Monash Uni under fire for return-to-campus plan

Monash University has been slapped with a health and safety notice amid concerns over the institution’s push to return to on-campus teaching.

A health and safety notice issued to Monash University has been withdrawn for failing to meet requirements outlined by occupational health and safety guidelines.

The university was issued with the health and safety notice after failing to consult with staff on its plans to return to face-to-face teaching.

The university’s chief operating officer Peter Marshall announced on January 25 that the entire university would return to face-to-face teaching on February 28.

But the university did not properly consult staff or health and safety representatives about this plan, as it is required to do under the Victorian legislation.

The provisional improvement notice was issued by a Monash and health and safety representative.

It directed the university to cease on-site work and face-to-face teaching until genuine consultation has been carried out.

The university had eight days from the serving of the notice to remedy its contravention of Victorian workplace safety laws.

But, the notice was withdrawn on Tuesday after it was deemed “uncessesary” by the university.

Monash University has been issued with a health and safety notice after failing to consult with staff on its plans to return to face-to-face teaching.

National Tertiary Education Union Monash branch president Dr Ben Eltham said: “We have been contacted by many members in recent days concerned about the University’s plans and their personal safety”.

“There are many staff at this university who are immunocompromised, who have pre-existing conditions, or who care for vulnerable dependants,” he said.

“The university’s chief operating officer, Peter Marshall, has misled the union and misled staff. Mr Marshall needs to carry out his duties under the Victorian Act to genuinely consult on workplace safety. He should start by returning our phone calls.

“We all want the university to keep teaching and researching. But staff and students need to be kept safe, and the University has a legal duty to ensure that.”

The union is demanding free N95 and rapid antigen testing for staff, proper ventilation for all indoor spaces, online teaching to remain an option for all students and staff and consultation about health and safety at the university.

A Monash University spokesman said: “The NTEU has been appropriately consulted (and will continue to be consulted) on matters concerning staff throughout the pandemic”.

“The university has consistently communicated to the NTEU, staff, students, the broader Monash community and the public our intention to return to on-campus teaching and learning, research and operations in semester one 2022,” he said.

“Monash University has and continues to be committed to staff and student safety, through the more than two years now it has been operating under pandemic conditions.

“Further, it is the university’s view that the Provisional Improvement Notice (PIN) it has received is invalid, unnecessary and has not been issued in accordance with requirements of the OHS legislation.”

The statement said the university’s nine-pillar Covid Safe plan had been appropriately adjusted in line with health orders.

“Face masks will continue to be provided where the university has conducted a risk assessment and deemed that a surgical or other grade mask is required.”

It is understood the university will consult with its staff and health and safety representatives ahead of orientation which begins in late February.