O1. Office Copying Machines

O1.1 Introduction
O1.2 Standard
O1.3 Procedures
   C3.3.1 Prevention of illness or injury
   C3.3.2 Reporting hazards or illness  

O1.1 Introduction

O1.2  Standard

The University has an obligation to minimise the health risks to users of office copying machines by identifying and controlling any hazards.

O1.3  Procedures

Category 4 Delegates or above must ensure that appropriate education, equipment and other resources are provided for the safe use of office copying machines.  Provisions must be made for the special needs of employees with disabilities.

O1.3.1 Prevention of illness or injury

Supervisors and individual employees should make every effort to reduce health risks or injury by following the recommendations in the USQSafe Fact Sheet, Photocopiers: Safety Guidelines.

The Supervisor is responsible for undertaking risk assessment in their workplace.  Refer to Section R1 - Risk Management for more information on risk assessments.

O1.3.2 Reporting hazards or illness

Individual employees must report to their appropriate Supervisor any discomfort they experience (for example irritation to the eyes, lungs, or throat) or hazards they recognise (for example lack of ventilation or poorly maintained equipment).

The appropriate Supervisor must assess the employee's concerns and take corrective action, which may include reviewing work practices, arranging education or providing appropriate equipment for safe use of the copier and other associated equipment. Those hazards which cannot be immediately rectified should be reported to the appropriate Category 4 Delegate or above and USQSafe on the Hazard Report and Investigation Form.  Refer to Section H1 - Hazard Reporting in this Procedures Manual.

If an employee suffers injury, they must report the injury on the Incident Record/Record.  Refer to Section I1 - Incident or Injury Reporting in this Procedures Manual. The appropriate Supervisor must ensure the individual employee seeks medical advice immediately.