The University uses various types of machinery and equipment in construction, maintenance, workshops, and for teaching and research. There’s a risk of serious injury, disability, or death from unintended contact with mobile or fixed machinery. This includes collisions between mobile equipment or with fixed objects, and the risk of pedestrians being struck.

Where this might show up: 

• Construction machinery: Operating heavy machinery like earth moving equipment such as excavators
• Workshop Tools: Using stationary equipment such as lathes or saws in workshops
• Laboratory equipment: Working with specialised research equipment that involves moving parts.

Critical controls: 

• Ensure all guards and shields for hazardous parts, such as moving or rotating components, are in place, suitable, and in good condition before operating equipment
• Isolate all hazardous energy sources before starting any maintenance or inspection
• Make sure emergency stop functions are accessible, available, and in good working order during equipment operation. 

The University manages various pressurised vessels, such as gas cylinders, cryogenic vessels, boilers, and autoclaves. Additionally, some research groups use custom-built equipment that involves high pressure and secondary reactions. Due to this, there’s a risk of serious injury, disability, or death from the unplanned release of pressurised substances.

Where this might show up: 

• Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning
• Gas cylinder handling: Transporting or using gas cylinders
• Autoclave operation: Operating autoclaves in research facilities
• Cryogenic tanks: Managing cryogenic storage tanks.

Critical controls: 

• Inspect pressurised-actuated devices thoroughly before use to ensure they’re in good working condition
• Visually inspect pressurised vessels for signs of fatigue or failure, such as cracks or bulges
• Use burst valves and overpressure indicators to prevent dangerous pressure build-up
• Set up blast shields when performing high-pressure reactions to protect against potential explosions. 

Psychosocial hazards are factors in the environment that can cause stress, potentially leading to psychological or physical harm. Hazards often occur together and can vary in duration, frequency and severity. Given the breadth and diversity of roles and activities staff and students engage in across the University, psychosocial hazards are widespread.

Whilst the University takes all psychosocial hazards seriously, as a critical risk, it is important to focus on psychosocial hazards that put a person at risk of psychological injury or permanent impairment from acute or cumulative stress.

Where this might show up: 

• Excessive, sustained and high-pressure environments, such as competitive academic settings or emotionally demanding roles, can overwhelm your capacity and lead to burnout
• Exposure to traumatic events and material: Clinical or crisis-response roles, along with advisory and research work, may involve direct or indirect exposure to distressing or traumatic experiences, placing significant strain on psychological wellbeing
• Acute or persistent interpersonal challenges: Bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct, violence, or isolation and remote work, can lead to emotional strain, resulting in poor and sometimes significant mental health outcomes.

Critical controls: 

• Where required, individual adjustment plans are implemented to accommodate specific mental and physical health needs 
• Psychosocial hazards and associated risks are considered and documented as part of work design and planning
• Psychocosial hazards and risks are discussed and where issues or concerns are raised, these are responded to and documented
• Mental health training is provided for people leaders. 

The University operates 24/7, with many parts accessible and frequented by the public. Campuses can serve as a central space for cultural and geopolitical debate. Additionally, staff and students on placements in hospitals, clinics and other facilities, may face a higher risk of exposure to violence.

Where this might show up: 

• Public events: Managing or attending University events that draw large crowds.
• Clinical settings: Working or participating in placements including hospitals, mental health facilities and emergency departments.

Critical controls: 

• Use lone working protocols, including check-ins and check-out processes and regular contact with staff and students working after hours, security escorts and shuttle bus services. 

There’s a risk of serious injury, illness, or death when working with animals in veterinary, teaching, research, or fieldwork settings. Large animals can be unpredictable, leading to potential kicks, bites, or strikes. Additionally, there’s a risk of exposure to zoonotic diseases, such as Q fever and flu strains, as well as allergens from laboratory animals like mice and rats.

Where this might show up: 

• Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science
• Large animal handling: Managing livestock or large animals in veterinary programs
• Zoonotic disease: Conducting field research involving animals that carry diseases transmissible to humans, like Q fever
• Laboratory animal care: Working with lab animals, such as rodents.

Critical controls: 

• Use barriers and physical restraints, such as races, cages or crushes to safely separate people and animals 
• Use sedation where required to reduce risk
• Comply with any required vaccinations identified for indviduals working with animals, as appropriate to roles and exposure profiles 
• Comply with any identified biosecurity protocols and pre-screening measures for high-risk animals. 

The University conducts boating, diving, and snorkelling activities for research and teaching in Australia and internationally. Additionally, maintenance work may occur on or near dams across the University’s farms, and some research or learning activities may require participants to enter water pools. These—and any other work on, in or near water—pose a heightened risk of serious injury or death.

Where this might show up: 

• Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Science
• Boating research: Conducting marine research from boats
• Diving activities: Performing underwater research or maintenance. 

