2010 Annual Report - Institute for Molecular Bioscience - University ...

imb annual report 2010
66
IMB OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
REPORT
THIS YEAR WAS AN EXTREMELY
busy one. In addition to the normal
schedule of audits by Biosafety, AQIS,
ARPANSA and the local WHSO network,
the IMB was visited and audited by
representatives of Radiation Health
and the Environmental Health Unit
(Drugs and Poisons). The IMB was also
visited by an external OH&S systems
auditor working to assess risk for the
University’s application for renewal of its
self-insurance policy.
Overall, the Institute’s performance in
all of these audits was strong. Where
suggested, minor corrective actions
have been taken. Thanks in part to the
performance of the IMB, the University
passed the audit and our self-insurance
policy has been renewed. Passing the
AQIS audits in 2010 allows us to move
closer to earning the privilege of annual,
rather than six-monthly, audits in 2011.
The hard work and dedication from the
IMB Floor Managers and Support staff
was pivotal to this success, and their
commitment to maintaining safety and
compliance systems in the building was
clear to all auditors visiting us in 2010.
During the year, the OH&S infrastructure
at the IMB continued to evolve, with the
following main areas being developed
for, or adapted to, a changing research
environment:
• revised induction process to comply
with UQ OH&S goals for 2010 and
to simplify the process for users and
trainers,
• risk assessment database review and
modification to reflect new Australian
Standards requirements,
• implementation of a scheduled Drugs
and Poisons purchase alert system,
• continuation of periodic online safety
audits,
• maintenance of a tasks database to
systematically monitor compliance
with various regulatory bodies and
legislation,
• design and implementation of Safety-
Based KPI for supervisors at the IMB.
Challenges for the IMB’s safety
infrastructure in 2011 include:
• implementing policies and procedures
to ensure compliance with new
Australian Standards such as AS2243.3
(2010),
• maintaining IMB’s good safety record
for hosting of summer students,
volunteers and work experience
personnel,
• monitoring infrastructural and staffing
changes to ensure safe equipment and
appropriate training needs analysis and
provision,
• reducing the incidence of needlestick
injuries - four incidents were reported in
2010 compared to one in 2009,
• maintaining compliance with UQ OH&S
Goals for 2011.
The overall performance of the IMB
in terms of safety and compliance in
2010 has been high. Discussions at
the quarterly floor safety committee
meetings and in more informal venues
reflect an active safety culture at the
IMB, and provide a lively venue for the
exchange of safety-related information
and policies. Crucially, there is also
significant ‘buy in’ to safety issues from
upper management at the IMB - this
factor particularly is of enormous value
to maintaining a safety culture within any
organisation.
SUSAN NIXON: iFISH
Zebrafish embryos have been used for fast freezing, electron microscopy and
tomography, and immunofluorescence.