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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

Find out more about the University of Otago committee structure

Andrea McMillan
Head, Health and Safety Compliance

64 3 479 7380

Nevan Trotter
Health and Safety Advisor

64 3 479 5389

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