Hi all
Your DPI awareness group would like to remind you about safe work practices. We will be sending out weekly tips and reminders to encourage safe work habits.

If you are moving around the libraries and using different workspaces, remember to adjust the chair, monitor and desk equipment so you are working comfortably. Check the ACC’s Habitatwork site – “Work In Comfort” section.

Thanks to Jill Durney for coordinating the hazard assessment of the Library Warehouse, and thanks to those who supplied the data for Jill to compile. This assessment has been completed and has been lodged with Health & Safety.

An outcome from this process is that nets are being investigated for purchase which will cover the tops of the bays to prevent items from falling on Library staff when the shelving is moved.
A project that is in the scoping stages will be looking at the items in storage in both the Law Basement and the Library Warehouse, some items will be removed and either stored elsewhere e.g. perhaps become part of the CONZUL Storage Project, or deselected.

One of the outcomes of this project will be that the very heavy books that have been placed on the top shelves will be moved and stored in a safer place. If at all possible the top shelves of these shelving units will not be utilised. Please note that if you borrow the ladders with the platforms which are kept in the Library Warehouse they must be returned. These ladders form part of the procedures for the safe handling of books in this area.

A minimum of 2 Library staff must be in the Library Warehouse when book retreiving and returning is taking place.

Heather Jenks
Associate University Librarian

Hello everyone
Dashing this off just to let you all know that the Law Building has received the warrant of fitness from the structural engineers and will be available for opening on Monday.

I will give you an update when I have more time but just wanted to let you know the latest news.

I have spoken with Cleaning Services regarding the number of tea towels that are available in the Central Library staff room as there has been some concern that there Health and Safety issues with there not being enough tea towels available now that the Tea Ladies have left and everybody has to wash and dry their own dishes.

Cleaning Services have confirmed that the tea towels get replaced once a week on a Monday morning.

I have asked Cleaning Services to supply 20 tea towels on a Monday morning, which provides for 4 a day which should be sufficient.

Cleaning Services will try to order extra tea towels for Monday 13th December, but due to the short notice it is more likely that this will take effect from Monday 20th December.

Carole

Now that a new intake of students is back on campus, many will be unaware of the smoke-free Dovedale campus, and the use of designated areas for smoking here at Ilam.

If any Library staff have difficulties or complaints about the effect of smoke or smokers upon their working environment, please raise the issue with Ian Town (Deputy Vice Chancellor).

In the past few years I have taken any problems to UC Health & Safety, but I am now advised that Ian Town is the person who should be made aware of this issue.

Thanks

Philip

The DPI Awareness Group (was the OOS Prevention and Awareness Group) is always looking for new members. The call is out for continuing staff, fulltime or part time, who are interested in health and safety, who wish to learn and wish to help. Training is provided. Commitment is not arduous. The focus of members of the DPI Awareness Group is the presentation of biennial on-site refreshers to all teams/departments in the Library. Nineteen of these sessions are presented over each 2 year period each facilitated by two group members.

If you are interested or would like to know more please contact any one of the following group members: Janice Farrelly – CL (Coordinator), Felicity Watson – CL , Caroline Anderson – LL, Jenny Owens – MB, Jane Agnew – EdL, Tim Stedman – CL, Sue Thompson – CL, Anne Milligan- EPS, Dave Lane- EPS, Nicola Smith – EPS.

More information on the group, and access to self-help resources, is available from the Camelot Health and Safety page http://wiki.canterbury.ac.nz/display/LIBRSTAFF/DPI+Awareness+Programme

There are three Health and Safety training workshops over the next few months. I would encourage any staff interested to discuss attendance with their manager or supervisor.

The workshops are being held on the following dates:

Event Reporting

· Thursday 10th 0900-1200

· Friday 11th 0900-1200 (repeat of Thursday session)

Event Investigation

NB: it is encouraged that staff attend Event Reporting first, unless they have a good knowledge in this area

· Monday 5th October 1300-1600

· Tuesday 6th October 0900-1200 (repeat of Monday session)

Contractor Management

· Monday 2nd November 1300-1600

· Tuesday 3rd November 0900-1200 (repeat of Monday session)

The workshops are centrally funded from the Health & Safety budget, and are run by a specialist lawyer. Full details (including booking process) can be found on the Health and Safety website.

Philip

Alert Library staff reading the latest Diary online (13/3) will be aware that the University is now providing free flu vaccinations.

2009 Influenza vaccination
The flu vaccine is now available at the Health Centre and is free to all staff. Please note that departments’ internal charge numbers are NOT required this year.

The vaccination clinics are being held from Monday, 16 March to Friday, 27 March between the hours of 8.30-9.30am and 2-3pm. To arrange for a vaccination, staff need to book an appointment by contacting the Health Centre on ext 6402.

If a staff member has any questions relating to an influenza vaccination, this can be discussed either with the Health Centre staff or their own general practitioner.

Philip

Earlier this year an assessment of the policies and processes that the Library has for Health & Safety was carried out by an HR consultant.

The Library was evaluated as having achieved 91% compliance; a very good result, but with a number of recommendations given for where the Library could improve.

I have worked my way through the recommendations, and taken a list of 18 actions to LLT. This was approved on 3 March, and I will now implement these actions over the next few months.

One action is to change the name of OOS (Occupational Overuse Syndrome), to the currently preferred term used by ACC. This is DPI (Discomfort, pain and injury). I have already asked Janice Farrelly to work through and change any documentation to reflect this.

I will provide updates on progress as changes and anything new is implemented.

Philip