- Purpose
- Scope
- Legislative Context
- Definitions
- Actions
- 1. Managing the risks of new plant and chemicals
- 2. Managing the risks associated with workplace changes other than the introduction of new plant and chemicals
- 3. Managing the risks associated with electrical equipment
- 4. Managing the risks associated with existing University activities, equipment, items of plant, chemicals, etc.
- Supporting Documents
- Responsibility
- Promulgation
- Implementation
- Records Management
This procedure describes the measures to be implemented within Schools/Directorates/Colleges/Centres for the identification of hazards, and for the assessment and control of health and safety risks. It outlines methods for these hazards management activities and sets minimum performance standards for Schools/ Directorates/Colleges/Centres.
This procedure applies to:
- any person planning workplace changes that may affect the health or safety of any member of the University community; and
- any person planning, supervising or managing existing University activities, work practices, equipment, items of plant, materials, chemicals, facilities, premises, buildings, areas, etc.
- Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic)
- Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic)
- Dangerous Goods Act 1985 (Vic)
- Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2012 (Vic)
- Dangerous Goods (Transport by Road or Rail) Regulations 2018 (Vic)
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
A complete list of definitions relevant to this procedure is contained within the Health and Safety Policy.
A further list of definitions specifically relevant to this procedure is included below:
Term | Definition |
Chemical |
Any chemical in any physical form (liquid, solid, powder, gas, mixtures, etc.) other than cooking ingredients used in food preparation, first-aid products and pharmaceuticals used under qualified supervision. It includes compressed gases, solvents, radioactive chemicals, pesticides, laboratory chemicals, and cleaning chemicals. |
Electrical equipment | Low voltage single-phase and polyphase electrical equipment, connected to the electrical supply by a flexible cord or connecting device. Typical examples include extension cords and power boards, portable electrical tools, office equipment, electrical kitchen appliances, battery chargers, etc. Refer to AS 3760 for more complete information. |
Equipment | All portable tools, appliances and implements other than plant that use at least one source of energy other than human force. This includes household and office electrical/gas appliances, laboratory instruments, portable powered tools, welding gear, passenger vehicles, etc. |
New | Used to describe plant or chemicals that have not been previously introduced within the University under the proposed conditions. It covers plant and chemicals that have never been introduced on site or have been introduced, but for different purposes, in different quantities, in different areas, etc. |
Plant |
All machinery, fixed appliances and services. This includes workshop machinery, farming machinery, processing machinery, conveyors, pumps, engines and motors, industrial vehicles, cranes, hoists, lifts and forklifts, presses, fixed pipe work, electrical installations and cabling, etc. It does not include road-registered vehicles, household consumer goods (e.g. kitchen refrigerators or microwave ovens), common hand-held tools (drills, sanders, angle grinders, etc.), portable items (mobile phones, hand-held instruments, etc.), and general office furniture and equipment (e.g. desktop computers, printers), except where these items contain or generate a chemical. |
Risk assessment | The process of evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm arising from a hazard. |
Risk control | The process of implementing measures to reduce, as far as reasonably practicable, the risk associated with a hazard. The control process must follow the risk control hierarchy, in order, as prescribed in health and safety legislation. It is important that control measures do not introduce new hazards, and that the ongoing effectiveness of the controls is monitored. |
Risk control hierarchy |
Ranks risk control measures in decreasing order of effectiveness:
The risk control measures implemented for the hazards identified should always aim to be as high on the list as practicable. |
ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
A. | Planning to introduce a new item of plant or new chemical on University premises | Relevant Supervisor/Manager |
|
B. | Putting a new item of plant or new chemical into service | Relevant Supervisor/Manager |
|
ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
A. | Planning a workplace change | Relevant Supervisor/Manager |
Prior to any workplace change other than the introduction of a new item of plant or new chemical:
Note 1: For some trade activities, a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) can be conducted instead of a HIRAC review. |
ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
A. | Putting new electrical equipment into service | The person responsible for a new item of electrical equipment |
Note 2: While testing must be done by qualified personnel, any responsible person can attach a “New to Service” tag following the four-step process described above. Note 3: If any damage is found, the item of electrical equipment must not be put into service until replaced by the supplier or repaired by a competent person. |
B. | Managing the risks of in-service electrical equipment | Deans/Directors |
|
C. | Managing the risks of working on electrical equipment | Any person planning to perform work on electrical equipment |
|
ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
A. | Existing University activities, work practices, equipment, items of plant, materials, chemicals, facilities, premises, buildings, areas, etc. | Deans/Directors and other Supervisors/Managers |
|
Each School/College/Directorate/Centre |
|
||
B. | Performing any work on existing plant and equipment | Any person planning to perform the work |
|
- Operations Governance Policy
- Health and Safety Management Procedure
- Lock Out Tag Out of Plant Procedure
- Driving Guideline
- Heat at Work Guideline
- HIRAC Guideline
- Noise Exposure Guideline
- Office-based Workstations Guideline
- AS 3760: In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment
- Annual OHS Plan template
- Chemicals Register
Forms
- HIRAC Child Safety (PDF 230.5kb)
- HIRAC for Children in University Locations/Activities (PDF 221.0kb)
- HIRAC for Manual Handling Tasks (PDF 259.1kb)
- HIRAC for Prevention of Workplace Bullying (PDF 210.9kb)
- HIRAC Report (DOCX 154.0kb)
- New Plant or Chemical Checklist (PDF 242.0kb)
- Office Inspection Report (DOCX 155.6kb)
- Quarterly Summary Health and Safety Report (DOCX 159.1kb)
- Register for Testing and Tagging of Portable Electrical Equipment (XLSX 28.0kb)
- The Health and Safety Policy Committee is responsible for monitoring the implementation, outcomes and scheduled review of this procedure
- The Head – Health, Safety and Wellbeing is responsible for maintaining the content of this procedure as delegated by the Health and Safety Policy Committee
The Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control (HIRAC) Procedure will be communicated throughout the University community in the form of:
- an Announcement Notice via FedNews website and on the ‘Recently Approved Documents’ page on the ‘Policies, Procedures and Forms @ the University’ website; and
- an email to Health and Safety Representatives and to the Chairs of Health and Safety Implementation Teams.
The Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control Procedure will be implemented throughout the University community via:
- an Announcement Notice via FedNews website and on the ‘Recently Approved Documents’ page on the ‘Policies, Procedures and Forms @ the University’ website; and
- an email t to Health and Safety Representatives and to the Chairs of Health and Safety Implementation Teams.
Document Title | Location | Responsible Officer | Minimum Retention Period |
Completed Annual OHS Plan | School/Directorate/College/Centre | Dean/Director | Ten (10) years after plan superseded |
HIRAC Report | School/Directorate/College/Centre | Dean/Director | Destroy seven (7) years after review was undertaken |
New Plant or Chemical Checklist | School/Directorate/College/Centre | Dean/Director | One (1) year after use of item of plant or chemical ceases |
Quarterly Summary Health and Safety Report | School/Directorate/College/Centre | Dean/Director | One (1) year after completion of administrative use |
Chemicals Register | School/Directorate/College/Centre | Dean/Director | To be retained permanently |
Register for Testing and Tagging of Portable Electrical Equipment | School/Directorate/College/Centre | Dean/Director | To be retained for two (2) years after testing and tagging completed |
Workplace Inspection Report | School/Directorate/College/Centre | Dean/Director | Destroy seven (7) years after inspection was undertaken |