Procedure for Risk Assessment of Undergraduate Subjects
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Undergraduate subjects that involve practical or laboratory or clinical or field work may involve hazardous activities. Risk assessments are an essential part of managing EHS risks to students and staff.
Questions and Answers
- Q. Who needs to do a risk assessment on undergraduate work?
- Q. When do I do a risk assessment?
- Q. Which form do I fill in?
- Q. Where can I find the risk assessment forms?
- Q. How do I determine the level of risk using the risk matrix?
- Q. What do I do with the completed EHS Risk Assessments?
- Q. What do I do with the completed Chemical Risk Assessments?
- Q. What do I do with the completed Fieldwork Risk Assessment?
Q. Who needs to do a risk assessment on undergraduate work?
A. Every subject coordinator must complete a risk assessment for their subject if an EHS hazard is present in the work students perform. Others involved in the classwork should be consulted during the assessment e.g. technical staff, lecturer or demonstrator. If there are no EHS hazards related to the subject, then just note that no hazards are present.
Q. When do I do a risk assessment?
A. They should be done for every subject before the start of the teaching semester. If one has been done previously, then it should be reviewed on an annual basis. If the subject content has changed (e.g. addition of new experiments, modification to existing practical classes) then the assessment must be updated.
Q. Which form do I fill in?
A. There are three types of risk assessment forms:
- EHS Risk Assessment for Undergraduate Practical Work - For all subjects.
- Chemical Risk Assessment - For any use of a hazardous substance or dangerous good.
- Fieldwork Risk Assessment - For excursions outside of university grounds involving overnight stays or longer.
If you need more information, visit the Working & Studying Safely - Curriculum page.
Q. Where can I find the risk assessment forms?
A. You can download these at the Forms page.
For Fieldwork, see the Governance Support Unit's Fieldwork Guidelines.
Q. How do I determine the level of risk using the risk matrix?
A. You must decide what level of risk is most appropriate using the "Likelihood" and "Consequence" scales. For definitions of each scale, see the Risk Management Principles page.
Q. What do I do with the completed EHS Risk Assessments?
A.
Step 1: Store an electronic copy in an easy-to-find location, e.g. on UTSOnline
- Upload the risk assessments onto UTSOnline in the "Risk Assessments folder" for the subject.
Step 2: Keep a copy in the teaching lab or workshop
- Print and sign a copy of the risk assessment and place in a folder in the undergraduate lab/workshop/room.
Q. What do I do with the completed Chemical Risk Assessments?
A.
Step 1: Store an electronic copy in an easy-to-find location, e.g. on UTSOnline
- Upload the risk assessments onto UTSOnline in the "Risk Assessments folder" for the subject.
Step 2: Keep a copy in the teaching lab or workshop
- Print and sign a copy of the risk assessment and place in a folder in the undergraduate lab/workshop/room.
Q. What do I do with the completed Fieldwork Risk Assessment?
A. Keep this in your file, and send a signed duplicate copy to your Head of Department.