Health and Safety Staff and Contacts

Health and Safety Team

To facilitate, assist and provide support, specific health and safety resources are available. The health and safety team is situated within Human Resources Division. The role of the team is to develop the University health and safety systems to assist compliance with meeting the legislation requirements.

• Andrea McMillan, Head, Health and Safety Compliance
• Cath Logan, Occupational Health Nurse
• Dr John Heydon, University Occupational Doctor
• Nevan Trotter, Health and Safety Advisor
• Janelle Kennedy , Health & Safety Administrator
• Dr Rob McLaren, Laboratory Health & Safety Advisor
• University of Otago Diving Officer
• Dr Wayne Temple, University Laboratory Manager
• Professor Richard Cannon, Biological Safety Officer
• Dr Jeremy Nicoll, Radiation Safety Advisor
• Dr Michelle McConnell, Biological Compliance Officer
• Departmental Health and Safety Officers (DHSOs)
• Health and Safety Representatives
• First Aid Provision
• Building Wardens and Fire Wardens
• Laboratory Managers

Andrea McMillan, Head, Health and Safety Compliance

Tel 64 3 479 7380
Email: andrea.mcmillan@otago.ac.nz
Cell phone: 027 2277796.

• The Head of Health and Safety Compliance is responsible for the establishment and operation of the University health and safety management team and systems that ensure compliance with the Health and Safety in Employment Act and amendments, the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act, Animal Welfare Act, Animal Remedies Act, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, Radiation Protection Act, Human Tissues Act and associated regulations, ACC Partnership Programme, associated standards, codes of practice and industry standards.

Cath Logan, Occupational Health Nurse

Tel 64 3 479 5034
Email: cath.logan@otago.ac.nz
Cell Phone: 027 2277304

• Ensure the provision of health education, health promotion, and rehabilitation for University personnel.
• Develop and implement personal health monitoring strategies.
• Manage the Employee Assistance Programme
• Assist the University Health & Safety adviser with the administration and management of Health and Safety within the University
• Early intervention in reducing workplace illness/injury.
• Case management of work related injuries/illness.

Dr John Heydon, University Occupational Doctor

Contact via Cath Logan

• Assess work-related illness and injury.
• Provide medical direction on rehabilitation.
• Provide medical advice on policy/procedures on health and safety issues.

Nevan Trotter, Health & Safety Advisor

Extension 5389, Cell phone 027 489 1051
Email: nevan.trotter@otago.ac.nz

• Assist with the development and implementation of Health & Safety management systems, with particular reference to departmental contractors.
• Review, develop and implement emergency preparedness in relation to potential emergencies.
• To provide technical advice regarding the ACC Partnership programme.
• Oversee and develop the Health & Safety training programme in conjunction with the wider Health & Safety team.

Janelle Kennedy , Health & Safety Administrator

Extension 4903
Email: janelle.kennedy@otago.ac.nz

• Administer ACC Claims
• Assist ACC case manager
• Health & Safety administration

Dr Rob McLaren, Laboratory Health & Safety Advisor

Extension 5136
Email: rob.mclaren@otago.ac.nz

• Provide advice and assistance on laboratory health and safety issues.
• Specialist investigation of laboratory related incidents.
• Assist with training, development and support of Departmental Laboratory Managers, Sector Managers and Radiation Licensees.
• Development and implementation of an on-line Laboratory Health and Safety training course for all laboratory users.

University of Otago Diving Officer

Contact Andrea McMillan in the Health and Safety Office for details
Email: andrea.mcmillan@otago.ac.nz
Responsibilities include the development and review of policy and code of practice relating to Scuba diving within the University of Otago. Brian also conducts the diving assessments for Scuba divers required to dive as a part of their work requirements.

Dr Wayne Temple, University Laboratory Manager

National Poisons Centre, extension 7244
Email: wayne.temple@stonebow.otago.ac.nz

• Implementation of HSNO exempt laboratory requirements within the University of Otago laboratories.
• Specialist advice for chemical handling
• Specialist investigation of chemical incidents.

Professor Richard Cannon, Biological Safety Officer

Department of Oral Sciences, extension 7081.
Email: richard.cannon@otago.ac.nz

• Provide specialist advice and information where required by the Health and Safety Committee on the health and safety hazards associated with biological materials and their use.
• Ensure that the University meets its obligations under the guidelines and recommendations pertaining to research involving gene manipulation.

