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Managing Health and Safety

The implementation of simple and proactive processes at your school or workplace will assist you manage health and safety issues. This section focuses on establishing a systematic approach to the management of health and safety through key roles, responsibilities and activities. Click on the subject area for more information.

Principals and managers are responsible for the health, safety and wellbeing of all persons who work under their direction, have access to their workplaces or perform work activities under their control. The role of the principal/manager includes:

Establishing proactive systems to manage health and safety e.g. by implementing the Annual Assessment Program and planning for budget and resourcing requirements.
Implementing the department's health and safety procedures and guidelines.
Ensuring that safe work practices and procedures are established and maintained.
Ensuring that information, instruction, training and supervision are provided to enable employees to perform their work in a healthy and safe way.
Ensuring that incidents are recorded, notified and investigated to allow corrective action to be initiated.
Ensuring health and safety is considered prior to the purchase of any new piece of equipment, tools, chemicals etc.
Implement procedures to manage visitors and contractors activities within the school.
Ensuring consultative forums for health and safety are established eg. health and safety committee.

Annual Assessment are to be completed by all schools with Workplace Health and Safety Officers (WHSO) and should be used by smaller schools to monitor health and safety practices.

Risk Management must be used as the method to identify risks in the workplace and determine ways to appropriately manage these issues.

Committees need to be formed to ensure consultation and communication mechanisms are in place. Consultation helps to identify hazards and to develop and implement appropriate solutions.

Accidents and Incidents must be recorded, and in specific instances notified to the Regulator (Workplace Health and Safety Queensland).

Schools Officers play an important role in contributing to the everyday activities and safety of school grounds. Schools Officers perform a wide range of duties that require a knowledge and understanding of health and safety practices.

A WHSO (Workplace Health and Safety Officer) needs to be appointed for all schools and workplaces with 30 or more staff. Review WHSOs and Health and Safety Management for more information.

A HSR (Health and Safety Representative) is elected by staff and can assist consultation and communication at your workplace.

Visitor and Contractor Management is needed to ensure the safety of staff, students and visitors to our sites.

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This page was last reviewed on 20 Aug 2012