Critical controls: 

• Driving through floodwater including on a road, bridge or spillway is prohibited 
• Ensure plans are developed and adhered to for all fieldwork conducted on, in or near water 
• Activities involving work or research on, in or near water that may be high risk must not be conducted alone 
• Ensure that Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) such as life jackets are available and worn when required 
• Students involved in boating, diving and snorkelling must be suitably licenced and competent 
• Diving (scuba diving and snorkelling): Display flag alpha or Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) as required to indicate divers in water
• Water vessels (eg boats or kayaks): PFDs must be worn while on board and vessels must be operated to conditions and manufacture specification (including the number of people on board). 

Each year, thousands of staff and students participate in global University-managed activities. While many risks are managed similarly to those in Australia, unique geopolitical and socio-economic challenges such as civil unrest, armed conflict, terrorist situations, detainment, nuclear incidents, and natural disasters can increase the risk of serious illness, injury, permanent disability, or death.

Where this might show up: 

• Field research abroad: Conducting research in politically unstable regions
• Natural disasters: Being in a foreign country during earthquakes, floods, or other natural disasters
• Terrorist attacks: Working in areas with a high risk of terrorism.

Critical controls: 

• Cancel or delay travel to high-risk areas unless an exemption is obtained
• If travel to high-risk areas is approved, implement all controls identified in the Travel Risk Assessment
• Register your travel details with the University’s Travel Risk Management Provider
• Enable emergency alerts on your devices to stay informed about potential threats
• Ensure you receive all required vaccinations for endemic diseases before departure.

The University relies on a stable electricity supply for teaching, learning, and research, with a complex network of circuits and substations on campus. Due to daily interactions with electrically powered equipment, there’s a serious risk of electric shock, arc flash, or burns from unintended or uncontrolled contact with electricity, which could lead to serious injury, disability, or death.

Where this might show up: 

• Laboratory work: Using high-voltage in equipment in research 

Critical controls: 

• Check that electrical equipment is tagged and tested before use. 

University personnel use a variety of vehicles across different terrains and countries. This poses a risk of collisions involving motorised or non-motorised vehicles, people, objects, or animals. The risk is heightened in shared spaces where vehicles and pedestrians mix, increasing the likelihood of incidents involving staff, students, and the public.

Where this might show up: 

• Equipment transport: Driving utility vehicles or vans to move equipment between research sites or buildings
• Fieldwork transportation: Using vehicles in remote or rugged terrains during research trips
• Shared spaces: Navigating areas where vehicles and pedestrians mix.

Critical controls: 

• Adhere to traffic management between vehicles, pedestrians and workers
• Work is planned and scheduled to reduce risk of fatigue
• Report any vehicle defects or areas with poor pedestrian visibility immediately
• Do not operate a vehicle with defects that will affect the safe operation of the vehicle
• Wear a properly secured and adjusted seatbelt (driver and passengers)
• Restrain vehicle loads (tools and equipment) to prevent movement, maintain vehicle stability, and ensure loads do not exceed the vehicle mass and dimension limits
• Do not use mobile devices unless through appropriate hands-free devices.

The University uses cranes and other load-shifting equipment for daily operations in both secure areas and public spaces. Sometimes, specially designed or non-routine lifts are required, which are carried out by specialist contractors. Both of these carry a risk of serious injury, disability, or death if someone is crushed or struck by mechanical lifting or hauling equipment.

Where this might show up: 

• Be aware of forklifts in operation in public spaces while setting up or dismantling events 
• Heavy equipment: Assisting with moving large equipment in labs or workshops.

Critical controls: 

• Verify the equipment capacity and the ground bearing capacity before starting work
• Inspect all lifting apparatus before starting rigging and lifting activities
• Adhere to exclusion zones. 

Being struck by a falling object can have catastrophic consequences. This can occur when construction workers drop tools or materials, or when items become dislodged during loading or unloading. Additionally, the University, with its long history and over 900 structures, faces the risk of ageing facade materials falling.

Where this might show up: 

• Be aware of the loading and unloading of goods from delivery vehicles
• Ageing infrastructure: Walking near older university buildings.

Critical controls: 

• Adhere to any established exclusion zones. 

There’s a serious risk of permanent disability or death whenever someone is working in an environment where they could fall two metres or more, or when they’re near an open edge where such a fall is possible. This includes using equipment like elevated work platforms, ladders, and scaffolding. Even in situations where the fall is less than two metres, if a risk assessment identifies a potential for significant injury, appropriate precautions must be taken.

Critical controls: 

• Adhere to any established exclusion zones. 

The University has areas that occasionally require access for maintenance or inspections, increasing the risk of serious in jury, disability or death. Additionally, low oxygen levels in certain areas pose significant risks to anyone working inside. 

Critical controls: 

• Do not enter any areas identified as confined spaces. 

The University regularly conducts excavation or trenching activities on both greenfield and brownfield sites for maintenance, construction, and research. During these activities, there’s a significant risk of serious injury, disability, or death from crush injuries, suffocation and more brought about by unintended ground movement.

Where this might show up: 

• Archaeological digs: Conducting research excavations. 

Critical controls: 

• Batter, bench or shore excavations deeper than 1.5 metres to prevent collapse
• Secure the site to prevent unauthorised access and establish exclusion zones with physical barriers to prevent access to open excavation or trenches.