The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering L3 OHS Committee

1. Role of the Committee

This Committee is a Level 3 Workplace OHS Committee as described in the UNSW OHS Consultation Procedure.

The role of the Committee is to:

assist the Head of School to meet their legal responsibility to consult with employees on matters that impact on their health, safety and welfare

facilitate effective consultation with employees and students in order to identify and resolve OHS issues at the local level where they arise; and

perform functions specified in section 18d of the NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 and clause 30 of the NSW Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001.

2. Scope of the Committee

The physical areas covered by the Committee include:

Civil and Environmental Engineering Main Building H20

Civil and Environmental Engineering Laboratory Block – Vallentine Annexe H22

Water Research Centre – Vallentine Annexe H22

Heavy Structures Laboratory, Randwick R9

Water Research Laboratory, Manly Vale

The Committee will address OHS issues pertaining to:

the work environment and business activities on campus;

employees who are working from home; and

employees and students who work and study off-campus, eg on field excursions.

3. Composition of the Committee

the composition of the Committee meets the requirements specified in the NSW Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001;

the workgroups represented on the Committee are:

Infrastructure Laboratories

Water Quality Laboratories

Water Research Laboratory

Water Research Centre

Centre for Infrastructure, Engineering and Safety

Administration

Computer Support

Academics

Postgraduates

Undergraduates

Emergency Response Team and First Aid Officers

the total number of Committee members is 12 and the membership ratio is:

Elected employee representatives – 11

Employer representatives – 1 (Note: this number must not exceed the number of employee representatives)

a current list of Committee members and their role on the Committee (ie workgroup represented and whether employee or employer representative) is provided as Attachment 1

the list of members will be maintained by the Secretary and made available to staff via School web site and OHS noticeboards

4. Election of Employee Representatives and Chairperson

elections are conducted in a manner consistent with recognised democratic principles. Notice is given to all building occupants by the Head of School, asking for nominations for area representatives. The notice is given following the last L3 meeting to take place before the L3 AGM. This gives 8 weeks for representatives to be selected by each area represented;

The Head of School may nominate a representative responsible for high risk areas eg certain laboratories;

Some representatives may have a deputy to attend meetings in their absence;

the Chairperson is elected from the elected employee OHS Representatives at the L3 AGM;

new elections for employee representatives and for the Chairperson are called as soon as practicable after a position becomes vacant, and are held at least every two years;

election records are recorded in the L3 AGM minutes by the Secretary and kept by the School Document Control Officer

5. Employer Representative

the Head of School is the employer representative on the Committee;

if the Head of School is unable to attend a meeting they will appoint a delegate with authority to act on their behalf in OHS matters

6. Committee Meetings

Ordinary meetings are held every 2 months;

Special meetings can be called at the request of any Committee member, provided notice is given at least 14 days before the meeting;

the meeting quorum is 5 employee OHS Representatives and 1 Employer Representative ;

a meeting agenda is prepared by the Secretary with input from all Committee members and approved by the Chairperson for dissemination 2 days prior to the meeting date;

minutes are recorded by the Secretary and approved by the Chairperson for dissemination within 2 weeks of the meeting being held

minutes and agendas are communicated to all constituents via Safety Notice Boards and on the School web site

7. Decision Making Procedure

Where possible, decisions will be made by consensus;

When this is not possible, a vote will be taken amongst the members of the Committee

8. Process for Review of this Constitution

The Constitution will be reviewed by the Committee at least every two years;

A Committee member may make a request to the Chairperson that the Constitution be reviewed;

Where possible, decisions will be made by consensus;

When this is not possible, a vote will be taken amongst the members of the Committee, with 75% of the vote required to approve changes

9. Functions of the Committee

Facilitate effective consultation and communication on OHS matters with management, staff and students in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Activities include:

Talking with people in the workplace about their health and safety concerns,

Raising OHS issues with management and the Committee,

Following up on outstanding items and giving feedback,

Preparing for and participating in Committee meetings and allocated tasks;

Keep under review the measures taken to ensure the health, safety and welfare of persons at the place of work. Activities include:

Conducting scheduled workplace inspections,

Making recommendations on elimination or control of risks,

Assisting in the development or review of OHS processes, documentation and initiatives (both local and UNSW),

Making recommendations on OHS training requirements;

Investigate and attempt to resolve OHS problems using the resolution process described in the UNSW OHS Consultation Procedure;

Collaborate with supervisors on the investigation of work related incidents and ill health issues, recommend corrective and preventive action, and track completion of actions; and

Where appropriate, be an observer during any formal OHS-related investigation or inspection conducted by UNSW or WorkCover;

Assist management with other agreed OHS initiatives, provided that adequate resources are made available to do so.

10. Evaluation of Compliance and Committee Effectiveness

The Committee will evaluate itself at least annually using the UNSW Level 3 OHS Committee Evaluation Checklist;

A summary of the self-evaluation and recommendations for improvement will be recorded in the minutes of the next meeting for communication to constituents.

Membership of School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Level 3 OHS Committee

Effective Date:  28^th October 2008

Chairperson: Paul Gwynne

Secretary: Irene Calaizis/Les Brown

Minutes and Agendas (Restricted to School Staff) 2007

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