Guidelines Commencement Date: 8/5/2012 Category: Campus Life 1. PURPOSE To provide health and safety guidelines when undertaking fieldwork activities. 2. POLICY SUPPORTED Health and Safety Policy 3. APPLICATION These guidelines apply to all workers, students and visitors to Curtin University. Approved fieldwork plans and s developed less than 12 months previous are considered adequate for repeat fieldwork provided that: (a) (b) no significant changes to the fieldwork have been made and the existing plan, assessment remain entirely applicable; and updated itinerary details are appended and submitted for each fieldwork trip. 4. DEFINITIONS Fieldwork Isolated or remote locations means any University professional development, teaching or research activity undertaken outside of the University controlled property or grounds, or any activity that requires travel outside of the metropolitan area or major regional centre (eg. Kalgoorlie, Esperance, Margaret River, etc). Travel between University campuses does not constitute fieldwork. means the person who is responsible for coordinating or managing the Fieldwork and activities therein. means a place separated by time or distance from essential emergency and required services such that the location presents a significant increase in risk. 5. PROCEDURES 5.1 Fieldwork Plans 5.1.1 Fieldwork leaders shall complete a fieldwork plan which includes the identification, assessment and control of risk for submission to their supervisor/manager for approval. 5.2 Training 5.2.1 All fieldwork participants are adequately qualified, trained, inducted and supervised to undertake the safely. 5.3 Remote Area Fieldwork 5.3.1 An appropriate communication strategy shall be established and implemented for all fieldwork in isolated locations or where the identifies the need for a communication strategy. 5.4 Fitness for Work 5.4.1 Fieldworkers must be medically fit to undertake the. Page 1 of 8
5.5 Emergency Response/First Aid 5.5.1 A suitably qualified first aider and adequate first aid provisions should be present on all fieldwork trips where readily accessible and adequate alternative first aid/medical services cannot be identified. 5.6 Minimum requirements for fieldwork leaders, managers/supervisors, staff and others Minimum Requirements 5.6.1 Fieldwork leaders shall complete a fieldwork plan which includes the identification, assessment and control of risk for submission to their supervisor/manager for approval A fieldwork plan and template is provided in (Schedule A) should be completed in consultation with other fieldworkers. Where fieldwork is to be undertaken in remote or isolated locations this risk should be specifically addressed in the Plan and comply with the provisions of the University s Guidelines for Working Alone or in Isolation. Where the fieldwork to be undertaken involves the use of a vehicle the Plan and should comply with the relevant provisions of the University s Standard for the Use of University Vehicles or Private Vehicles on Official University Business Where the fieldwork to be undertaken involves international travel, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Website www.dfat.gov.au should be consulted and all identified risks included in the assessment Further details and Managers and Supervisors Supervisors and managers should ensure that the fieldwork leader and plan addresses all relevant risks and relevant University policy provisions prior to authorising the proceeding Approve, or conditionally approve the submitted fieldwork plan and risk assessment or request the fieldwork leader to revise the plan and assessment before resubmitting Further details and guidance on the identification, assessment and control of risk can be obtained Health and Safety Website or by contacting Health and Safety on (08) 9266 4900 Page 2 of 8 All Staff, Students and Others (Fieldworkers) Contribute to the development of the assessment as required. Read and comply with all requirements of the assessment and any conditions of approval set thereon
Minimum Requirements 5.6.2 All fieldwork participants are adequately qualified, trained, inducted and supervised to undertake the safely 5.6.3 An appropriate communication strategy shall be established and implemented for all fieldwork in isolated locations or where the identifies the need for a communication strategy. guidance on the identification, assessment and control of risk can be obtained Health and Safety Website or by contacting Health and Safety on (08) 9266 4900 The completed assessment should be submitted to your manager/supervisor for approval Provide a copy of the approved fieldwork plan and risk assessment to all participants in the fieldwork Include confirmation or requirement for qualifications, training and induction in the assessment Induct and train fieldworkers as required Supervise the fieldwork activities to ensure they are completed safely Establish a schedule for regular contact with a University or other reputable contact and record it on the fieldwork plan together with clear procedures to be adhered to if contact is not made in accordance with the plan. Refer the assessment template provided in Schedule A Managers and Supervisors Ensure the fieldwork plan and adequately addresses qualifications, training, induction and supervision requirements according to the identified risks of the fieldwork Review the communication strategy and procedures to ensure they are adequate. All Staff, Students and Others (Fieldworkers) Participate in training and induction provided. Comply with all instructions Ensure the agreed communication strategy is fully implemented in accordance with the fieldwork plan. 5.6.4 Fieldworkers must be medically fit to undertake the. Consider and include the need for medical advice and vaccinations appropriate for the fieldwork activity in the fieldwork plan and Ensure appropriate medical advice and vaccinations are considered and included in the fieldwork plan and Page 3 of 8 Ensure you receive appropriate medical advice and vaccinations, and are fit to participate in the activities
