guide dogs or other assistance animals, which are deemed to have been granted authority by the Manager, Security and Emergency Management under section 9 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cwlth).