OHS REPS @ WORK

1 - Unions with coverage in the education sector with OHS information on their websites:

• AEU, the Australian Education Union, has coverage of teaching staff and teacher aids in mainly public schools, has an OHS webpage on its site - it also has information for AEU members who are OHS reps.
• NTEU, the National Tertiary Education Union, has coverage of academic, research staff, and general staff of universities and Student Unions.  In Victoria - also TAFE and Adult Education staff.  Its OHS webpage has some resources on current OHS issuest, and is currently being expanded.
• VIEU, the Victorian Independent Education Union, has coverage of education workers in primary and secondary non-government schools and education workplaces.  The union's OHS page has information for OHS reps, and on WorkCover
• CPSU/SPSF, Community & Public Sector Union (State Public Services Federation) , has coverage of office, library and laboratory staff, has an OHS page with resources and fact sheets
• AMWU (Australian Manufacturing Workers Union) covers maintenance workers.  On the union's OHS webpage you will find Alerts, OHS news, the OHS Manual for OHS Reps, and more. 
• LHMU, Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union, has coverage of catering and property service staff, staff in childcare centres, teacher aides. The union's OHS page has information on a number of issues related to its members. 

2 - The Victorian Department of Education and Training has the following useful websites and resources for workers in the education sector:

• Compliance Guidelines for Schools - A set of regulatory compliance booklets which can be downloaded or ordered by email (if an employee of the Department of Education and Training)
• Safety School website
• Secure Schools - Emergency & Security Management: a website designed to assist schools to develop an Emergency Management Plan, there's advice not only on emergencies and security, but also crime prevention, bush fires, and more.
• a useful science department website put together by a past OHS Rep of the Year, Jan Stevenson from Gisborne Secondary College
• OHS Guidelines - Support Materials for Schools website - with information on Policy, Risk Management, Communication and Staff Development, Legislation and supporting material, and Support System
• Safety, Health & Wellbeing website, and
• not a DE&T site, but useful is the Better Health Channel website for health topics

The department's Employee Health Unit, which covers OHS, can also be contacted on 03) 9637 2385

3 - Another useful website is that of Noel Arnold and Associates.  This consulting firm provides advice to the Department and assistance to principals, OHS Reps and others in schools.  Their phone number (in Melbourne) is: 03) 9890 8811.  The company has offices elsewhere in Australia - contact details. (Note: this arrangement is current until Dec 31, 2008, but will change in 2009)

4 - WorkSafe Victoria has an Education Sector webpage where more information can be accessed, including:

• OHS in schools - A practical guide for school leaders   A 24-page handbook that details common safety issues for schools and provides simple and helpful suggestions on how to manage safety within a school setting.
• Guide to challenging behaviour risk prevention in specialist schools [pdf] This 17-page document was developed in consultation with employer organisations and unions and is designed to assist WorkSafe inspectors assess whether a specialist school is controlling risks from student initiated challenging behaviour.  The document provides useful information that can be used in schools generally.
  

See also:

• From the European Agency for Safety and Health at work:
  • Minimising the risk of violence and health hazards in education: new advice to help teachers and other staff in Europe's education sector: three new factsheets (Nos. 45, 46, & 47) with clear and simple advice to alleviate risks such as abusive pupils and parents, musculoskeletal disorders induced by lifting children and other dangers.
  • Also, an accompanying education web feature provides more in-depth guidance, and highlights case studies of good practice. As well as English, Agency factsheets are can be downloaded in a number of European languages.
• From the Northern Territory Government: a code of behaviour for schools, to ensure the safety of staff and students.
• From the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA): an advisory booklet Pest Management in Schools [pdf] The booklet provides guidance and information on the safe and effective use of pesticides in this environment and discusses: Integrated pest management including physical and biological controls as well as the use of chemical pesticides; Pesticide labels including information on toxicity, hazard, exposure and risk; hazard minimisation; Poisons Scheduling; Material Safety Data Sheets; Exposure minimization.
  
  

On Work Experience

• A webpage on the WorkSafe website: Educating the Next Generation - has links to the program, teaching resources, etc
  
• The Victorian Department of Education and Training and WorkCover have developed a Resource Kit for career guidance teachers for students who undertake work experience as part of the school curriculum. The kit consists of a CD-Rom, work sheets and lesson plans. Also available, is an on-line program for students called safe at work with modules covering different industries, teachers guide and more.   WorkSafe Alert on Work Experience Students
  
  
•  WorkSafe Western Australia has a guide for teachers for students undertaking work experience that is part of the school curriculum.
  
  
• From the NT WorkSafe: Safe Start Education Resources [pdf] for secondary school teachers. The Resources are designed to raise "students' awareness of occupational health and safety issues before they enter into vocational training and their careers". Further information on the Safe Start Kit for Schools is available from NT WorkSafe

• a five page leaflet: Asbestos An important message for schools [pdf]
• an 11 page guidance for duty holders on asbestos in schools [pdf]

• DE&T page on Dust
• From WorkSafe Victoria, a Guidance Note: Wood dust - Health hazards and control
• sheet from Monash University on Wood Dust Exposure

• From the Health and Safety Executive:
  • Slips and trips in the education sector [pdf 55KB] an information sheet aimed at head teachers and school managers to reduce the risk of slips and trips.
  • Getting it Right - a website on school trips aimed at anyone connected with educational visits, particularly those involving adventure activities. 
    
  • Staying Safe Action Plan - UK cross-Government strategy on improving children and young people's safety
  • Work at height guidance for schools Best practice guidance - practical solutions to common tasks, such as hanging displays.
    
• From the UK teaching union, the NUT:
  • News releases and guides on newly qualified teachers and health and safety and checklist on young people on work experience
  • Guide on animals in education - explores the context in which animals may be encountered by students in schools - whether in the classroom, the school grounds or on a farm visit. The union warns of safety considerations. The guide covers: the law; animal welfare and handling; hygiene, diseases, parasites and allergies; physical injuries; and 'unexpected' animal visitors that may wander on to school premises. It includes a checklist for union reps on introducing and updating a school animals policy. Animals in education, NUT briefing [pdf].

• an interesting publication: Emergency Procedures CHECKLIST for Schools [pdf] produced by the Utah Department of Public Safety. Division of Homeland Security.