Returning to Campus Gabe Gooding National Assistant Secretary
Returning to Campus Gabe Gooding National Assistant Secretary
Welcome § Acknowledgement of Country § Introductions – Campbell, Corey, Alex § Questions? Please put them in the Chat § Harmonised vs State Laws – Vic and WA have individual OHS Acts, all others are harmonised.
Health & Safety Reps (HSRs) § Key role in safety § Powers under the WHS Acts § Supported by NTEU § Know your HSR § Don’t have one? Contact us
HSR v HSO § Know the difference between a HSR and a Health and Safety Officer § HSR § Elected by employees § Represent the interests of employees § Have powers under the Act § HSO § Appointed by Management § Have no powers
Employer responsibilities § Responsibilities are to staff, but also to clients (students) and visitors § General Responsibilities § § § Workplace free from hazards Deal with hazards when they arise Make sure actions don’t create risks Consult with you Facilitate you being represented Do everything reasonably practicable
Employer COVID responsibilities § Safe Work Australia – draft guidelines § Be aware of and follow health advice § Assess risk § Implement control measures § Consult with HSRs and employees § Provide a health and safety checklist to employees
Space and Distancing § Variable by State § What constitutes close contact? § Universities lobbying for exemptions but does not absolve them of WHS obligations § 4 sqm rule § Common use areas should be signposted with maximum occupancy § Single office? (www. nteu. org. au/sign)
www. nteu. org. au/whs
Open Plan Offices § Work collectively § Contact HSR § Check the maximum occupancy § How are the desks arranged? § Are there cleanable screens? § Have staggered attendances been considered?
Ventilation § Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems are a risk § Have they been cleaned and inspected? § Are they filtered? § Have changes to room lay-out affected ventilation?
Access § Is there safe access if above ground floor? § Lifts should be signposted with max occupancy § Lifts need regular cleaning and disinfection § Are there hand sanitiser stations at lift entrances? § Stairs
Hand sanitiser and PPE § Supplied by employer § Instructions on use
Cleaning and Disinfection § Ask how your workplace is cleaned and who is responsible? § Who is cleaning and disinfecting shared work spaces and how? § Employers must provide materials, PPE and training if asking employees to clean or disinfect § You still have personal responsibility
Your Rights § Right to a safe workplace § Right to refuse to work if unsafe BUT must be: § serious risk § immediate or imminent § You must do alternative work if provided § Contact your HSR § Inform your manager/supervisor § Contact NTEU
You must explain the following: § § § Why it is a serious risk Why it is immediate or imminent What you think is the appropriate resolution Are others affected Collective action is always best! If you have personal risk factors: § Alert your supervisor/manager BEFORE return to campus § Employers must make reasonable alternative arrangements
Mental Health § Mental Health is a WHS issue § Employer responsibilities apply § The recognised work hazards are prevalent in universities and exacerbated by COVID § Symptoms include § Stress § Anxiety § Depression § Insomnia etc
Psychosocial hazards § High Work demands § § § Excessive hours, work intensification Bullying and harrassment Dealing with distress § Poorly managed change § § § Insufficient consultation insufficient consideration of WHS impacts lack of support § Low recognition and reward § § Imbalance between effort and reward Unfairness or bias in resource/work allocation § Low role clarity § Conflicting demands and uncertainty about responsibilities
Psychosocial hazards cont. , § Poor organisational justice § § § Inconsistent application of policies unfairness or bias poor management of underperformance § Poor support § § Inadequate support from supervisors Inadequate training § Poor workplace relationships § § § Bullying, aggression and harassment Conflict in the workplace Lack of fairness and equity
Workloads An industrial AND a health issue § COVID does not change industrial obligations § Document § Contact NTEU § Work collectively § Can be tackled through WHS and Enterprise Agreement
Change and Job Losses § Consultation must be undertaken from WHS perspective § Risk assessments required § Work collectively § Can be tackled through WHS and Enterprise Agreement
Worried or need more info? § Contact your HSR § Contact your local NTEU Branch § Contact your NTEU State WHS experts
National Assistant Secretary Gabe Gooding ggooding@nteu. org. au QLD Division Industrial Officer Alex Cousner acousner@nteu. org. au National Industrial Officer Campbell Smith csmith@nteu. org. au SA State Organiser Cheryl Baldwin cbaldwin@nteu. org. au ACT Division Industrial Officer David Vincent-Pietsch dvincentpietsch@nteu. org. au TAS Division Industrial Officer Emma Gill egill@nteu. org. au NSW Organiser Josh Andrews jandrews@nteu. org. au WA Division Industrial Organiser Raechel Smith rsmith@nteu. org. au NT National Industrial Officer Campbell Smith csmith@nteu. org. au VIC Division Industrial Officer Corey Rabaut crabaut@nteu. org. au
Stay Safe! www. nteu. org. au/whs
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