The CS&IT Building Occupational Health and Safety Committee Meeting

Date:  Tuesday, 6 Mar 2001
Time:  12:05-12:50
Venue: CSIT N335

present:
	Stephen Altree-Williams, Ian Barnes, Vicki Peterson, Bronwyn Schmidt, 
	Peter Strazdins
apologies:
	Michelle Clarke, Chris Gunn

MINUTES:

1. Minutes of previous meeting.

confirmed. Apologies noted.


2. Local matters:

2.1 Stepping Platforms for DCS

Peter reported that from Dr Henry Gardner's initial request for a
departmental stepladder (Jan 01), enquiries to Reflex indicated that for
safe high shelve access, a stepping platform is more appropriate. 
Reflex had such a product but it cost ~$2,000; a meeting was arranged
with Reflex but was then cancelled. 

Antoinette Bosman was then requested to seek a stepping platform from a
standard office supplies catalog; the product there cost $178 and is the
one used in the Library.  Stephen confirmed that these are acceptable
from the OH&S point of view for this purpose. 

ACTION: the Committee recommends that such a platform be purchased.

2.2 Flat-screen monitors.

Ian raised the issue of flat-screen monitors, some of which were
recently purchased by DCS: were these preferable from the OH&S point of
view (eg. on long term eye strain) than the existing CRT monitors. 
These are now becoming comparable in cost to the CRTs. 

Stephen said the from the OH&S point of view, CRTs don't provide hazards
to the eye (but that breaks from use of computers, were recommended, not
only for relief of eye strain, but for strain on the joints and tissues
as well).  Current OH&S policy is that the EM emissions from CRTs are
acceptable (emission intensity decays as 1/r^3, so that labs with many
monitors do not present a serious risk; also most modern monitors have
shielding that reduces emissions at the at the back). 

ACTION: the Committee is not to carry this issue further at this time.

2.3 Thumb-tacks on Noticeboards.

Peter noted that thumb-tacks (having a round, flat head) are still
widely used in general and office noticeboards in CSIT.  Stephen said
that OH&S policy has long been to discontinue their use, replacing these
with bobbin pins, which cannot fall with the point upwards (unlike the
thumb-tacks). 

ACTION: Bronwyn to replace any stocks of thumb-tacks with bobbin bins,
and replace any thumb-tacks currently being used on CSIT general and
office noticeboards. 
	

3. Commcare OH&S audit of ANU (including FEIT, April 2/3)

The schedule was discussed.  Day 1 was only likely to involve the OH&S
Chairs, being the representatives of FEIT Management.  Day 2 would
involve a visit by Commcare to CSIT, in which selected staff would be
interviewed.  The HoD would also be required then.  Which staff would be
interviewed would be chosen by Commcare from a DCS staff list. 

Preparation for the audit would require the following documents
from CS&IT to be provided:
   a) recent OH&S Committee minutes and selected related correspondence
   b) documentation of CS&IT emergency procedures including:
		- evacuation plans (incl. diagrams)
		- current fire warden lists
		- evidence of fire warden training

ACTION: Peter to collate material from a), and to ask the CSIT Chief
Fire Warden (Shaun Press) for material on b). 


4. documentation and awareness of OH&S related procedures for CSIT

Peter suggested that the CS&IT OH&S Committee should have a web page,
accessible from within ANU.  There was a brief discussion on what it
should contain: current membership, fire warden lists, and procedures
such as hazard and incident reporting that CS&IT occupants should know
about. 

ACTION: Peter to create the page.

 
5. Other matters.

Some other issues were noted:
	* the OH&S Committee should report quarterly on any 
	  Hazard or Incident reports registered with DCS Management.
	* OH&S unit will provide DCS wiht more copies of posture posters,
	  to ensure all student labs and Resources Room have copies.
	* a replacement for former Committee member Arch Brayshaw of CSIRO 
	  (recently retired) should be sought.

Meeting concluded 12:55.