1. Purpose
1.1 This policy outlines the University’s commitment to supporting, promoting, and protecting the Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) of all individuals undertaking activities associated with the University.
1.2 The principles and commitments outlined in this policy are based on the responsibilities and accountabilities established under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) and associated legislation.
1.3 This policy must be read in conjunction with the linked Health, Safety and Wellbeing – Procedures and is supported by the associated University Health Safety and Wellbeing Management System Framework.
2. Scope and application
2.1 This policy applies to all workers, students, and visitors who undertake activities associated with the University.
2.2 This policy supports both the University’s obligations under relevant work health and safety legislation, codes of practice and standards, so far as is reasonably practicable, to provide a safe workplace for workers; as well as the University’s commitment to provide a healthy and safe environment for other persons, including students and visitors.
3. Definitions
Refer to the University’s Glossary of Terms for definitions as they specifically relate to policy documents.
Officer – An officer under the Work Health & Safety Act 2011 (Qld) is generally someone who makes, or participates in making, decisions that affect the whole, or a substantial part, of the University.
Student – A person enrolled in a formal program of learning in an educational institution. (Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) definition 2011)
Visitor – Any person who visits the University and is not classified as a worker or student of the University.
Worker – In accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), a worker includes employees, contractors, subcontractors, students gaining work experience, and volunteers in the workplace.
4. Policy statement
4.1 The University is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for workers, students and visitors, who undertake activities within, or for, the University. The University recognises this as essential for achieving a healthy and productive workforce, positive learning outcomes for students, and the safe enjoyment of University facilities by all.
4.2 This policy recognises that health, safety and wellbeing is a shared responsibility. The University is committed to creating a risk aware culture that considers health, safety, and wellbeing as a fundamental component of the University environment.
5. University health, safety and wellbeing principles
5.1 The health, safety and wellbeing of workers, students and visitors is of paramount importance to the University.
5.2 The achievement of a safe, and healthy University population is a shared responsibility, and success includes measures that reduce and eliminate physical, environmental, social, and psychosocial harm to workers, students, and visitors.
5.3 Commitment from University workers toward the health, safety, and wellbeing of other workers, students and visitors is required and an essential part of working for the University.
5.4 The early intervention, planning and timeliness of responses is required in order to identify and manage risk and improve wellbeing in accordance with the University Risk and Compliance Management – Governing Policy.
5.5 The University is committed to continual improvement across all levels of planning and governance.
6. Governance
6.1 The University undertakes the following activities to provide an environment that supports the health, safety and wellbeing of our workers, students and visitors:
(a) complies with health and safety legislation, as well as other requirements or guidance such as codes of practice and Australian standards (as determined to be relevant and applicable);
(b) develops, implements and maintains a Health, Safety and Wellbeing Plan;
(c) implements a health and safety risk and control management process to ensure workplace hazards are identified, assessed, controlled and reviewed when they are not able to be eliminated;
(d) provide and disseminate health and safety training and information to workers, students and visitors;
(e) support wellbeing initiatives and activities;
(f) provides a governance structure which facilitates consultation throughout the University; and
(g) reports regularly on HSW matters to the University Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee, Executive, the Audit and Risk Management Committee and Council.
7. Health, safety and wellbeing commitment
7.1 The University is committed to the HSW of all workers, students and visitors who engage with and attend University campuses, or engage in off-campus work, research, teaching, and service-related activities.
7.2 The University’s commitment to compliance with work health and safety requirements is demonstrated through the establishment of relevant policy documents, the University Health Safety and Wellbeing Management System Framework and other governance documents.
7.3 The University recognises that it has a duty of care to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the HSW of workers, students, and visitors, including prevention of, and response to, physical, environmental, social and psychosocial harm.
8. Health, safety and wellbeing policy documents
8.1 In accordance with the University Policy Documents – Governing Policy the University has in place supporting procedure and guideline documents to ensure that HSW risks are systematically managed,.
8.2 Health, safety and wellbeing procedures
8.2.1 The Health, Safety and Wellbeing - Procedures are based on legislative requirements and relevant codes of practice (as determined to be relevant and applicable) to assist those individuals with specific responsibilities to comply with the duties prescribed in relevant acts or regulations.
8.2.2 These procedures define the minimum requirements to be followed to ensure health and safety risks are systematically managed and provides a clear set of HSW expectations to enable a consistent and efficient approach across the University.
8.3 Health, safety and wellbeing guidelines
8.3.1 HSW guidelines form part of the University Health Safety and Wellbeing Management System Framework and provide detailed advice on specific hazard types.
8.3.2 HSW Guidelines support the Health, Safety and Wellbeing - Procedures by defining the minimum requirements to be followed to ensure health and safety risks are systematically managed.
8.3.3 Amendments to HSW guidelines are made in response to regulatory changes and all significant amendments to these policy documents require endorsement from the University Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee, prior to approval in accordance with University Policy Documents – Governing Policy.
8.4 Health, safety and wellbeing guidance material
8.4.1 The University can publish associated documents for further direction and instruction in the form of HSW guidance material on MyUniSC (login required).
8.4.2 Any guidance materials must be approved by the Director, People & Culture prior to publishing.
9. Responsibilities
9.1 Officers have a duty to exercise due diligence to ensure that the University complies with its HSW duties and obligations.
9.2 All workers, students and visitors undertaking activities related to the University, whether on or off-campus, have the responsibility to take reasonable care for their own and others safety, follow instructions from the University, comply with relevant work health and safety legislation, as well as University frameworks, and policy documents.
10. Authorities and responsibilities
10.1 As the Approval Authority, Council approves this policy in accordance with the University of the Sunshine Coast Act 1998 (Qld).
10.2 As the Responsible Executive Member the Vice-Chancellor and President can approve procedures to operationalise this policy. All procedures must be compatible with the provisions of this policy.
10.3 As the Designated Officer the Director, People and Culture can approve guidelines and associated documents to support the application of this policy and linked procedures. All guidelines and associated documents must be compatible with the provisions of the relevant linked policy documents.
10.4 This policy operates from the last amended date, with all previous iterations of policy on health, safety and wellbeing are replaced and no longer operating from this date.
10.5 All records relating to health, safety and wellbeing must be stored and managed in accordance with the Records Management - Procedures.
10.6 This policy must be maintained in accordance with the University Policy Documents – Procedures and reviewed on standard 5-year policy review cycle.
10.7 Any exception to this policy to enable a more appropriate result must be approved in accordance with the University Policy Documents – Procedures prior to deviation from the policy.
10.8 Refer to University Delegations – Governing Policy in relation to the approved delegations detailed within this policy.
10.9 The following authorities and responsibilities are delegated under this policy:
University Role | Activity |
Officer | Active duty of exercising due diligence to ensure compliance. |
Council | Oversees the monitoring of the University’s health, safety, and wellbeing objectives. |
Audit & Risk Management Committee | Oversees assurance activity and compliance in relation to HSW matters |
Vice-Chancellor and President | Holds responsibility for providing a safe and healthy workplace, so far as is reasonably practicable |
Executive Committee | Supports the Vice-Chancellor and President and senior staff to meet their responsibilities. |
Director, People and Culture | Providing advice on health, safety, and wellbeing. Developing and maintaining HSW governance documents. Approving guidance materials prior to publishing. |
University Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee | Reviews HSW performance Endorses HSW initiatives and policy documents. |
11. Appendices and supporting documents
University Health Safety and Wellbeing Management System Framework