Rhodes>Safety>Resources>Practices

Promoting Safe Practices at Rhodes University

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (1993) requires Rhodes University, as an employer, to "provide and maintain, as far as is reasonably practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of his/her employees". View the University's RU Health and Safety Policy.

The responsibility for health and safety at Rhodes applies across a wide area. In line with the OHS Act, there is delegation of responsibility through the various lines of management, from the Vice Chancellor through to directors, deans, managers, heads of departments, supervisors and team leaders.

Without the active involvement of senior management, an organisation’s health and safety programme will never achieve high standards. Note, however, that any employee may be liable to be convicted and sentenced, as well as the employer, if an offence is committed in terms of the OHS Act. In other words, safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Managers and Heads of Departments are responsible for the day-to-day health and safety management within their areas of responsibility. This will include:

a) Where appropriate, ensuring that Health and Safety Reps, First Aiders and Fire Marshals are appointed.

b) Providing and maintaining equipment and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health.

c) Taking steps to eliminate or minimise any hazard or potential hazard to safety or health, before resorting to personal protective equipment.

d) Making arrangements to ensure the safety and absence of risks to health relating to any articles or substances used or stored in each workplace.

e) Identifying existing and potential hazards in each workplace, assessing the level of risk and ensuring that the necessary precautionary measures are in place.

f) Utilising the generic information, instructions and training provided by the SHE Officer.

g) Providing the specific information, instructions, training and supervision to ensure the health and safety of all members of the University community.

h) Providing such health and safety equipment and/or personal protective equipment as is required, and ensuring that appropriate protective clothing is worn by all members of the University community, as required.

i) Enforcing any required health and safety control measures in each workplace, including where plant or machinery is used, and not permitting people under their control to carry out work if they do not adhere to the required precautionary measures or any other precautionary measures which may be prescribed by the OHS Act.

j) Where plant or machinery is used, ensuring that work is carried out under the supervision of a competent person with authority to enforce precautionary measures.

k) Ensuring that all employees and mandataries are informed regarding the scope of their authority as contemplated in the OHS Act section 37(1)(b).

Go to Safety Resources front page.

Return to Rhodes University's Safety front page. Questions/Suggestions? Contact safety(at)ru.ac.za

Last Modified: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 11:36:53 SAST