Safety Role Appointments

HSRs are not compulsory at UQ but must be established if requested by a work group. Managers should not nominate or appoint HSRs – this is a worker-led process.

Any staff member can be nominated by their work group, regardless of experience or qualifications. 

For details on HSR powers, functions and the election process, see the Health and Safety Consultative Mechanisms Procedure. 

Complete the application through UQSafe R3 for access to inspection checklists. 
Main menu > Report Something > Requests and Applications > Safety Role Appointment Form

Complete the application through UQSafe R3 for access to the R2 Work Off-Campus (WOC) and Fieldwork Plan module. 
Main menu > Report Something > Requests and Applications > Safety Role Appointment Form

Complete the application through UQSafe R3 for access to the R2 Lab Activity Application Register and R2 Certifications module. 
Main menu > Report Something > Requests and Applications > Safety Role Appointment Form

A Drugs and Poisons Officer (DO) is responsible for ensuring that drugs and poisons are managed in a safe, secure and compliant manner within their organisational unit. The role provides oversight across procurement, storage, handling, use, and disposal, ensuring alignment with University of Queensland governance framework as well as the requirements of Queensland’s Medicines and Poisons Act and associated regulations.

Key Responsibilities

• Compliance: Ensure all activities involving regulated drugs and poisons comply with relevant legislation and approval conditions, and UQ governance requirements.
• Secure Storage & Access Control: Oversee the implementation and maintenance of secure storage facilities, ensuring restricted, authorised access and appropriate physical and procedural safeguards.
• Ordering and Pre-purchase approvals: Place orders for regulated medicines and poisons on behalf of approved UQ staff as required and perform pre-purchase compliance checks.
• Inventory Control & Record Keeping: Maintain accurate, auditable records—including usage logs and registers—to support regulatory reporting and internal audits.
• Monitoring & Incident Reporting: Conduct periodic self‑audits, identify discrepancies, and escalate any loss, diversion, theft, improper use, or compliance issues to the UQ Health, Safety and Wellness Division.
• Guidance & Support: Provide practical advice to staff on safe handling procedures, regulatory obligations, and local operational requirements for drugs and poisons.
• Training & Induction: Support the induction and training of personnel who work with regulated drugs and poisons, helping ensure competence in compliance, safety, and record‑keeping expectations.
• Continuous Improvement: Assist in reviewing and improving local work practices, ensuring that systems and procedures remain current with legislative changes and best‑practice standards.

Further information can be found on the HSW Division Medicines and Poisons webpage and in the Substance Management Plan for Medicines and Poisons Procedure.

A Controlled Substance Officer (CSO) is responsible for ensuring that controlled substances are managed in a safe, secure and compliant manner within their organisational unit. Controlled substances at UQ include prohibited and restricted carcinogens, chemicals of security concern (CSCs), security sensitive ammonium nitrate (SSAN), radiochemicals, and other materials subject to legislative or security controls.

Key Responsibilities

• Compliance: Ensure that the handling, storage, procurement, and disposal of controlled substances complies with applicable legislation and Codes of Practice, and aligns with UQ procedures such as the Chemicals of Security Concern Procedure.
• Pre-purchase Approvals: Function as the Controlled Substances Commodity approver in UniFi to review the acquisition of controlled substances and ensure that regulatory authorisations or licences are in place.
• Monitoring & Incident Reporting: Support stocktakes and compliance audits and report outcomes to the Head of the Organisation Unit. Communicate with the HSW Division regarding approvals, compliance checks, diversion or misuse concerns, and suspicious behaviours.
• Guidance & Support: Guide staff in meeting their obligations including authorisation and licencing application processes when required under regulatory or UQ governance frameworks. Support staff in the development and review of risk assessments.
• Training & Induction: Support the induction and training of personnel who work with controlled substances, helping ensure competence in compliance, safety, and record‑keeping expectations.
• Continuous Improvement: Assist in reviewing and improving local work practices, ensuring that systems and procedures remain current with legislative changes and best‑practice standards.

Further information can be found on the HSW Division Chemical Hazards webpages and in the Hazardous Chemicals Management Procedure.

If you are new to a Radiation / Laser Safety Officer (RSO/LSO/NT-LSO) role, complete the RSO/LSO/NT-LSO appointment form and email it to the HSW Division at hsw@uq.edu.au.