Health & Safety responsibilities and structure

All workers of the University have health and safety responsibilities, however there is a hierarchy of responsibilities as defined by the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. The following make up the University's health and safety management structure:

Vice Chancellor

• Ensure compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and associated statutes
• Ensure health and safety issues at the University are effectively addressed
• Encourage a corporate culture in which health and safety is given a high profile
• Promote excellence in health and safety management

DVCs/AVCs/Directors of Services

• Ensure Heads of Department/managers have sufficient resources to achieve their health and safety duties
• Ensure Departments meet their required health and safety objectives
• To review Department reports on health and safety progress and compliance
• Active member of the University Health and Safety Committee, including the review and development of University health and safety policies
• To ensure that University health and safety policies are implemented within their division
• To resolve issues of non-compliance where necessary within their division.

Heads of Department/Managers of Services

• Support Departmental Health and Safety Officers (DHSO) by making available time or resources as necessary
• To implement the University health and safety policies that are relevant to the activities within their department, in conjunction with the DHSO
• Develop Departmental health and safety objectives with the DHSO
• To provide relevant information and training to workers, ensuring attendance as required
• To ensure appropriate emergency procedures are in place for departmental activities, facilities and are practised as necessary
• To ensure that risk and hazard identification and management is effective and documentation is maintained
• To raise risk and hazard management issues with the DVC/AVC/Director where the issue cannot be managed at the departmental level or is likely to have implications for the wider University
• To provide reports to the DVC/AVC/Director on health and safety progress and meeting of objectives
• To participate in health and safety audits
• Ensure accident/incident reporting and investigation is thorough
• Meet regularly (at least quarterly) with the DHSO

View the HOD/Managers Health & Safety Toolkit (PDF format, 309KB)

Supervisors

• While supervising workers or students in a University of Otago workplace, supervisors are representing the University as a PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking)
• Duties include providing a safe workplace or others authorised to be in that workplace
• To be aware of the risks, hazards and controls involved in the area of work
• To ensure controls are adhered to
• To report any hear hits, incidents or injuries to any person authorised to be in the workplace through the University reporting system
• To follow University health and safety policies and procedures
  

Download the Supervisor's Health & Safety Checklist (PDF format, 73KB)

Departmental Health & Safety Officers (DHSO)

• To complete risk and hazard identification and maintain risk/hazard register including reviews of the register and risk and hazard auditing
• To maintain the accident register for the department and provide copies of accident forms to the UHSM
• To report on risk and hazard management issues that require further controls to the HOD/Manager
• To complete accident investigations and associated documentation
• Co-operate with initiatives from the University Health and Safety Team
• Liase with Departmental Emergency Wardens to ensure emergency procedures are in place and practised as necessary
• Act as a resource for information on health and safety matters
• Ensure that effective health and safety training, information and supervision is available to those who require it
• To complete the inductions for new workers with respect to the health and safety requirements
• Liase with other departments and organisations as necessary

Health & Safety Representatives

• Health and Safety Representatives are nominated or elected by workers
• H&S Reps are an additional contact point for workers and students to raise health and safety issues
• H&S Reps provide support to DHSOs in the provision of health and safety information
• Facilitate increased involvement by workers and their representatives on health and safety matters

Download the Employee Participation Agreement (2008) (PDF format, 162KB)

University Workers

• Report any identified risks and hazards to the DHSO
• Report all accidents to the DHOS/HOD/Manager as soon as possible
• Attend health and safety training provided
• Co-operate with the University health and safety programme
• Ensure students and workers under their supervision are informed, trained and suitably equipped to deal with the health and safety risks and hazards they may encounter
• Know the relevant health and safety policies and comply with the requirements

Committees

• Risk Management, Ethics and Statutory Compliance Committee
• Health & Safety Committee
• Hazardous Substances and Radiation Committee
• Institutional Biological Safety Committee
• Animal Ethics Committee

Find out more about the University of Otago committee structure