Occupational Health and Safety for Students

The University of Sydney and staff and students of The School of Civil Engineering have a legal requirement to promote safe working conditions for staff and students, and to eliminate or reduce risks where they exist.

After graduation, students will be working in a variety of environments where safety is a key issue. While still at uni students must also play their part in ensuring safe working conditions, and recognise that this forms part of OH&S training for their professional careers.

All students are required to download and sign the Laboratory OH&S Declaration and submit it to the relevent academic staff member. Download the Laboratory OH&S Declaration Form (PDF)

OH&S for Laboratory Sessions

Throughout their course of study, students will be involved in supervised laboratory sessions in subjects such as soils, fluids and structures, and students may also be required to carry out some laboratory work without direct supervision. However, access to the laboratories is restricted for safety reasons, and students may not enter a laboratory unless they are under the direct supervision of a responsible academic or tutor, or unless they have special authorisation from a responsible academic and are registered laboratory users.

When in a laboratory, the following safety rules must be followed at all times:

• Students must wear shoes that fully cover their feet (bare feet, thongs or open-toed sandals are unacceptable). Students with inappropriate footwear will not be permitted in laboratories.
• Students must wear appropriate clothing to avoid safety hazards.
• Students must conduct themselves in an appropriate and responsible manner to ensure their own safety and the safety of others (e.g., no running or pushing).
• Students must comply with instructions of any staff and any safety notices.
• Students must remain within designated areas.
• Students must not touch any equipment unless instructed to do so by a responsible academic or tutor.

Students may enter a laboratory without direct supervision, only if they have received special authorisation from a responsible academic and if they are registered laboratory users. To obtain authorisation from a responsible academic (e.g., lecturer or thesis supervisor) students will be required to complete appropriate training based on safe operating procedures for the prescribed work. To become registered laboratory users, authorised students will need to apply to the academic in charge of the relevant laboratory.

Students who are registered laboratory users may work in a laboratory without direct supervision, subject to the following restrictions:

• They must comply with the safe operating procedures for the prescribed work
• They must comply with all conditions noted in the authorisation to carry out laboratory work
• They must carry a copy of the countersigned authorisation form