WHS Documents
Work Health and Safety (WHS) Documents serve as essential tools for systematically recording, implementing, and maintaining a robust safety framework at UNE. These documents provide clear guidelines, policies, and procedures that support compliance with regulatory standards, promote a culture of safety, and ensure the well-being of all staff, students, and visitors. By offering structured guidance on risk management, incident reporting, and workplace safety protocols, WHS Documents play a critical role in fostering a secure and proactive safety environment across the institution. They have been developed in consultation with staff and subject matter experts, and approved by the Director, People and Culture.
If you have any questions about WHS documents, contact whs@une.edu.au for assistance.
| Category | Purpose of Document |
|---|---|
| Checklists and Inspections | Checklists and inspections are to be completed periodically to ensure ongoing compliance with safety legislative requirements, conformance with university procedures and industry best practice. |
Consultation Groups | Work Groups, WHS Committee, WHS Management Group and the Organizational Resilience and Planning Committee (ORPC). |
Guidelines | Guidelines provide clear expectations for managing specific scenarios and mitigating risk. |
| Job Safety Analysis | A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is used to document the process for an entire task from planning through to completion. A JSA may reference several SOPs if a particular job requires the use of several items of plant, equipment, machinery, tools or includes the mixture of hazardous chemicals. |
| Operational Procedures/Terms of Reference | Operational procedures detail how to do a task. Operational Procedures detail the specific management of various risk areas, as well as an explanation on how to implement the safety system of UNE. Operational Procedures are strategic procedures and are different to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which are tactical procedures. |
Protocols | Protocols define what should be done. Protocols are written to provide detailed explanation about how the University will manage specific components of the safety management system. |
| Risk Assessments | A Risk Assessment is a process used to identify, analyse, and evaluate potential risks that could negatively impact people, assets, or operations. The primary purpose of a risk assessment is to ensure safety, compliance, and efficiency by proactively addressing potential hazards before they cause harm. |
| Safe Work Method Statement | A 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. |
| Standard (Formerly "Safe") Operating Procedures | A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organisation to help workers carry out complex routine operations. |
WHS OP009 Workplace Inspections Procedure The following documents must be displayed on your WHS notice boards: The following notices are resources that can be utilised by management and supervisors to provide information at 'general operations' or specific 'safety' meetings: Writing a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) (WHS OP006) A 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. Job Safety Analysis (JSA) (WHS F029) (DOCX, 117.39 KB) Schools and Business Units are invited to publish their completed Job Safety Analysis' (JSAs) on this page of the Safety Hub. Please forward to whs@une.edu.au for inclusion. Keep Safe - Report, investigate and track actions required to prevent recurrence or reduce risk associated with a hazard. WHS F021 Incident Form (DOCX, 43.9 KB) - Pan Software and UNE are working on resolving the accessibility issues within Keep Safe. During this time people with different accessibility requirements can use this form to report hazards and incidents. Please send the completed form to your supervisor and copying in whs@une.edu.au. ‘Take 5 for Safety’ – 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 Procedure (WHS OP008) – 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. Risk Assessment (Microsoft Users) (WHS F020) (DOCX, 88.48 KB) or Risk Assessment (WHS F020) (Mac Users) (DOCX, 88.4 KB) – is used for ALL assessments of hazards and risks. This is to be used for UNE Events, 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. Fatigue Management Assessment (WHS F078) (DOCX, 64.42 KB) is to be completed if workplace fatigue is expected to be an issue and needs to be controlled. Travel and Fieldwork Risk Assessment (WHS F079) (DOCX, 120.64 KB) – is required to be completed by all staff and students when undertaking fieldwork. Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) (WHS F014) (DOCX, 176.86 KB) A 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 not intended to be a procedure— rather it is a tool to help supervisors and workers confirm and monitor the control measures required. WHS OP021 Writing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Template (WHS F059) (DOCX, 121.53 KB) Schools and Business Units are invited to publish their completed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on this page of the Safety Hub. Please forward to whs@une.edu.au for inclusion. The Risk Assessment (Microsoft Users) (WHS F020) (DOCX, 88.48 KB) or Risk Assessment (WHS F020) (Mac Users) (DOCX, 88.4 KB) 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 FCM 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 COO. Travel warning information is available on Smartraveller. Fieldwork Procedure (WHS OP010) Fieldwork Planning Guide and Checklist (WHS F010) (DOC, 305 KB) – is used to assist with completing the Risk Assessment and planning for Fieldwork. Fieldwork Participant Declaration (WHS F012) (DOCX, 48.48 KB) – is required to be completed by ALL participants and included with the completed plan. Travel and Fieldwork Risk Assessment (WHS F079) (DOCX, 120.64 KB) – is required to be completed by all staff and students when undertaking fieldwork. Volunteer Acknowledgement Form (WHS F034) (DOC, 54.5 KB) is used to gather volunteer details and sign off.Document Categories
Operational Procedures
Templates
Operational Procedures
Templates
Operational Procedures
Forms
Resources
Emergency Response Plans
Forms
Guidelines
Operational Procedures
Notice
WHS Notice Boards
Various health and safety notices
Operational Procedures
Template
Completed JSAs
Guidelines
Operational Procedures
Templates
Operational Procedures
Template
Completed SOPs
Travel (Domestic and International)
Fieldwork
