Administration
Authority
Project Zero is issued under the authority of the Senior Leadership Committee. Individual elements may be changed and become authoritative once approved by the Chair and a simple majority of the appointed members of the Executive Workplace Health and Safety Committee (EWHSC), and endorsed by a simple majority of the elected Workplace Health and Safety Representatives (WHSRs) on the EWHSC.
Legislative compliance
USQSafe has identified the Workplace Health and Safety legal and other requirements applicable to the Australian campuses of USQ. These are outlined in the PZ Risk and Legal Compliance Register and have been incorporated into appropriate policies and procedures.
Updating legal and other requirements
The Workplace Health and Safety legal and other requirements are kept up to date by:
-
Subscription to legislation services for OHS;
-
Web access to Standards Australia;
-
Subscription to CCH OHS update;
-
Subscription to Workplace OHS; and
-
Participation in workshops, forums (eg Queensland University Safety Association) and programs run by Queensland Workplace Health and Safety.
Document control
Project Zero documents are primarily online or electronic documents. This system allows for maximum flexibility to make changes in accordance with legislation or policy changes. All printed versions of documents are considered to be uncontrolled. The latest versions of documents are the published documents available on the web page.
Workplace health and safety performance
An integral part of Project Zero is the provision for evaluation and review. The Safety Management System will be audited and evaluated using the audit tools in Element 12 and by using questionnaires and surveys.
The audits in project zero do not use a traditional scoring system but rather the information gathered is used to make findings and recommendations that form the basis of an implementation plan containing corrective action requests (ACARs and SCARs).
ACARs and SCARs
Audit Corrective Action Requests (ACARs) and Safety Corrective Action Requests (SCARs) are issued by USQSafe following an audit or on discovery of a situation requiring documented corrective action. ACARs are the lower level document and do not normally name an individual. SCARs are targeted at specific situations and are usually issued following a failing by an individual to follow WH&S guidelines or procedures. Both ACARs and SCARs have mandatory follow up requirements and are recorded, logged and tracked by USQSafe.
Disclaimer
Project Zero contains the Workplace Health and Safety Policy approved by the Council of the University along with relevant procedures.
Project Zero has been developed by USQSafe, part of the University's Human Resources department, in consultation with a range of employees and members of the USQ Executive Workplace Health and Safety Committee. The policy and procedures reflect the requirements of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Qld).
Project Zero is for use within the University and the information is believed to be reliable and current. The University makes no guarantee and assumes no responsibility as to the absolute correctness of the guidelines in all circumstances or for their suitability outside USQ.
References
-
Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995
-
Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008
-
Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003
-
Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Regulation 2003
-
AS/NZS 4801:2001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems - Specification with guidance for use. Standards Australia
-
AS/NZS 4804:2001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems - General guidelines on principles, systems and supporting techniques. Standards Australia
-
Workplace Health and Safety Management Systems - "Tri Safe" Audit. Queensland Department of Employment and Industrial Relations/Workplace Health and safety Queensland
-
AS/NZS 4360:2004 - Risk Management
Acknowledgements
Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Sport and Recreation Tasmania. Wellbeing Audit Tool.