Minimum Requirements Where fieldwork is to be undertaken in isolated locations or is of duration in excess of 90 days, consider requiring participants to be declared fit by a qualified medical practitioner to participate in the. Managers and Supervisors Where the is to be undertaken in isolated locations or is of duration in excess of 90 days, consider requiring participants to be declared fit by a qualified medical practitioner to participate in the. All Staff, Students and Others (Fieldworkers) Disclose to the or Manager/Supervisor any limitations imposed by your health that may affect your ability to participate safely in the activities 6. EXCEPTIONS Nil 7. RELEVANT DOCUMENTS/LINKS Working Alone or in Isolation Guidelines Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Website Health and Safety Website 8. RESPONSIBILITIES RESPONSIBILITIES Procedure Manager Director, Health and Safety Procedure Contact (08) 9266 4900 Approval Authority Director, Health and Safety Review Date May 2015 REVISION HISTORY Version No Approved/ Rescinded Date Approver Document Reference 1 2 Rescinded Approved 26/04/2007 8/05/2012 Director Corp Risk & Edusafe Director, Health and Safety Page 4 of 8
SCHEDULE A FIELDWORK PLAN AND RISK ASSESSMENT Supervisor (if different from above) Unit of Study or Research Project Fieldwork Description Proposed Dates Transport Arrangements Participants Name Staff/Student/Other Next of Kin Contact Number Communication Strategy University or other reputable contact Frequency or schedule of contact Primary means of communication Secondary means of communication Action should contact not be made in accordance with the above Itinerary Dates/times Location Accommodation Contact details Primary Checklist ( to complete) Participants have or will be briefed on the details of the fieldwork and all relevant safety policies, procedures and codes of conduct whilst on fieldwork All equipment, vehicles and tools will be checked for safe operation prior to the fieldwork I have made all necessary arrangements for the effective management of emergencies that may arise in the course of the fieldwork I have checked with participants that they have disclosed any medical conditions that may affect their ability to safely undertake the Page 5 of 8 Tick
Date Finalised Who is responsible to implement the changes Risk Score Likelihood Consequence Risk Score Likelihood Consequence Health & Safety Risk Assessment Activity / Task / Location: Date: Developed by: Approved By: Hazard Identification Risk Assessment Control Risk Control Measures Residual Risk Assessment 1. Eliminate, eg: eliminate task, remove hazard 2. Substitute eg: replace with less hazardous process, material Activity Potential Hazards 3. Isolate eg: enclosures, restricted access; 4. Engineering eg: guarding, separation, redesign; 5. Administrative eg: Safe Work Procedure, training; 6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) eg: gloves, goggles Guideline.FSGGUI.V2.NG.NG.20120508.doc Page 6 of 8 Rev 2 issued: 08 May 2012
CONSEQUENCE DESCRIPTION Consequence Level Health & Safety Risk Assessment Health & Safety Risk Matrix DETERMINING THE RISK LEVEL: Risk Level = Consequence Level x Likelihood Level Maximum Foreseeable Exposure: For each risk, select the expected Consequence Level and the expected Likelihood Level assuming controls are either not in place or controls fail. Residual Risk Exposure: For each risk, select the expected Consequence Level and the expected Likelihood Level given the type and effectiveness of the controls that are in place. LIKELIHOOD DESCRIPTION IMPACTS Health and Safety LIKELIHOOD The event may occur only in exceptional circumstances Not expected but the event may occur at some time Likelihood Level The event could occur at some time The event will probably occur in most circumstances The event is expected to occur or has occurred and is continuing to impact Highly Unlikely Unlikely Possible Likely Highly Likely Multiple fatalities. Permanent Total Disability Catastrophic Extreme Single fatality. Permanent Total Disability Major High Lost Time Injury >10 days. Incident reportable to relevant Authorities. Moderate Medium Lost Time injury <10 days. Injury or illness requiring Medical Treatment No injury or illness; or Minor injury or illness requiring First Aid treatment Minor Insignificant Low Risk Response: Apply the appropriate response based on the assessed Risk Level RISK MANAGEMENT ACTION RISK LEVEL Extreme High Medium RESPONSE Immediate action required to reduce exposure. A detailed mitigation plan must be developed, implemented and monitored by senior management to reduce the risk to as low as reasonably practicable. A mitigation plan shall be developed and authorised by area manager or supervisor to reduce the risk to as low as reasonably practicable. The effectiveness of risk control strategies shall be monitored and reported to management and relevant committee. A mitigation plan shall be developed. Control strategies are implemented and periodically monitored. Low Manage by documented routine processes and procedures, monitor periodically to determine situation changes which may affect the risk Guideline.FSGGUI.V2.NG.NG.20120508.doc Page 7 of 8 Rev 2 issued: 08 May 2012