OH&S Talk with teachers...

[vlclabbie]

Hi Everyone, I've been asked to do a talk on the Lab OH&S & processes to the teachers in their science cluster meeting on Monday. Any advice... ideas.... help?! Ta muchly....& as always ... karma sent!

[trish armstrong]

Hi,
Do the basics glasses, gloves, screens(if practical)etc. Personal protection. It's also good to throw in that they are setting an example to the kids by wearing this stuff.
Security- locking of labs, storerooms, preprooms. Workcover states that we are required to " prevent access to premises by unauthorised persons" (2.10 in dangerous goods act) MSDS availability is an oh&s matter
Risk assessments- for pracs. Workcover states that it is not mandatory that RA be done, but if an accident was to occur they investigate why an RA wasn't done. (this I confirmed to the workcover line on the 2/7/09)
A major OH&S point in science is that all chemicals or beakers should be labelled, as we know teachers sometimes walk around with beakers with who knows what in them. "All containers of dangerous goods or Hazardous Substances must be appropriately labelled.....as a minimum the OH&S regulation specifies that the label clearly identifies the substance and provides health and safety information revelant risk and safety phrases." (3.2.2)
They should always be mindful of each other, not put box's etc on high shelves, should not climb. Erganomics at their desks and computer stations, you can get pictures and examples on the google site. In NSW, OH&S dept at schools has the staff in mind. At our school we look for trip hazards, fire hazards eg a rats nest of computer cords behind computers or along floors. Fumes from chemicals or photocopy machines, mold.
Safety operating policies on the walls near machines eg, guilatine.
Basically they should be mindful of hazards and its everyones responsibility to report hazards to support each other. Hope this helps, I'm in NSW hope OH&S is similar in Vic.
goodluck, check the det site for OH&S issues.
Trish.

[vlclabbie]

Wow thanks Trish! I am so lucky that our teachers are pretty well "trained" already but you've given me a couple of things I'd forgotten about!

Actually starting to look forward to it now!

[smiley]

Hey Kel,

This is something that Sassi passed on to us once, that I have found very useful indeed.

[vlclabbie]

Thank you Kristin (& Sassi)! Awesome stuff! I'll be able to blitz them with OH&S now! Go me!!!! Still hoping I do ok but!!

Hey Kristin, my family & I are visiting Cairns next year some time - what do you recommend as must do's? There are so many attractions...& not enough money.... Which are value for that bit of money?!! Thanks Kel

[smiley]

Well, depending on the age of your kids, and the time of the year, the absolute MUST is that you stay at the Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort. It does cabins at various prices, depending on your requirements.

It has the biggest jumping pillow in the state/the country/the world - something like that, as well as two pools - spa attached to one, slide attached to other - a mini golf course, buggies to rent, movies etc. All of which is designed to keep kiddies busy, and parents happy.

Cairns Esplanade Lagoon is a free outdoors swimming pool, which has a fake sand beach play area, and lots of water fun. Further up on the Esplanade is Muddy's Playground, with lots of water play, as well as other playground equipment. All up the Esplanade are free BBQ's etc. The Night Markets are open every night, and you can buy every version of souvenir from totally kitsch made-in-a-3rd-world-country crap, to real Opals etc.

The Wildlife Dome on top of the Casino is not cheap, but is cool, with a crocodile in residence, 1000 birds, gliders and their babies, and various reptiles, as well as the mandatory Koalas to cuddle and photograph. (Did you know that QLD Koalas are half the size of their southern cousins? They really are a lot more like teddy bears up here) A very cool day trip is the Breakfast with the Birds experience in Port Douglas. You pay an entrance fee, get an all you can eat buffet breakfast, and entry into a pretty comprehensive wildlife park, complete with tree kangaroos, cassowaries and other NQ creatures.

Rainforestation in Kuranda is another alternative. For an all encompassing entry, you get to see some wildlife, an Aboriginal cultural performance, spear & boomerang throwing, and a tour of the tropical fruit plantation in an old army duck (you know water and land vehicle). The Kuranda markets are a huge rip-off, although fun to look around in, but the Venom Zoo or the Butterfly Sanctuary are great to look at.

Reef trips are almost mandatory, but NOT cheap. Still, if you're don't visit the tropics often, it is a natural wonder after all.

For free, you can go to the mangrove boardwalk or the Cairns Botanic Gardens and get all "science-y" on your kids. WE do regular excursions to the mangroves to look at succession, and to check out the mudskippers - little fish with four eyes, that walk across the mud using their front flippers as legs. There's always fishing at the beaches, especially Palm Cove. Mind you, last time I went with my daughter, we caught a Moray! But we elected not to land him, discretion being the better part of valour.

Whatever else you do, choose your time and BOOK. These holidays just past people were lobbing into town, thinking they could get a car and inexpensive accommodation without booking - and they were WRONG! Cars book up the fastest, followed by all the family accommodation. Don't forget, the rest of Australia wants to be here in the mid-year holidays to get warm, and laugh at locals wearing jumpers when the temperature plummets to 22 degrees!

Hope that's helpful to you. Hope Tourism QLD gives me a commission.

