Occupational Health and Safety Hazard Alert - Children on Campus

Early in 1995 a University "Policy for Children On Campus" was issued widely, following approval by the Equal Opportunity Committee. This policy was distributed to Zone Safety Committees by Occupational Health and Safety with a request that they identify "hazardous areas" such as laboratories, workshops, chemical stores, etc., in their zones in which children would not be permitted. However, recent incidents have highlighted the fact that hazards can also exist in other less obvious areas.

Hazardous Substances

In this instance, a four-year-old child was left unattended in a staff kitchen and emptied a packet of Ratsak into the department's water-cooler. The common practice of placing small containers of poison to control rodents or insects obviously presents a hazard for small children and, in this case, also resulted in a hazard to staff in the area.

Similarly, detergents, bleaches and other "domestic" cleaning products are commonly found around the University in locations such as under-sink cupboards which are easily accessible to small children. Unfortunately, many of these products are poisonous and can cause severe tissue damage due to their corrosive nature.

Hazardous Equipment

Office Equipment

Commonplace office equipment such as hole punches, electric staplers and paper shredders provides another source of hazards to children. Often such equipment is operated automatically by insertion of the paper. It is not uncommon for the feed slots to be narrow enough to prevent access for an adult hand or fingers, whilst still allowing access for those of a child. This is of particular concern where equipment is placed in corridors or waiting areas where an employee is not permanently located.

Much electrically operated office equipment is also fitted with small fans to assist in cooling. Occupational Health and Safety has seen fans on equipment such as printers and PC drives where the gaps in the covering grilles are large enough for a child's finger to enter and thus, potentially be injured by the rotating fan blades. Larger fans used for personal comfort are often even more dangerous in this regard.

Heaters

In areas of the University where central heating is not provided, it should be kept in mind that parts of a radiator may be hot enough to cause burns.

Fitness/Exercise Equipment

Fitness and exercise equipment is sometimes poorly guarded and entrapment points can exist in areas such as wheel spokes and chains.

Hazardous Environments

Two recent accidents to children at the Clayton campus occurred when children were accompanied by a parent. The first occurred when a small child riding an escalator fell and had his fingers caught in the escalator tread. The second occurred when a nine year old boy ran down a flight of stairs, apparently tripped and fell head first into a glass partition. Fortunately, in both incidents, injuries were not serious.

The above incidents and the other issues mentioned highlight the need for all employees and students to be aware of the "Children On Campus Policy", particularly the section under "Responsibility of Parents" which states that:

"Children brought into the University must be under the direct supervision of an accompanying parent or care-giver at all times"

Hence, all Heads of Department should take the following steps to prevent children being injured in their departments:

1. Remind all staff that "Children brought into the University must be under the direct supervision of an accompanying parent or care-giver at all times".
2. Remind all staff that they have a legal responsibility, under the Occupational Health & Safety Act, to ensure the safety of all persons, including children, on university premises.
3. Request your Safety Officer and Area Supervisors to identify potential hazards to children in areas other than those which have been specifically identified by your Zone Occupational Health & Safety Committee as being "no access" areas for children as per the policy for children on campus.
4. Request employees responsible for ordering and purchasing equipment to give consideration to the potential hazards to children, as well as adults, when evaluating equipment prior to purchase.

It should also be remembered that the University and area managers have a legal responsibility under common law to ensure the safety of all persons, including children who may be on university premises. Sydney University has recently been fined $40,000 after a child briefly left unsupervised in a hazardous area was killed. Although the University had stipulated constant adult supervision of visiting children and had instituted practices to support this policy, the court found that these procedures were not sufficient.

Please contact Occupational Health and Safety enquiries on 51016 or email if you have any queries in relation to this matter.

25 June 1997