Risk Management Tools
UNESAFE - Risk Management Tools
UNESAFE Risk Management Tools include: Risk Assessment forms, Job Safety Analysis (JSAs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS), checklists and inspections. These tools are available under the University’s Risk Management Framework. UNESAFE Learning will soon be providing online learning packages for Risk Assessment and Management, JSA, SOP and SWMS development.
Take 5 for Safety
The basic risk management tool that can be used to continuously improve our safety culture at the University is the ‘Take 5 for Safety’ which is a rapid risk assessment process that promotes taking a few moments to consider what you are doing, the hazards and risks involved and what you can do to make things safe. This is a mental process and not formally documented and enables everyone to consider safety in everything they do at work and away from work.
Risk Assessment
The WHS OP008 Risk Assessment Operating Procedure - identifies when a Risk Assessment should be completed and includes generally when there is a hazard or risks associated with any activity, task, item of equipment, hazardous substance that cannot be immediately eliminated. There are other circumstances where a risk assessment should be completed which are outlined in the Operating Procedure.
The WHS F020 Risk Assessment – is used for ALL assessments of hazards and risks. This is to be used for UNE Events, Fieldwork, Domestic and International Travel, Processes or Tasks, Plant and Equipment, Hazardous Substances, and Events involving alcohol. The WHS F020 Risk Assessment also is designed to develop an overall risk management plan and is to be used in conjunction with Campus Travel for Fieldwork and all Travel undertaken.
The WHS F034 Volunteer Acknowledgement Form is used to gather volunteer details and sign off.
Fieldwork - to assess hazards and risks associated with: a fieldwork trip; research activity; or off-campus teaching activity.
The WHS F010 Fieldwork Planning Guide and Checklist - is used to assist with completing the Risk Assessment and planning for Fieldwork.
The WHS F012 Fieldwork Participant Declaration - is required to be completed by ALL participants and included with the completed plan.
Campus Travel has a Risk Assessment form for Fieldwork, which is currently being reviewed and the above Fieldwork Risk Management Plan should be used in place of this.
Travel (Domestic and International) - the WHS F020 Risk Assessment is to be used to assess hazards and risks associated with: domestic travel; and international travel. This is to be completed BEFORE lodging a travel request in Campus Travel. For international travel risk assessments must address specific travel warnings for the relevant destination/s. Destinations that currently have a travel warning of Level 3 or above require specific approval from UNE Insurance and WHS Team. Travel warning information is available on Smartraveller.
Campus Travel has a Risk Assessment form for International Travel, which is currently being reviewed and the above Travel Risk Management Plan should be used in place of this.
Job Safety Analysis (JSA)
The WHS F029 Job Safety Analysis (JSA) - is to be used to plan out a task or activity and is a document that describes the steps carried out to perform a work related task, and to identify potential hazards and to recommend the safest way to do the job. A JSA is an overarching document and may require multiple Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and/or Risk Assessments to be developed for individual steps within the JSA. A JSA is not intended to be a procedure—rather it is a tool to help supervisors and workers confirm and monitor the control measures required.
Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)
The WHS F014 Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) - is to be used if identified as an ‘administrative control’ following a Risk Assessment and is a document that outlines the ‘high risk construction work’ activities to be carried out at a workplace, the hazards that may arise from these activities, and the measures to put in place to control the risks. A SWMS is to be developed if the work being performed is identified as ‘high risk construction work’ under the WHS Regulations. A SWMS is not intended to be a procedure— rather it is a tool to help supervisors and workers confirm and monitor the control measures required.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
The WHS F059 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) - is to be used if identified as an ‘administrative control’ following a Risk Assessment and is a document that describes the procedural steps to perform a work related task. Several SOPs may be developed for steps within a task as defined by a JSA or SWMS. The SOP is the ‘doing’ document of these tasks or activities.
Checklists and Inspections
Various safety inspection checklists are to be completed periodically to ensure ongoing compliance with safety legislative requirements, conformance with university procedures and industry best practice.
The WHS F025 Workplace Inspection Checklist– is to be completed annually for work environments and is the responsibility of Directors and Heads of School.
The WHS F031 Off Campus Workplace Assessment Checklist – is to be completed when workers are seeking approval to work off campus, at another work location or working from home. This is a checklist not a risk assessment and a WHS F020 Risk Assessment may also be required. This assessment MUST be signed off by a Supervisor / Manager prior to submission to HRS.
The WHS F019 Computer Workstation Ergonomic Checklist – is to be completed to ensure your workstation is ergonomically sound
The WHS F040 Manual Handling Task Observation Checklist – is to be completed to assist with identifying hazards associated with manual handling and can assist with the risk assessment process.
The WHS F032 Work Health and Safety (WHS) Annual Plan Template for Schools and Directorates - A template for Directors and Heads of Schools to use for Annual WHS Planning and Reporting.
