OVERSEAS HAZARDOUS FACILITY
RESEARCH HEALTH AND SAFETY CHECKLIST
For UTS researchers (including UTS enrolled research students) performing research work within an overseas
organisation’s hazardous facility. That is, a laboratory, workshop or factory. It does not cover computer-only labs.
Message from the DVC (Research) – Statement of Intent
The purpose of the Overseas Research Facility Health and Safety Checklist is to help check that a ‘reasonable’
standard of health and safety care will be provided by a host organisation to the UTS researcher.
What is a ‘reasonable’ standard of health and safety care will be guided by the health and safety standards which it
would be reasonable to expect to be provided in the host country. These standards may differ from the health and
safety measures which would be provided in Australia. However, UTS would not expect a researcher to work in an
environment which they felt was unsafe even if it met the health and safety standards of that host country.
Ultimately, UTS wants to be assured that our researchers are safe.
Before a UTS researcher travels overseas to undertake work in a hazardous facility, they must understand their
health and safety rights and responsibilities. That is:
UTS researcher is not expected to work in a dangerous environment.
UTS researcher will notify their faculty contact of any health and safety risks relating to research work in the
overseas facility.
UTS researcher may assist the host organisation improve safety conditions if appropriate.
Faculty will provide UTS researcher with support to manage safety risks as required e.g. safety information
and safety equipment to take overseas and inspection of potentially high-risk facilities.
Faculty contact person will be assigned to UTS researcher to provide help if any concerns about health and
safety arise. Researcher is to contact this person as soon as possible if there they have any health and safety
concern.
If UTS researcher is uncertain about the above, they must seek clarification from their Associate Dean (Research).
BEFORE TRAVEL
1) TRAVELING UTS RESEARCHER
UTS researcher contact details
Researcher name
Telephone numbers
Home:
Work:
Mobile:
Email address
UTS research supervisor contact details
Name
Telephone
Research work to be performed within the host organisation
Name of host organisation
Type of hazardous facility
Laboratory
Factory
Workshop
Other (please specify):
Summary of researcher duties/activities
Supervisor of UTS researcher within the host organisation
Name and position
Telephone
UTS OVERSEAS RESEARCH FACILITY CHECKLIST
V05122012
PAGE 1 OF 3
Are there dealings with the following hazards1:
PC2 or PC3 pathogens, GMOs, ionizing radiation sources or cytotoxins. Yes No 
-
If yes, UTS Biosafety Committee will be notified prior to visit. Yes No 
If yes, Associate Dean (Research) has been notified so that inspection of facilities can be organised prior to
research commencing.
Yes No 
Signature of researcher (or UTS
academic supervisor if travelling
researcher is a student)
Date
I am familiar with safe work practices related to these research activities.
Signature of researcher
Yes No 
Date
Before departure, contact the host organisation and check which of the following safety measures are in place.
On arrival, perform another check and report findings to your faculty’s Associate Dean (Research).
OVERSEAS FACILITY SAFETY
Check before
Check
departure
on arrival
INDUCTION AND TRAINING
Yes
No
Yes No
Are safety inductions given to people starting work in the facility?
Are safe work practices explained to people working in the facility?
ACCIDENTS/INCIDENTS AND FIRST AID
Yes
No
Yes No
Is there a first aid kit and trained first aid person available?
If the UTS researcher is involved in an accident, will this be reported to UTS?
Yes No
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Yes
No
Does the organisation have an emergency plan in place?
Are staff given instructions on how to deal with an emergency situation?
WORK ENVIRONMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Yes
No
Yes No
Are health and safety risks in the research facility identified and controlled?
Are safe work practices documented for people working in the facility?
Are regular facility inspections done to identify & control health and safety hazards?
Is personal protective equipment (PPE) available for the work?
For reference, here is a detailed laboratory inspection checklist, designed for the Australian regulatory environment.
http://www.safetyandwellbeing.uts.edu.au/environment/lab/index.html
Next Steps:
Take this form to your UTS Research Supervisor for approval.
Meet with Associate Dean Research for a briefing on your health and safety rights and responsibilities.
2) UTS RESEARCH SUPERVISOR
I approve this research work in above facilities. Note any conditions in ‘Comments’ below.
Name of Research Supervisor
Signature
Date
Comments
1
Hazards governed by UTS Biosafety Committee. http://www.research.uts.edu.au/policies/restricted/biosafety/index.html
UTS OVERSEAS RESEARCH FACILITY CHECKLIST
V05122012
PAGE 2 OF 3
3) ASSOCIATE DEAN RESEARCH
 I have briefed the researcher on their rights and responsibilities, as outlined in the DVC (Research) message
above.
 I will organise UTS staff inspection of research facilities that have dealings with those hazards governed by UTS
Biosafety Committee. That is PC2 pathogens, GMOs, ionizing radiation sources and cytotoxins.
 I have provided details of faculty contact person to UTS researcher.
 I will review researcher’s overseas facility safety check findings and take appropriate action.
Faculty contact person
name and position
Telephone and fax
Email
I approve this research work in the above facilities.
Name of ADR or nominee
Signature
Date
Keep a copy of this form.
WHEN OVERSEAS
4) UTS RESEARCHER
 Complete the “Check on arrival” column in the overseas facility safety table to check that safety measures are
as expected. Email back copy of results to your Associate Dean Research to decide risk is managed to a level
that is reasonably expected. If you are not comfortable with the health and safety measures provided or do
not feel safe, then let your faculty contact person know as soon as possible. You will not be expected to work
in a situation that does not reasonably meet your host country’s standards.
5) ASSOCIATE DEAN RESEARCH
 Consider the findings of the UTS Researcher’s overseas facility safety check, in light of the type of work, the
risk it presents and assess whether the risk is managed to a level that is reasonably expected. Communicate
your assessment back to the UTS Researcher. Options are:
OK to commence work
Request that UTS Researcher rectifies any deficiencies
Request that colleague in host organisation rectify any deficiencies
Send colleague to the host organisation to rectify any deficiencies
Ask the researcher to return to Australia
ON RETURN
6) FACULTY CONTACT PERSON
Debrief with researcher to determine if any improvements can be made on the overseas research experience.
UTS OVERSEAS RESEARCH FACILITY CHECKLIST
V05122012
PAGE 3 OF 3