OHS Purchasing

Policy

The purpose of this policy is to minimise health, safety and wellbeing risks in schools when purchasing new goods, equipment or chemicals.

Summary

• The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act (2004) (Vic) requires the department to provide or maintain, systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risk to health by identifying potential OHS risks associated with the purchase, hire, lease or receipt of donated goods.
• The principal and/or their delegate must ensure that all new equipment, chemicals or other materials (goods) introduced into the workplace are safe for use.
• The principal and/or their delegate must, in consultation with employees and Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) identify the hazards associated with the use of new goods to ensure risks are effectively managed prior to use.
• Under the OHS Act 2004, employees while at work must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and the safety of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.
• Central and regional offices provide a range of supports and services to assist principals and employees to be safe and well, including access to OHS Advisory Service and local OHS regional officers, who can provide free advice on managing risks related to purchasing, hiring, or leasing new goods, equipment or chemicals.
• The OHS Purchasing Procedure (in the Procedure tab) must be followed, and sets out the practical step-by-step instructions for implementing this policy.
• This policy forms part of the department’s OHS Management System. For further information, refer to OHS Management System (OHSMS) Overview.

Details

The principal and/or their delegate, in consultation with Health and Safety Representative (HSR) and employees, must ensure the following:

• potential hazards associated with new goods that are purchased, hired, leased or donated are identified
• an OHS Purchasing Checklist (DOCX) is completed for new goods where hazards are identified
• a risk assessment is completed using the Risk Assessment Template (DOCX) for goods that require further action to make them safe for use
• a Safe Work Procedure — using the Safe Work Procedure Template (DOCX), is completed for goods that require training for safe use
• training in the Safe Work Procedure is completed by staff and students prior to using new goods and training records are retained
• new goods that are faulty or have uncontrolled risks are withdrawn from service and isolated to prevent use.

The OHS Purchasing Procedure provides further detail for each of the above requirements.

Definitions

Goods
Reference to goods includes:

• equipment
• chemicals
• other materials.

Plant
Under the OHS Act 2004, Plant includes:

• any machinery equipment, appliance, implement and tool
• any component of any of those things
• anything fitted, connected or related to any of those things.

Hazards
Anything with the potential to cause

• harm
• injury
• illness
• loss.

Related policies

• Chemical Management
• OHS Induction and Training
• OHS Management System (OHSMS) Overview
• OHS Risk Management

Relevant legislation

Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic)