2005 was relatively uneventful with no major catastrophes and that’s the way we like it in the School of Physics Occupational Health and Safety Committee. Although quiet on the injury front, we managed quarterly and annual workplace inspections, and passed the required paperwork to UNSW Facilities to have potable hand washing facilities installed in all laboratories.

Our OHS Management System was audited in February by Lance Islip, the Faculty of Science OHS Coordinator. Lance had a close look at our records and although we showed some key strengths, we were weak in the areas of training records and document control. We set about fixing this and although we no longer have an OHS Management System Development Officer we continued to develop several new forms that will be used for training records and document control.

Small amounts of radioactive materials are used for teaching in the School of Physics undergraduate student laboratories. There are stringent requirements for the safe handling and storage of these materials. Interestingly enough, our research X-Ray machine is also considered a source of ionising radiation, and also subject to constraints as to its operation. The health and safety of users in these areas is overseen by our Radiation Safety Officer, Dr Krystyna Wilk, who ensures the proper supervision and training of all those in the School of Physics who use these materials or instruments. Krystyna is also a member of the University Radiation Safety Committee.

As a Biophysics Department researcher Krystyna also acts as the Biological Safety Supervisor, who makes sure that appropriate and safe practices and methods are used in the Biophysics laboratories throughout the school. Krystyna represents the school at the University level as a member of the University Biological Safety Committee.

Krystyna Wilk is a member of the School of Physics Occupational Health and Safety Committee whose task is to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all those that work in or visit the school. This committee has nine members and meets about every two months to deal with health and safety concerns of staff and students; raise, and if possible, solve any pressing issues; organise workplace inspections; support lab managers and area supervisors; and inform the management of the school.

Also on the school OHS committee are: Jack Cochrane as Chair of the OHS committee and general staff representative; Ankur Chaudhury as undergraduate student representative; Paul ten Boom as postgraduate representative; Warrick Couch as the employer representative - Head of School; Pritipal Baweja as workshop representative; Jon Everett as Safety Officer; John Tann as Laser Safety Officer and general staff representative; and Martin Brauhart as the representative of the Centre for Quantum Computer Technology.