THE University of Newcastle’s stance against texting and walking could seem mild at Eraring Power Station, where staff are told not to walk and talk.
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Eighteen months ago, the plant’s owner Origin Energy introduced a policy of no talking, texting or using Bluetooth on mobile devices for staff walking anywhere on site.
“In a hazardous operating environment like Eraring where there is a lot of moving equipment, having a full awareness of one’s surroundings is critical,’’ plant manager Tony Phillips said. ‘‘Prohibiting the use of hand-held devices throughout all areas on site helps reduce the potential for accidents.’’
The policy is drilled into employees at inductions, where Mr Phillips said the response has been ‘‘very positive’’. The rules apply equally to office workers and those on the plant floor. Some report changing their phone habits at home.
‘‘We’ve been very encouraged by the response to this policy since it was introduced, with many of the team telling me how they’ve changed the way they use their mobiles away from work,” Mr Phillips said.
The University’s warning to staff about texting and walking, reported in the Newcastle Herald, met with a mixed reaction. Some staff members saw the edict as ‘‘commonsense’’, while others were glad it was sent following recent phone-related injuries on campus.
Suzanne Ryan, acting president of the National Tertiary Education Union, welcomed the university’s stance on health and safety.
‘‘In one way [the phone safety alert] is really funny, like walking and chewing gum, but in another it’s positive that they’re making representations on OH&S,’’ Associate Professor Ryan said.
The university’s stance on phones is part of a broader push to crack down on ‘‘near-misses’’, from slips on campus footpaths to trips caused by high heels.