Dr Michelle McConnell, Biological Compliance Officer

Microbiology, extension 6539
Email:biological.compliance@stonebow.otago.ac.nz

• The role of the Biological Compliance Officer is to ensure that the University of Otago meets its compliance obligations with respect to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 and the Biosecurity Act (1993).

Dr Jeremy Nicoll, Radiation Safety Advisor

Health and Safety, 409 Leith Street
Email:jeremy.nicoll@otago.ac.nz

• Provide specialist advice and information where required by the Hazardous Substances and Radiation Committee on the health and safety hazards associated with radiation sources and their use.
• Specialist investigation of radiation incidents.

Departmental Health and Safety Officers (DHSOs)

The Departmental Health and Safety Officers (DHSOs) are departmental representatives for health and safety issues, and form part of the University of Otago Employee Participation System. Their main functions are:

• To complete hazard identification and maintain hazards register including reviews of the register and hazard auditing.
• To maintain the accidents register for the department
• To report on hazard management issues that require further controls to the HOD/Manager
• To complete the staff induction for new staff with respect to the health and safety requirements.

You can contact your DHSO to discuss any health and safety issues, learn more about the hazards in your work area or report hazards, near misses or incidents.

Who are the DHSOs?

What do DHSOs do?

How are DHSOs trained?

Health and Safety Representatives

Health and safety representatives are a part of the University of Otago Employee Participation System. Health and safety representatives are nominated on a divisional basis, as an alternative contact for staff to raise health and safety concerns.

The principle role of the H&S Representative is to:

• Provide an alternative contact for staff and students to raise H&S issues
• Support the DHSOs
• Increase H&S resources through the involvement of trained H&S Representatives
• Increased involvement by employees, and the Unions, on health and safety matters.

H&S Representatives List

What is the University of Otago Employee Participation System?

First Aid Provision

Workplace First Aiders are provided in each work area. University First Aid Policy outlines the requirements based on the OSH guidelines. Your department will have specified first aiders - ask your DHSO who the First Aider is in your area.

How are Workplace First Aiders trained?

Building Wardens and Fire Wardens

The Fire Safety and Evacuations of Buildings Regulations 2006 require an evacuation procedure for the majority of the University buildings on site. The health and safety team is managing a project to update building evacuation plans throughout the campus. This requires a written evacuation plan, training of wardens, correct signage and trial evacuations to be approved by the Fire Service. For each building there must be a building warden who co-ordinates the communication with the Fire Service, and fire wardens who have specific areas to check during an evacuation. You should be aware of who the fire warden is for your area, check the signs for the evacuation routes and assembly areas.

Check out http://www3.fire.org.nz/business-fire-safety/index.php

Link to emergency management site

Laboratory Management

Laboratories are specialised work areas that can contain a variety of hazardous materials and equipment. Many of these hazards are not commonly found in other work environments and may also be subject to specific regulatory requirements.

All Departments with laboratories have a Departmental Laboratory Manager (DLM) who should be the first point of contact for queries in relation to hazardous substances or general aspects of laboratory health and safety (including access to laboratories).

In addition, laboratory facilities where New Organisms (including genetically modified organisms) or imported risk goods (Uncleared Biologicals) are present will have a Sector Manager who should be contacted for queries in relation to these materials (including access to laboratories where such materials may be present).

Lists of the current DLMs and Sector Managers for each department are provided below.

Here is a link to the DLM list

Here is a link to the Sector Manager list

Laboratory Access

Access to laboratories is restricted to those personnel who have been trained and authorised to work in these areas.

Cleaners undergo specific training to work in laboratory areas and are permitted to enter laboratory areas without prior authorisation.

Other maintenance personnel and contractors who need to enter a laboratory to carry out work must contact the DLM and Sector Manager at least 24 hours prior to entry to arrange authorisation.

Lists of the current DLM and Sector Managers for each department are provided above.

In addition, a full list of all laboratories by building, room number and department, together with DLM and Sector Manager contact details for each, is provided below.

Here is a list of contact people by building and room

For further information on HSNO compliance and laboratory safety

Committees

There are a number of committees that are involved in managing health and safety.