Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Guidelines
For PhD candidates and supervisors at the Monash Sustainability Institute
Revision date: 20 May 2015
Graduate Research Manager: Belinda Allison, Belinda.Allison@monash.edu, x59875
Graduate Research Coordinator: Vacant Position (see Belinda)
MSI Safety Officer: Philip Wallis, Phil.Wallis@monash.edu, x58709
1. Overview
This document summarises some of the relevant OHS policies and guidelines at Monash
University. See http://www.monash.edu.au/ohs/ for more detail.
All MSI PhD students must complete the following:
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Online OHS induction (within 1 month of commencement, refreshed every 3 years)
Local area OHS induction (within 1 month of commencement)
Risk assessment (in first 9 months of candidature or before fieldwork commences)
In addition, if you are conducting fieldwork (any off-campus activity, including urban, rural and
remote locations) please ensure that you consult the following Monash University policies and
procedures:
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First Aid Procedures
First Aid Assessment Tool
Off-campus Activities Procedure
Risk Management Procedure
Supervisors are directly responsible for ensuring that their students meet these requirements.
Copies of local area inductions and risk assessments need to be signed and stored by the MSI
safety officer.
2. OHS induction
OHS induction is used to brief new staff, students, contractors and visitors undertaking work or
study on the hazards, risks, rules and emergency procedures associated with their work/study
environment. OHS inductions have two components; centralised and local:
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The centralised induction is an online program developed by the OH&S branch which
provides an overview of the University’s OHS management system and hazards. The
online induction is accessed at https://my.monash.edu.au/services/training/ohs/ using your
authcate details.
The local induction is run by individual work areas/entities and covers local hazards and
management procedures relating to the general environment as well as hazards associated
with specific activities. A word version of the local area induction form is available here and
must be signed by your supervisor and submitted to the MSI Safety Officer.
2. Risk assessment
Students must prepare a risk assessment for their project in the first 9 months of candidature (or
before any fieldwork commences) and update it before any field work activities or with any changes
in the type of activities being conducted as part of the research. Risk assessment must cover
activities associated with office-based activities, as well as off-campus activities.
Follow the risk management procedures on the OHS website. A word version of the risk control
worksheet is available here. The risk assessment must be signed by the student, primary
supervisor and the MSI Safety Officer and up-to-date copies lodged with each.
3. Field work
This section is adapted from the Monash University Off-campus Activities Procedure. These
requirements are in addition to any security and safety plans required if any portion of the
proposed travel involves travel to or through any DFAT level 3 or 4 identified area.
3.1 Risk assessment for field work
The student’s risk assessment for the project must be reviewed and updated before any fieldwork
to include an assessment of risks expected to be encountered, as well as procedures to be
followed in case of an emergency (e.g. injury, becoming lost, natural disasters, etc).
3.2 Emergency planning
Students are required to prepare an emergency plan in consultation with their supervisor(s) before
conducting field work. Emergency plans must include:
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A travel itinerary with details of locations visited and contact details;
Emergency procedures for participants of the activity and for the academic/administrative
unit;
Emergency procedures for participants with disabilities (if applicable);
Communication procedures; and
Emergency services contact numbers for local emergency services and within the
department, school or centre.
A copy of the emergency plan should be signed by the student, supervisor and MSI safety officer.
3.3 First aid
To find out how many first aiders are required for urban, rural and remote field work, see the First
Aid Assessment Tool. More information on first aid is available at the OHS Website. For more
information about First Aid Procedures. To find first aid training courses at Monash go to:
www.adm.monash.edu.au/staff-development/course-catalogue/ohs/index.html.