Project Proposal Safety Authorisation
Purpose
This procedure outlines the requirements for the management of hazards associated with Research Projects and Student Investigation Projects if the project involves the use of plant, equipment, devices or pressure vessels that are not part of the normal plant, equipment, devices or pressure vessels assessed and managed by the school or institute under its routine Occupational Health Safety and Welfare (OHS&W) responsibilities. This procedure is integrated with the University approval process for ethics approval http://www.unisa.edu.au/res/ethics/default.asp.
For other hazards and ethics requirements refer to http://www.unisa.edu.au/res/commit/ethics.asp
The procedure fulfils the employer duty under the OHS&W Regulations 1995 to identify and manage the hazards associated with the University’s work activities. Reference should be made to the OHSW Procedure Hazard Management for specifics concerning risk assessment and risk control measures.
Definitions
Project Proposal Safety Authorisation – a system designed to identify and manage foreseeable hazards associated with research or student investigation projects using plant as defined below and involves an analysis of foreseeable hazards and senior management authorisation of hazard control measures.
Research Project or Student Investigation Project – for the purpose of this procedure means research that involves any scientific, engineering or field work that falls outside of the undergraduate teaching syllabus, but also includes any work undertaken by undergraduate students to produce new knowledge and/or using new and untested methodologies e.g. final year student projects.
Plant – for the purpose of this procedure includes any machinery, equipment, appliance, implement or tool, and any component, fitting, connection, mounting or accessory used in any Research Project or Student Investigation Project. that are not part of the normal plant, equipment, devices or pressure vessels assessed and managed by the school or institute under its routine Occupational Health Safety and Welfare (OHS&W) responsibilities.
Roles and Responsibilities
Heads of Schools / Directors of Research Institutes are responsible for:
- Reviewing, authorising and monitoring the implementation of research and student investigation projects involving plant or machinery or devices with potential energy and any other circumstances that may present a risk to health and safety.
Researchers or Academic Supervisors are responsible for:
- the implementation of this procedure in their area of responsibility and accountability
- completion of the Project Proposal Safety Authorisation Form OHSW70 and seeking approval from the Head of School or Director Research Institute prior to the commencement of research or student projects
- the implementation of appropriate risk control measures in consultation with Technical Support Officers and students
- Staff and Students are responsible for:
- not placing themselves or others at risk of injury
- participating in the development of appropriate risk control measures for identified hazards associated with research or student projects so as to eliminate or minimise risk
- complying with relevant conditions associated with a research or student project, using control measures as required and any other action taken which is designed to protect health and safety
Procedure
Project proposal safety authorisations are to be completed for all research or student investigation projects where potential hazardous circumstances may be involved from the use of in house designed:
- plant and equipment
- load bearing assemblies
- pressurised equipment
- pressure vessels
- any other source(s) of potential damaging energy
Before commencement of a research project or a student investigation project involving the above mentioned circumstances, the researcher or academic supervisor shall complete the Project Proposal Safety Authorisation Form OHSW70 and seek approval from their Head of School or Director Research Institute to proceed with the project.
The researcher or academic supervisor shall complete relevant risk assessments in consultation with staff and/or students involved in the project.
Completed risk assessments (OHSW41 – Plant Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment) are to be referenced in the Project Proposal Safety Authorisation Form OHSW70.
The researcher or academic supervisor will implement risk control measures identified from the project safety authorisation process.
Where there is a change of the scope of a research or student investigation project, the researcher or academic supervisor are to evaluate the potential for new hazards associated with the change of scope. Should new hazards be evident, the researcher or academic supervisor shall seek authorisation from the Head of School or Director Research Institute to proceed with the project after outlining the new risk control measure.
Evaluation
After risk control measures have been implemented for a research or student project, the risk control measures shall be reviewed by the personnel who undertake the project to ensure that risk is effectively reduced and managed.
Performance Measure
All Research Projects and Student Investigation Projects using plant, equipment, devices or pressure vessels, that are not part of the normal plant, equipment, devices or pressure vessels assessed and managed by the workplace, shall have a completed Project Proposal Safety Authorisation, Form OHSW70.
Documents / Forms
OHSW70 - Project Proposal Safety Authorisation
OHSW41 - Plant Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
References
- University OHSW&IM Policy
- University OHSW Strategic Plan 2009 - 2011 Draft (PDF 184kb)
- University OHSW&IM Management System (PDF 250kb)
- University Procedure Hazard Management
- Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act 1986
- Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995
- Australian Standard AS/NZS 4360: 1995 - Risk Management
- Application for approval to use hazardous substances for research purposes - RTF (pc) and Word (Mac)
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