University Safety Committee

At a meeting of 2 August 1966, the Senate moved to establish an Accident Investigation and Prevention Committee to investigate, perform and advise on matters of safety and accident prevention. It was also resolved that all departments should report any accidents to either the Chairman of the Committee or one of its members.

The first meeting of the Accident Investigation and Prevention Committee was held on the 23 February 1967 and the Committee was made up of:

Director of the Student Health Service

; The Officer of Works (or his nominee)

; Two members of the academic staff to be nominated by the Sydney Association of University Teachers

; Two students (male and female) to be nominated by the Students Representative Council

; A representative of the Professional Officers Association

; A representative of the Laboratory Assistants General Branch of the Health and Research Employees Association

; A student advisor

; A member of the administrative staff

; Two representatives of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Dr T D Wilson, Director of the Student Health Service was elected to be Chairman and Dr D L Fearon, Acting Director of the Student Health Service, was elected as Acting Chairman during Dr Wilson's absences.

Some of the first issues discussed by the Committee included where the treatment of injured staff should take place; the creation of a standard accident report form and the appointment of a Safety Officer.

On the 18 June 1969, a motion was passed to recommend to the Senate the change of the Committees name to the University Safety Committee as it was less cumbersome. This was prompted by a letter from Dr Ferguson of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and a member of the Committee. The name change was approved and so by the minutes of the next meeting, on 6 August 1969, the Committee was officially known as the University Safety Committee.