V1.1 Introduction

Policy reference number	V1 Visitors on University Sites
Scope and application	Applicable to all employees, students, visitors and contractors while they are at University sites. A visitor is defined as but not limited to the following: anyone not employed or studying at the University a contractor working at the University a dependent of an employee or student of the University an employee or student of the University who requires permission to enter any University work area where access is restricted. A restricted access work area is defined as a studio, laboratory, workshop, store room, kitchen or other similar higher risk work area where access is limited to authorised personnel who normally work or study in the area.
HR contacts	Michael Flannery
Policy type/category	Management
Related legislation/ regulations/guidelines	Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Qld) University of Southern Queensland Act (1989), Statute 12 - Site
Associated USQ policies	USQ Workplace Health and Safety Procedures Manual
Delegations authority	Delegate	Authority
	Category 4 Delegate or above	Grant permission for dependent children to enter restricted access work areas. Grant permission for public displays in restricted access work areas. Grant permission for dependent children to enter ordinary work areas.
	Manager, USQ Safe	All administrative arrangements
Approval authority	Council for policy statements Vice-Chancellor or General Manager for procedures
Review date/s	Published June 1998 Reviewed June 2007 Endorsed by Executive Workplace Health and Safety Committee July 2007

V1.2 Standard

The University, its employees and students have a legal responsibility for ensuring the workplace health and safety for all visitors to the University's premises.

Visitors are free to enter the University's offices, libraries, lecture rooms, theatres and outdoor facilities without prior permission provided they comply with the University's instructions and Statutes.

Visitors are not permitted to enter restricted access work areas without permission.

Visitors to the University have the following obligations under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Qld):

to comply with instructions given for health and safety at the University;
to use any personal protective equipment provided by the University;
not to wilfully or recklessly interfere with or misuse any health and safety equipment;
not to wilfully place at risk the health and safety of anyone at the University; and
not to wilfully injure themselves.

V1.3 Procedures

V1.3.1 Restricted access work areas

Visitors wishing to enter restricted access work areas must first obtain verbal permission from the appropriate Category 4 Delegate or above responsible for that work area.

V1.3.2 Dependent children

Please refer to Human Resources Policy C7 ‘Children on Campus'.

V1.3.3 Public displays

Where a University department or section organises a public display in any restricted access work area then prior written permission from the appropriate Category 4 Delegate or above must be obtained.

V1.3.4 Before permission is granted

Before granting permission consideration should be given to the following issues:

the risks to the visitors within the workplace
the necessity for personal protective equipment
the ongoing activities in the workplace
supervision by employees to escort and be responsible for the Visitors
the lock out and isolation of plant and equipment
the barricading of any hazardous plant and equipment.

V1.3.5 Security

The Category 4 Delegate or above is responsible for all safety and security measures for their areas of responsibility.

They should ensure that:

security measures are in place to restrict access where appropriate;
approved signage is provided where entry is restricted to authorised personnel only;
visitors have the necessary permission to enter any restricted areas; and
employees and students are aware of their responsibility to ensure the health and safety of visitors.

Advice on signage is available from the Office of Facilities Management.

V1. Visitors on University Sites