[franco]

Hi everyone,

Kristin, after reading your post I am even more convinced now - as if 2°C over the weekend wasn't enough! - that my retirement years lie in FNQ!! Now I've just got survive this job long enough to make it economically possible, being so well paid and all.

Cheers,
Fran

[vlclabbie]

Thanks Kristin! Yep very comprehensive & helpful .... & honest! Not always what you read in the tourist brochures! Just what I was after... here comes the karma.... ...... got it??

We will be up in Aug / Sept next year, avoiding holidays (taking leave) & the kids are 12 & 14 so will love your suggestions! Love going 'science'y' on the kids - they'll just 'adore' that! NOT!!

Thanks for that - I had a list sOoooooooooooooooooo long of things to do so now you've helped cull a few....!

A couple more q's if you don't mind?! I'm not in a rush!

Is there any reef island worth a visit in particular? Any that aren't? And any croc parks that stand out??

Are the skyrail & railway to Karanda worth a go or can you see just as much driving??? We'll have our own car. Driving up from here slowly... doing the blue mountains... gold coast... etc... perhaps I should visit everyone's labs on the way up & I can claim it on tax?!!!!!!! Mwuahhahahahahahah

Thanks Kristin! I can't wait to get up there!!!

[smiley]

Kel,

Skyrail is definitely worth it. The train back down the mountain is fun if you haven't ever been on an old-fashioned locomotive. If you have then it's a bit same old same old. You can always let me know what day you're going and I'll drop you off at Skyrail and drive your car up the mountain for you. Depending on what else you have planned, you could make it one way and go spend a night on the Tablelands after your day at Kuranda. The coffee places are good too.

One of the coolest things I've done with mine in the last holidays was spend a night near one of the known platypus haunts, and get up early enough to see 5 wild platypus hunting for rising bugs on the surface of a dam. That was priceless.

Green Island has a pretty good rep, and there is a snorkelling area off one of the beaches if you don't have diving tickets (which I presume your kids don't). The most interesting fact I learned on the Green Island eco-tour was that casuarinas are named after cassowaries. Bulldust, I said to myself. Sounded like one of those "just for the tourists" things. SO I rang my father (Prof of Botany, ANU) and sure enough it was true. Apparently everyone knew the trees, but nobody had classified them. Weird eh? Green Island also has glass-bottomed boats which can be cool, and drier. August/September is a great time, coz there's no Irukanji or Box Jellyfish around. Be aware that NSW has different holidays to ours, and make sure you don't clash. Pricing around here goes with holidays. Milking tourists is a TAFE competency I'm pretty sure.

[nickyw]

Hi Kel,

I would strongly recommend going to Green Is, it has the most beautiful reef with heaps and heaps of marine life, last time we were there snorkeling we saw a green turtle,a reef shark, a maouri wrasse and the most beautiful fish Green Is is unique because it is only a short boat ride from Cairns and then you grab your snorkelling gear and then walk right into the water and there is the reef very good for kids.

I do think you should stop in and stay at Townsville on the way, we have a much better esplanade

[smiley]

Yes, it's true! Their Esplanade is way better.

It's just their drinking water that sucks.

Just to clear things up - you know the Melbourne/Sydney rivallry thing? We do the Brownsville , oh sorry I mean Townsville/Cairns thing!

[lada]

As you all know, Sassi is now a married woman and honeymooning as we speak on a Malaysian island, which she says is paradise on Earth.
Scuba diving, snorkling, swimming in clear warm waters with only fish and turtles for company ( yes, and her new hubbie)
Smiley. your description of holidays in Cairns reminded me of her holiday.
She will be back next week, will get her to put some pics on this site.
Lada

[vlclabbie]

YAY looking forward to Sassi's return! Although she might still prefer to be out snorkelling in paradise!!

Loving the Townsville / Cairns rivallry. Already had the Townsville Esplanade down to do!

Hmmmm.... thinking evil thoughts........ .... Coz I know you labbies don't have anything else to do! Maybe I don't need to go to a travel agent... or kill all those trees with brochures... Perhaps I just need all you labbies from Wodonga to Cooktown (including the Blue Mnts / Atherton Tablelands / central NSW - we are coming back via inland) to let me know what's worth a visit & what's not? LOL

[ellice]

Hi gang,
Just had to get in on the conversation about Cairns. Just got back after two weeks up your way Kristin. Had a great time. Most days about 28'C. Did the train trip up to Kuranda, and caught the skyrail back. Unreal! Definitely do the snorkelling gig. It was fantastic. Also enjoyed Port Douglas, Daintree, and Atherton Tableland. There are a few mines out that way, which could be fun for the kids.
Next year we are thinking of flying into Townsville, and then spending the two weeks driving to Cairns. Possibly in a Wicked van!!!
Ellice.

[vlclabbie]

Thanks for all your comments! Luv them!

The OH&S meeting with the teachers went well! Well in my view it did!

Thank you all for your help with that one! Phew!

[nickyw]

Hey Ellice

Make sure you spend some time in Townsville before heading further north. We have museums, reef HQ, Magnetic Is, the Strand, some great restuarants, the biggest army barracks in Oz (a black hawk just flew over as I'm typing this)
Maybe i could get a job in tourism surely that would pay more money