Health, Safety and Wellbeing PolicyPart 4

4.1. Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Purpose

Swinburne University of Technology (the University) is committed to providing a safe, healthy and supportive work and learning environment that protects the physical and psychological health and safety of all members of the University community.

This Policy sets out the University’s commitment, principles and governance arrangements for health, safety and wellbeing and provides the foundation for the University’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing Management System.

Scope

This policy applies across all Swinburne University campuses, controlled entities and University-managed activities. It applies to all workers including staff, contractors and volunteers), students, visitors and any persons who may be affected by the University’s operations.

All employees, contractors and visitors must take reasonable care of their own health, safety and wellbeing and of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. All parties are required to adhere to Universities policies and instructions, including participating in training and any consultative arrangements.

Policy Statement

The University is committed to integrating health, safety and wellbeing into its leadership, decision-making and the design of systems of work. The University adopts a systematic, risk-based approach to eliminating hazards and reducing health and safety risks, preventing work-related injury and illness, and promoting wellbeing, consistent with applicable legislative obligations and other requirements relating to health, safety and wellbeing, recognising best practice.

Principles  

The University’s approach to health, safety and wellbeing is guided by the following principles:

• Health, safety and wellbeing are fundamental to the University’s operations and culture
• Leadership accountability and shared responsibility are essential to effective risk management
• Risks are best managed through prevention and good work design
• Consultation and participation strengthen safety outcomes
• Continuous improvement is informed by data, assurance and learning

Leadership, Accountability and Due Diligence

The University adopts a leader led accountability model for health, safety and wellbeing. University Officers and senior leaders are responsible for exercising due diligence to ensure that appropriate health, safety and wellbeing systems, resources and oversight arrangements are in place and effective, in accordance with health and safety legislative requirements relevant to its operations. This includes maintaining an understanding of health, safety and wellbeing risks relevant to the University’s operations and verifying that appropriate controls and systems are in place.

Health, Safety and Wellbeing Risk Management

The University will identify hazards, assess risks and implement controls to eliminate or minimise risks so far as reasonably practicable, or where, elimination is not reasonably practicable, minimise risks through effective controls.

Risk management applies to all health, safety and wellbeing hazards, including physical and psychosocial hazards, and is supported by the University’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing Framework and Roadmap.

Psychological Health and Wellbeing

The University recognises that psychosocial hazards can cause psychological injury and harm and is committed to managing psychosocial risks through a system based and preventative approach, including work design, leadership capability, consultation and appropriate controls.

Consultation and Participation

The University is committed to consulting and participation with, and participation, of workers and their representatives on health, safety and wellbeing matters, including the identification of hazards, assessment of risks and implementation and review of controls. This policy is also communicated within the University and is available to interested parties as appropriate.

Information, Training and Supervision

The University will provide information, training and appropriate supervision to support safe work and learning practices and enable individuals to meet their health, safety and wellbeing responsibilities.

Monitoring, Assurance and Continuous Improvement

The University, through the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Road Map, sets measurable health, safety and wellbeing objectives and monitors performance. The University also reviews the effectiveness of its management systems through reporting, assurance activities and continuous improvement processes to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing management systems achieves its intended outcomes.