Workplace health & safety

UNSW Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering adheres to and implements the aims and strategies in the UNSW Work Health and Safety Policy, opens in a new window.

Our Health and Safety Committee enables our staff to contribute to decisions affecting their: health, safety and welfare, proposed changes to the work environment, processes, and practices.

A Workplace Health and Safety (HS) Induction is an essential part of safety at UNSW and Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering (GSBME) whether you are staff, student or visitor. There is a range of training and induction procedures depending on what you want to do.

Our laboratories reflect the cross disciplinary nature of the work of our research and requires a broad basic knowledge. You may be required to do multiple inductions depending on the lab space you need to access.

Before you begin, you will need:

1. GSBME supervisor: This person will be responsible for your health and safety while you’re here
2. z number and a z pass: This is your official UNSW identity
3. Complete the Access Request form, opens in a new window
4. Speak to your supervisor to complete a HS006 form, opens in a new window

If you don’t already have a UNSW ID card then talk to your GSBME supervisor. All staff and students in the School need to attend training to be aware of the risk and hazards associated with the work they are performing.  For more information, visit the Work Health and Safety website, opens in a new window.

UNSW training must be completed by all students and staff before you can enter a specific work area, use a piece of equipment or follow an experimental protocol. Once enrolled, these courses will appear on your UNSW Moodle site.

Student Training - Student Self Enrolment in Safety Training, opens in a new window

• Training courses

  Safety@UNSW

  Required enrolment 

  ALL 

  Enrolment Key

  SAFETYUNSW, opens in a new window

  Delivery method 

  Online 

• Training courses

  Laboratory Health and Safety 

  Required enrolment 

  All in GSBME labs

  Enrolment Key

  SAFETYLABS, opens in a new window

  Delivery method 

  Online 

• Training courses

  Hazardous Chemicals 

  Required enrolment 

  All in GSBME labs

  Enrolment Key

  SAFETYCHEM, opens in a new window

  Delivery method 

  Online 

• Training courses

  Biological Lab Safety

  Required enrolment 

  All in GSBME labs

  Enrolment Key

  SAFETYBIOL, opens in a new window

  Delivery method 

  Online 

• Training courses

   Fume Cupboards & Safety

  Required enrolment 

  All in GSBME labs 

  Enrolment Key

  SAFETYFUME, opens in a new window

  Delivery method 

  Online 

Staff Training - please see below for training requirements

• Training courses

  Working@UNSW

  Required enrollment 

  ALL 

  Course number

   CDWORK

  Delivery method 

  Online 

• Training courses

  Safety@UNSW

  Required enrollment 

  ALL

  Course number

   CDSAFE

  Delivery method 

  Online 

• Training courses

  Laboratory Safety Awareness 

  Required enrollment 

  All in GSBME labs

  Course number

  HSELAB

  Delivery method 

  Online 

• Training courses

  Hazardous Chemicals

  Required enrollment 

  All in GSBME labs

  Course number

  HSEHSO 

  Delivery method 

  Online 

• Training courses

  General Biosafety for all Containment Facilities (PC1, PC2, PC3) 

  Required enrollment 

  All in GSBME labs

  Course number

   HSEBSC

  Delivery method 

  Online 

• Training courses

  Fume Cupboards and Safety 

  Required enrollment 

  All in GSBME labs 

  Course number

  HSEFCS  

  Delivery method 

  Online 

• Training courses

  Gene Technology 

  Required enrollment 

  Only for staff / students working with GMO's or in GMO approved labs 

  Course number

  HSEGTC

  Delivery method 

  Online

• Training courses

  Managing Health and Safety

  Required enrollment 

  All supervisors

  Course number

  HSEOSO

  Delivery method 

  Online

• Training courses

  Laboratory Supervisor Training

  Required enrollment 

  All Laboratory / Workshop Supervisors

  Course number

  HSELST

  Delivery method 

  Online

UNSW training information can be found on the UNSW Training website, opens in a new window

If there any training or HSE concerns, please email the HSE advisor.

Lab access

There is a risk management form (RMF)* with an attached PowerPoint presentation and quiz for: 

• Level 4 of the Samuels building (F25) RMF-0001329
• Lower ground floor of the Samuels building (F25) RMF-0001454
• Level 1 east labs of Biosciences south building (E26) RMF-0002116
• Level 2 Biosciences north building (D26)  RMF-0006353

To be granted access to these labs, you must read and sign the RMF, complete the quiz and attend a tour.  

*you will need a valid z number to access these documents in SALUS

 To be granted permission to use specific labs, all staff and students must: 

• Discuss hazard-specific training, opens in a new window with your supervisor when you complete the HS006 Induction Form, opens in a new window and the HS006a Health & Safety Individual Training Plan., opens in a new window  This must be signed by your GSBME supervisor. Screen shots of completed training must be sent to the lab manager. 
• Complete the HS114 Workstation Checklist, opens in a new window if you are assigned a desk in GSBME 
• Attend the school tour. Contact the lab manager for details 

Additional specific training may be required depending on what you are doing. For example, if you are staff supervising any students you will need to do HS for Supervisors. 

To get swipe access, you must complete all the required Health and Safety (HS) documents and send a screenshot of completed training to lthe HSE Advisor. Your training history summary can be found in MyUNSW, opens in a new window under the learning and development tab.