HealthandSafetyPolicy

HumanResourcesPolicy

Purpose
VictoriaUniversityofWellingtonrecognisesthatithasstatutoryobligationsundertheHealth and Safety in Employment Act 1992 to provide a safe and healthy environment for its employees, students, contractors and the public. In doing so it is observed that health and safety is the business of the entire University community. Accordingly there is a need forthe delegationofhealthandsafetyresponsibilities,andthepromotionofstrategiesandprocedures toachievecompliancewiththisandrelatedlegislation.

OrganisationalScope
ThisisaUniversitywidepolicy.

Definitions
Forpurposesofthispolicy,unlessotherwisestated,thefollowingdefinitionsshallapply: Accident: Contractor: Harm: Hazard: Aneventthatcauses anypersontobeharmed. ApersonengagedbytheUniversitytodoanyworkforgainorreward underaContractforServices. Meansillness,injuryorboth. An activity, arrangement, circumstance, event, occurrence, phenomenon, process, situation or substance that is an actual or potentialsourceofharm. Meansunharmedandhealthhasacorrespondingmeaning. Anyeventthatcausesorcouldhavecausedharmtoanyperson. In relation to a person, means not exposed to any hazards and in everyothercase,meansfreefromhazards.

Healthy: Incident: Safe:

4
4.1

PolicyContentandGuidelines
HealthandSafetyPolicy Victoria University of Wellington is firmly committed to the provision of a safe and healthy environmentforitsemployees,students,contractorsandthepublic.TheUniversityrecognises thatthiscommitmentwillonlybeachievedwithpositiveleadership,theprovisionofnecessary resources and continued pursuit of best practice in occupational health and safety. The University expects every member of its community to accept personal responsibility for

VictoriaUniversityofWellington

Page 1

EffectiveFrom: 15November2007

HealthandSafetyPolicy

HumanResourcesPolicy

promoting the safety and well being of themselves and those involved in, or affected by, the Universitysactivities. 4.2 Responsibilities (a) The ViceChancellor has overall responsibility for the effective management of health and safety, and requires every manager with staff responsibility to implement this policy. (b) Universitymanagementmust: (i) Maintain an effective programme to ensure that all workplace hazards are systematically identified and appropriate measures introduced to control these hazards. (ii) Review and monitor the hazard management programme to take account of changing conditions and circumstances within the workplace, and ensure appropriaterecordsarekept. (iii) Ensure all employees and unions have the opportunity to participate in the developmentofhealthandsafetypractices,andthatallrelevantdocumentation relatingtohealthandsafetyissuesismadeavailable. (iv) Ensurethat all employees and contractors aretrained, supervised and provided withinformationtoundertaketheirdutiessafely. (v) Ensure all personal protective equipment needed to secure health and safety is provided to employees and that they are adequately trained in its proper use, maintenanceandstorage. (vi) Activelysupportthesafeandearlyreturntoworkofinjuredemployees. (vii) Encourage all staff to set a high standard of health and safety management by personalexample. (c) Managers/Supervisorsmust: (i) Comply and ensure compliance of their staff with all relevant health and safety legislation,standardsandcodesofpractice. (ii) Ensure that all equipment, substances and work systems used are suitable for their intended purposes and take all reasonable and practicable steps to meet safetyrequirements. (iii) Ensure that adequate training, information, instruction and supervision is provided. (iv) Ensurethatcontractorsandvisitorsaremadeawareofsafetyprocedures. (v) Ensure a prompt response to any health and safety issues brought to their attention. (vi) Ensure that all accidents and incidents are investigated and reported promptly andaccuratelytotheHealthandSafetyUnit. (vii) Ensure that health and safety objectives and responsibilities are included in individualroledescriptionsandarereviewedannually. (viii) Undertake training and / or instruction in health and safety related subjects to ensuretheyarecompetenttocarryouttheirhealthandsafetyresponsibilities. (d) Employeesmust:

VictoriaUniversityofWellington

Page 2

EffectiveFrom: 15November2007

HealthandSafetyPolicy

HumanResourcesPolicy

(i) Immediatelyreportallaccidentsandincidentstotheirmanager/supervisorand totheHealthandSafetyUnit. (ii) Carryouttheirworkinawaythatdoesnotadverselyaffecttheirownhealthand safetyorthatofothers. (iii) Learn, understand and abide by University Health and Safety rules and procedures. (iv) Undertake training and / or instruction in health and safety related subjects to ensuretheyarecompetenttocarryouttheirhealthandsafetyresponsibilities.

LegislativeCompliance
TheUniversityisrequiredtomanageitspolicydocumentationwithinalegislativeframework. Thelegislation directing this policy is the: HealthandSafetyinEmploymentAct(1992) HealthandSafetyinEmploymentRegulations(1995)

References
VictoriaUniversityofWellingtonWebSite HealthandSafety PreviousVersion: archived_HealthAndSafetyPolicy_20071114.pdf

Appendices
None

ApprovalAgency
ViceChancellor

ApprovalDates
This policy wasoriginallyapprovedon: Thisversionwasapprovedon: Thisversiontakeseffectfrom: This policy willbereviewedby: 3December 2002 15November2007 15November2007 15November2009

10 PolicySponsor
Director,HumanResources

11 ContactPerson
Thefollowingpersonmaybeapproachedonaroutinebasisinrelationtothis policy: LewHolmwood Manager,HealthandSafety Ext :6611

VictoriaUniversityofWellington

Page 3

EffectiveFrom: 15November2007