Induction and Certification Sessions

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Student General Safety Induction

What is the 'Student General Safety Induction'?

This is the initial health and safety training that is given to students to inform them of their rights and responsibilities under Queensland law and QUT policy. It gives information about hazards and risks within the University and the systems employed to eliminate or minimise them. It educates everyone on the rules of use of workshops, laboratories and other University facilities. Once successfully completed, it allows you to enter and use the facilities provided at QUT. Simply, it is the first step in the ongoing efforts to keep you and everyone else at QUT safe, healthy and able to enjoy their experience at QUT.

The Student General Safety Induction and Competency Test is available here.

Who should undertake this?

All students who

• Are new to the Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering (BEE) at QUT;
• Have not completed this General Health and Safety Induction previously;
• Have had their Student card replaced and don’t have the certified sticker attached;
• Anyone who would like to refresh their safety knowledge.

When should this Induction be undertaken?

This Induction is required to be undertaken as early as possible when commencing study and prior to attending classes and workshops.

Why does this Induction need to be done?

The University and the Faculty of BEE are committed to ensuring a safe environment for our staff, students, colleagues and visitors. Additionally QUT and its students are compelled by Queensland law (The Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995) to provide a safe environment for staff, students and visitors.

Are there different Inductions and Certificates?

Yes. QUT conducts a number of Health and Safety inductions and certificates that may be required to be completed by students, depending upon their chosen course. These are;

• General Safety Induction - all students are required to complete the online induction prior to attending classes, laboratories or workshops.

• Laboratory/workshop specific induction – inductions that instruct on the unique hazards and controls required for specific laboratories will be provided by QUT staff prior to the commencement of tasks in those laboratories eg Medical Engineering labs, Electrical labs.

• General Safety Induction (Construction Industry) Card - BLUE CARD – this is a certificate that is required to be completed ONLY by students who will be attending external construction worksites. This is a nationally accredited certificate and is offered to students undertaking courses in many Engineering disciplines. You will be advised by your lecturers if you are required to complete this certificate.
• Some students will be required to be inoculated against risk diseases eg Q-Fever for medical students undertaking research with animal products (usually only research and post graduate students).

Student Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of every student to comply with all health and safety policies, directions, procedures and instructions either displayed or issued verbally by any member of QUT staff. Students are to conduct themselves in such a manner that no additional element of risk is introduced. It is a student's responsibility to provide and wear suitable protective clothing and footwear applicable to the area of instruction.

The University provides specialist health and safety equipment (Personal Protective Equipment – PPE) in certain workshops, laboratories and other high-risk areas. Students will be instructed in the correct procedures for fitting; use and storage; and maintenance (unless they are a ‘one-time use’ item that will be discarded following their use). Students will be required to follow instructions from QUT staff and use PPE as required.

Students will be refused access to any workshop or laboratory where:

• They have not completed the mandatory ‘Student General Health and Safety Induction’ and have their student card endorsed with the appropriate sticker;
• They have not completed the required specific laboratory/workshop induction sessions;

• They are not suitably clothed;
• They choose not to use the specialist health and safety equipment (PPE) provided;
• They disregard any QUT health and safety procedure, instruction or direction;
• Their conduct or behaviour is considered likely to cause a health or safety risk.

When engaged in activities:

• All warning signs and directions must be complied with.

• Covered footwear of industrial quality MUST be worn in all laboratories
• Thongs; sandals; bare feet; open-toed shoes; and footwear of very light construction are not acceptable.
• Students may be required to wear safety shoes (steel toe-caps) for some laboratory practicals and field trips (students will be advised by academics or technicians in advance). Protective helmets are required for some field trips. If required, students must use their own safety shoes and hard hat (lockers are available on campus to store these – see student services).
• Safety shoes* if required, are to be purchased prior to the first laboratory session in Semester 1, Year 1.
• When completing the General Safety Induction (Construction Industry) Card Certificate- BLUE CARD course, a protective helmet will be issued to you at no additional charge upon successful completion of the course. A fee is charged for the course. Fee refund is not available for failure to successfully complete this course.

(NOTE: This is specific Site Safety course and does not exempt you from completing your Student General Induction or Lab Induction training).

* Safety shoes and other protective equipment can be purchased from many suppliers listed in the Yellow Pages under "Safety Equipment & Accessories". Many supplies will provide a student discount on production of your student ID card.

Students must report within 24 hours any accidents, breaches of health and safety procedures or any unsafe conditions to their academic or laboratory supervisor.

Health and safety is a standing item on staff/student liaison committee agenda. Concerns may be raised by students through this channel or they may talk to their lecturers or laboratory staff at an appropriate time.

Risk Management Plan

Students and staff (generally only post graduate and doctoral students) who design and conduct projects, experiments or research are required to undertake a 'Risk management plan'. All such projects, whether in the laboratories or in other locations, must have a complete 'Risk management plan'.

Projects must not proceed unless an approved Risk Management Plan is completed.

To ensure the appropriate persons undertake and authorise the Risk Management Plan, view the Risk Management Responsibility Matrix.

Documents you require may be viewed and downloaded from here.

• Risk Management Plan
• Risk Management Plan Example
• Risk Management Guide

The Risk Management Guide will steer you through the Risk Management process.

Remember to include in the RMP, the cleanup of the area and removal of all project components following the project completion.

This plan assesses and addresses all risks associated with the project. This plan is to be considered a working document and is to be revised ‘as and when’ required (whenever something changes within the project that changes an existing risk or introduces a new risk - or as a minimum, every 12 months) to take into consideration any changes to the risks associated with the project throughout the entire life of the project.   

Projects will not be commenced until an approved 'Risk management plan' is completed.

LINKS

The following links have additional QLD legislative and QUT policy instructions and policy information

Workplace Health and Safety website (Qld Government)
http://www.dir.qld.gov.au/workplace/index.htm

Health and Safety at Faculty of BEE

http://www.bee.qut.edu.au/study/current/health/

Health and Safety at QUT
http://www.hrd.qut.edu.au/healthsafety/

Who to contact at BEE

Health and Safety Contacts for BEE
http://www.bee.qut.edu.au/staff/people/health_safety/contacts.jsp

Building Wardens for BEE
http://www.bee.qut.edu.au/staff/people/health_safety/wardens.jsp