Safety committees
Executive workplace health and safety committee
Functions
The University of Southern Queensland has an Executive Workplace Health and Safety Committee which meets every six weeks.
The functions of the Executive Workplace Health and Safety Committee are to:
- oversee the development and implementation of the University's health and safety policy, standards and procedures; and
- advise the Vice-Chancellor on all matters concerning workplace health and safety at the University.
The Committee discharges its functions by:
- encouraging an active interest in workplace health and safety among University employees;
- reviewing and endorsing policy, standards and procedures;
- supporting the provision of information, education and training for employees, students, contractors and visitors to the University;
- reviewing the circumstances surrounding incidents referred to the Committee and making recommendations;
- responding to recommendations from faculty or department health and safety committees;
- developing and maintaining the mechanisms for resolution of workplace health and safety issues; and
- making recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor on matters concerning workplace health and safety at USQ.
There are currently five elected representatives on the Committee. Their role is to negotiate with managers and employees of the university on any health and safety issue about which their advice is sought. If you have any concerns about health and safety in your workplace you should talk the matter over with your supervisor to begin with and if necessary, then contact a WHS Representative.
The Fraser Coast Campus also has its own Workplace Health and Safety Committee.
Reporting
The Executive Committee advises the Vice-Chancellor. There is one sub-committee of the Executive Committee: the Wardens' Forum. Other sub-committees may be set up as required. Minutes of faculty or department health and safety committee meetings are to be tabled at Executive Committee meetings.
Minutes from this committee's meetings will be forwarded to the Emergency planning committee for information.
Emergency planning committee
Functions
The functions of the Emergency Planning Committee are to:
- facilitate discussion and the exchange of information on specific issues of concern to members;
- review circumstances surrounding emergencies and make recommendations to the Executive WHS Committee; and
- advise the Executive WHS Committee on implementation of emergency procedures.
The Committee's activities include:
- planning evacuation drills and evaluating their effectiveness;
- discussion of training issues; and
- making recommendations to USQSafe and the Executive WHS Committee on general emergency issues.
Reporting
The Emergency Planning Committee is a sub-committee of and reports to the Executive Workplace Health and Safety Committee.
Membership
Manager, USQSafe (Chair)
Chief Wardens
Minutes from these meetings will be forwarded to the Executive WHS Committee for information.