Research

Overview

Chief investigators, research supervisors and any other persons who design research activities have a responsibility to manage any risks to health and safety that may arise from the research work.

Research

Research safety at UTS

Health and Safety Risk Management Responsibilities

The responsible investigator (e.g. First Chief Investigator) should:

  • Document a Research Safety Plan in Research Master (RM). This Plan is a high-level summary that references project activity health and safety risks and the mechanisms employed to manage these risks. It provide others an overview of the project risk management. It applies to both funded and unfunded research
  • Review the Research Safety Plan every 6 months or whenever there is a change to the risk profile of the project.
  • Manage health and safety risks arising from the research activities you control. The UTS Risk Register can guide you through a general HSW risk management process and development of Safe Work Procedure for activities used by your project.  Other specialist risk management mechanisms are available for e.g. pathogens, GMOs, fieldwork, diving, radiation sources.

Induction and training

People doing research must be provided safety information suited to the work they are doing. The responsible investigator must see that their research staff are provided this information prior to commencement of work. This is typically done during induction of new researchers and will include:

  • general health and safety procedures (such as emergency evacuation, hazard reporting, accident/incident reporting and first aid) and
  • specific hazards relating to the research project.

Research related risk management

Research Safety Plan Resources (UTS staff access) includes information on:

 
Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.