OHS Audit Program

The ANU OHS management plan [1] has been organised according to the requirements of a quality system to facilitate the error-free input of staff and students to best practice procedures through:

leadership/supervision/consultation
design/documentation (policy/procedures)
training
auditing
performance appraisal

OHS auditing is a major element of the plan because it provides the mechanism through which the OHS management system can be systematically evaluated and, by management response, can be continually improved.

Inspections. Inspections for compliance to general OHS standards and University policy and procedures within the local Budget Unit is an expected activity of Budget Unit management, generally through the DWG OHS Committee [2]. The OHS inspection is an important mechanism by which the OHS standards of a workplace are established, maintained and improved. The inspection has the important function of identifying and recording deficiencies in the local OHS program, specifically, physical hazards, errors in work procedures and poor practices in the particular Budget Unit. As such, inspections form an important part of the University's Tier 3 audit activities.

Audits. The OHS Unit undertakes a systematic program of University-wide OHS audits. The audit program is structured in three fundamental tiers:

Tier 1- Corporate

ANU OHS management system

Cooling towers / Legionella

Radon in buildings

Tier 2-Budget Unit

Budget Unit OHS management system

Tier 3-Budget Unit Implementation

General OHS Practices - assesed collectively for each Budget Unit.

(OHS administration, notifications, record keeping, first aid services, emergency services, housekeeping and storage isues, hygiene issues, slips/trips/falls, electrical issues, environmental issues, ergonomic issues, occupational strains, smoking, restricted access issues, lecture theatre safety, child hazards on campus, pet animals in the workplace, fieldwork).

Technical Hazards - assessed individually University-wide.

Animal hazards. Biological hazards. Chemical hazards. Confined space issues. Crane and hoist issues. Electrical hazards. Gene technology hazards. Hazardous waste management. Height safety. Ionizing radiation hazards. Laser hazards. Manual handling. Mechanical (plant) hazards. Non-ionizing radiation (NIR) hazards. Noise hazards. Occupational strains. Painting issues. Pesticide hazards. Pressure vessel issues. Quarantine issues.

Completed Audits.

Year	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3
2004	ANU OHS management system Cooling towers / Legionella # Radon in buildings	RSPhysSE NCEPH Fac Law Division of Information	Chemical hazards (RSES, JCSMR) NIR - bright light sources Local exhaust ventilation installations Autoclave practices Centrifuge practices Height work Cranes and hoists Fume cupboards # Biological safety cabinets * Pressure vessels Cryogenic vessels
2003	ANU OHS management system (KPMG)		Chemical hazards (RSPAS) Confined spaces Fume cupboards # Biological safety cabinets * Pressure vessels Cryogenic vessels
2002			Chemical hazards (RSBS) Fume cupboards # Biological safety cabinets * Pressure vessels Cryogenic vessels
2001	ANU OHS management system (Comcare)	JCSMR (Comcare) RSBS (Comcare) FEIT (Comcare) Fac Science (Comcare) Facilities & Services (Comcare) University House (Comcare) University Accommodation Services (Comcare)	Chemical hazards (Fac Science) Laser pointers Noise Fume cupboards # Biological safety cabinets * Pressure vessels Cryogenic vessels
2000			Chemical hazards (RSC, FEIT, Fac Science) Confined spaces Cranes Chemical hazards Backflow prevention devices # Fume cupboards # Biological safety cabinets * Pressure vessels Cryogenic vessels
1999			Chemical hazards (RSPhySE) Ionizing radiation sources (ARPANSA) Ionizing radiation dose assessment Non-ionizing radiation sources (ARPANSA) Noise Electrical safety Fume cupboards # Biological safety cabinets * Pressure vessels
1998	Cooling towers / Legionella #		Workshop safety Painting procedures Lecture theatre safety # High pressure systems Fume cupboards # Biological safety cabinets * Pressure vessels
1997	Radon in buildings		Biological hazards Noise Spray paint booths Fume cupboards # Biological safety cabinets * Pressure vessels
1996	ANU OHS management system (Comcare)		First aid Child hazards on campus # Gas wall furnaces # Pesticide handling Backflow prevention devices #
1995			Corrosive substances Laser laboratories Photographic laboratories
1994	Radon in buildings		OHS administration Flammable liquids Compressed gas storage Cryogenic storage
1993	Radon in buildings		Benzene use Fume cupboards #
1992	Radon in buildings		Electrical safety
1991			Ionizing radiation hazards
1990			Occupational strains
1989			Noise and dust in workshops
1988			Emergency services

# Audit assisted by Facilities and Services
* Audit assisted by Budget Units

References.

[1] ANU OHS management plan: http://info.anu.edu.au/hr/OHS/OHS_Information/OHS_Management_Plan.asp

[2]DWG OHS committees: http://info.anu.edu.au/hr/OHS/OHS_Networks/DWG_OHS_Committee_Members.asp