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Equipment and tasks

Below you’ll find rules, advice and procedures for equipment including

If you have any concerns or queries, please contact one of our Health and Safety Advisors.

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Safety clothing and equipment

If you are instructed to wear particular safety clothing or equipment, please do so. Such equipment could be ear muffs or plugs against excessive and harmful machine noise, safety glasses for protecting your eyes while drilling or sawing, or a high visibility vest so you can be seen when operating next to roads. This clothing or equipment is your last line of defence against being exposed to a potentially harmful hazard. Make sure the equipment you wear is comfortable and fits well. If you do not wear your equipment in areas that require it, you will be asked to leave the area until you are appropriately attired. Always ensure that your footwear is appropriate for the tasks you have to complete. People often suffer slips, trips and falls because they do not wear suitable footwear for the work environment.

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Machinery

  • Only operate machinery or carry out tasks that you have been instructed, shown and authorised to undertake
  • If the device is labelled under repair or is being cleaned or under maintenance, do not use it under any circumstance. If it becomes defective or damaged during operation, stop using it and immediately inform your lecturer or technician
  • Ensure that any long hair, loose clothing or jewellery is tied back or removed prior to any machine operation so that it can’t entangle with any rotating or moving parts. Serious accidents have occurred to workers in all sorts of industries, even with basic hand tools, due to these safety procedures not being followed
  • Do not horseplay with any tools or machinery or run through a work area
  • Ensure machine guards and safety devices are operational prior to use. If guards are missing or damaged, do not use the machinery and immediately report the fault.
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Ladders

  • Before using any type of ladder, ensure that it is in a good operating condition. Look out for any bends, twists or damage to its structure
  • Ensure a ladder is placed on level and firm ground
  • Wear sensible soled footwear when climbing a ladder
  • Do not place ladders next to major accessways or doorways where someone may open a door onto a ladder and knock it and you over
  • Do not climb and stand on the top rung of a stepladder. Stay two steps down
  • Never over-reach sideways to reach that item beyond your fingertips. Climb down and move the ladder
  • Only one person should use a ladder at any one time
  • The safety catch or locking bar must be locked and secured when using a ladder
  • Always secure the foot of the ladder to prevent it kicking out at the feet. Have someone assist with footing it
  • Ensure that you are trained and authorised in safe ladder use by your lecturer or technician prior to using one
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Electrical

  • Electricity is an invisible killer that needs to be treated with great respect. You do not see it, but feel it
  • Do not operate any electrical appliances that have sustained any damage to their casings, which could result in exposing the appliance’s inner electrical workings
  • Do not use appliances or extension leads that have sustained nicks in them, or where the outer plastic sheath has been pulled from the plug exposing wires below. Report this kind of situation to your lecturer or technician immediately
  • Use a residual current device (RCD) when operating any electrical power appliances outside or in potentially damp conditions. An RCD will cut the power off at the source if it detects a fault, protecting the user from potential electrocution. Do not operate electrical equipment in wet conditions, even if an RCD is being used, as electrocution may still occur. Such devices are no substitute to sensible safety practices
  • To minimise the risk of a tripping hazard, make sure power leads do not cross access ways.Do not bring any personal electrical appliances (e.g. heaters, fans, cell phone chargers) or power leads to AUT that are damaged or that have exposed wiring. Such items are a potential electrical and fire hazard that can endanger you and your colleagues. Such dangerous equipment shall be confiscated by AUT if identified.
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Lifts

The lifts in our buildings are used extensively, moving thousands of people each day. They are regularly serviced and maintained to ensure their smooth operation. However, due to the thousands of movements, they may develop a fault, or due to abuse by certain occupants, they may malfunction, causing the lift to come to a stop between floors. If this should occur, please locate the emergency lift button and depress it for at least 2 seconds. A service operator will respond. Be clear about where you are located. The service operator will immediately dispatch a technician to attend to the fault. Keep calm, and know that the lift is designed not to free fall and that you are quite safe. Be patient. 

Lift etiquette

  • If you only have 2 or 3 floor levels to reach, please use the stairs where possible
  • Do not block lift entrances. Give space for occupants to get in and out of the lift
  • Do not overload the lift as it will set an alarm off to indicate that it is overloaded and will not operate until the weight is reduced to within its limits
  • Line up in an orderly manner, please do not push or shove, and ensure that persons with disabilities have enough room to manoeuvre if needed
  • Do not jump up and down in the lift; this will cause a fault, and an unpleasant stay in the lift. Persons found abusing the lift may be asked to pay for the subsequent repair and callout.
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General housekeeping

Please wash your hands thoroughly with soap and dry them thoroughly after being to the bathroom or having coughed or sneezed. This process maintains good hygiene and minimises the transmission risk of germs and bugs. 
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Computer safety

Computers have become an essential tool and as universal as the handy old pen. It is not uncommon for people operating computers to experience discomfort when using them. In certain occasions this discomfort can become very painful, and can result in injury e.g. OOS or RSI. Here are some brief suggestions to combat discomfort before it becomes a serious and disabling pain.   
  • Set up your workstation so that your posture is supported and everything is within easy reach. Have a look at the HabitAtWork website to get interactive guidance on how to make your workstation comfortable
  • Do not sit in one spot all day. Get up and move, take a walk outside, get a drink of water. This movement gets the blood circulating, relieves pressure and muscle fatigue in the body and refreshes your concentration
  • Take a micro-pause. This is just a 10 - 15 second break every 10 or so minutes during concentrated work. All you need to do is relax your shoulders and arms by dropping them down by your side then breathe in and out deeply. This movement relaxes the tense muscles and lets the oxygen in the blood circulate back to the muscles giving them the energy that they need to continue to operate
  • When using a laptop computer, connect it into a normal keyboard, mouse and monitor where possible. Using a laptop by itself for long periods can cause serious discomfort due to the awkward posture you use
  • Get plenty of exercise and do the following stretches and exercises while at your workstation
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Exercises and correct posture for working on a computer

pdf icon Recommended stretching exercises while working on a computer
Last updated: 19 Jul 2010 10:29am

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