Building and safety information

RMIT University is committed to providing a healthy and safe work environment. Contractors are required to adhere to certain guidelines prior to commencing work at RMIT.

Life Safety Rules

Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4
  1. Competent - all workers on RMIT sites must be trained and competent to conduct their works, including RMIT induction requirements (refer below).
  2. Reporting - all incidents and hazards observed on RMIT sites are to be reported in a timely manner.
  3. Procedures - never violate or instruct others to violate safety procedures or safe work method statements (SWMS).
  4. Controls - ensure high risk work is controlled in accordance with legislation and RMIT requirements.

Emergency exit information for City Campus - Buildings 10, 12 and 14

  • In the event of an emergency in Buildings 10, 12 and 14, go down stairs to emergency exit on level 4 (ground level).
  • You will not be able to exit past level 4.
  • Gates have been placed in the stairwell to help you find the exit at level 4.
  • Signage has been posted near the area to help you find the exit at level 4.

Contractor induction and access

Any contractor working under the management and control of RMIT Property Services is required to complete the appropriate level of induction prior to commencing work subsequently as a refresher every 12 months.

For your information, the Contractor Booklet outlines the induction requirements and is a tool for Contractors to use to ensure they comply with legislative and RMIT requirements whilst working at RMIT. Download the Occupational Health, Safety & Environment (OHSE) Booklet for Contractors (PDF).

Vehicle Access to Bowen Street

Alternative access arrangements for Bowen Street from Monday 16 September 2024

Due to the on-going Metro Tunnel works surrounding RMIT’s city campus, there will be new restricted access arrangements in place for Bowen Street.

From Monday 16 September 2024, vehicle access will be restricted to 5am to 2pm on Monday to Friday. No vehicle access will be permitted outside these hours unless pre-arranged with RMIT Security.

RMIT staff and students are encouraged to limit accessing Bowen Street with a vehicle at all times from Monday 16 September 2024.

People are encouraged to take care when moving through this area for their own safety as well as the safety of the broader community.

To ensure the safety of the RMIT and broader community, traffic management controllers (TMCs) will be positioned at each end of the works to manage all vehicle movements to and from La Trobe Street and Bowen Street.

Process for booking deliveries outside 5am to 2pm on Monday to Friday

Pre-arranged vehicle access outside these hours will be subject to approval by RMIT Security and will incur user-pay costs of $120 per hour (minimum call out is four hours/$480) for additional TMC services. These charges are the responsibility of the person/team requesting access. 

Pre-arranged vehicle access outside these hours will require a minimum of 48 hours-notice to RMIT Security. 

To arrange vehicle access outside these hours, please email Security@rmit.edu.au

How long these arrangements will be in place

These access arrangements will be in place until at least the end of 2024. We will continue to keep arrangements in place for as long Metro Tunnel works are taking place and impacting access to campus.

Hazardous Building Material Management Plan

As part of our accredited quality management system, Property Services maintains a Hazardous Building Material Management Plan (HBMMP) which outlines how we conduct business and continue to safely manage our infrastructure in accordance with Regulatory requirements. It is essential that Contractors wishing to perform works on behalf of RMIT are fully versed in the requirements of this management plan and that they can evidence compliance with RMIT requirements in order to be selected for works.

Property Services is accredited to AS/NZS ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems. Alignment to the requirements under this international standard provides greater assurance of service delivery outcomes to students, staff, contractors and other stakeholders.

Work permits

Certain tasks undertaken by Property Services have been identified as having an elevated risk to health, safety or property and require formal review and approval by appropriate nominated RMIT personnel before being undertaken. To achieve this, Property Services has developed a permit to work system that enables a controlled approach to effectively manage risk.

It is the responsibility of the Property Services representative (Facilities Manager/Coordinator or Project Manager/Officer) to ensure that contractors are: appropriately inducted into RMIT and Property Services; aware of the Property Services permit to work system; comply with the permit to work; and comply with all other safety and Property Services requirements.

The Permit to Work Process is applicable to all works managed by Property Services. Works engaged or conducted by RMIT staff or students currently falls outside of the scope of this process, as such all works are to be safely managed by existing risk management processes and in consultation with relevant Senior Advisor Health, Safety & Wellbeing. To begin the application for a Permit to Work, click here.

Permit to work (PTW) downloads

Design standards

Design Standards apply to all new and refurbished buildings and construction projects across RMIT owned or leased premises.

The intent of the Design Standards is to help create sustainable facilities that will provide the best possible environment for learning and research. The Standards are intended to provide designers with clear performance criteria to apply to the design of new facilities, while enabling room for innovative outcomes that enhance the built environment.

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Building maintenance issues

If you notice a building maintenance issue on campus – such as a heating/cooling, electrical or plumbing issue, a fault with a lift* or escalator, flooding or spill – please report the issue to Property Services:

*If you get caught in a lift, activate the emergency button.

Property Services ISO Certification

RMIT University Property Services is formally certified and externally audited against the following ISO standards:

  • ISO 9001 - Quality
  • ISO 14001 - Environmental
  • ISO 41001 – Facilities Management
  • ISO 45001 - Occupational Health & Safety
  • ISO 55001 – Asset Management

Alignment to these international standards provides greater assurance of service delivery outcomes to RMIT's students, staff, contractors and other stakeholders.

RMIT Property Services is focused on providing quality property, facilities and services to support all University activities in a safe and sustainable manner.

 We are committed to providing quality service through:

  • The achievement of quality objectives, measures and targets which align with RMIT’s Strategic Plan and Property Services Annual Operating Plan. 
  • Continuous quality improvement in all activities. 
  • Increasing the satisfaction of our students and staff by establishing close internal partnerships aimed at fully understanding their expectations.  
  • Meeting University requirements in terms of strategy, performance, best practice, cost and timelines. 
  • Developing, implementing, monitoring and reviewing safety, quality and environmental management plans and safe and sustainable systems of work. 
  • Complying with all applicable statutory, regulatory and RMIT requirements. 
  • Attaining and maintaining certification to AS/NZS ISO 9001 Quality Management System

RMIT recognises and acknowledges the Bundjil Statement, which helps all RMIT community to respectfully work, live and study on Aboriginal Country through a dhumbali (commitment) to not harm the wurneet (waterways), biik biik (lands) and bubups (children) of Bundjil. RMIT supports the rights and the self-determination of Indigenous peoples and acknowledges the importance of Indigenous knowledge in preserving and protecting place for current and future generations. 

RMIT Property Services is focused on providing quality property, facilities and services to support all University activities in a safe and sustainable manner. Property Services is committed to protecting the environment, including the prevention of pollution, by working proactively with stakeholders, contractors and business partners to implement the following environmental management objectives: 

  • Complying with all applicable statutory, regulatory and RMIT requirements. 
  • Embedding responsible practice into planning and decision-making processes to instil a consciousness of place-specific considerations to work respectfully on Aboriginal country. 
  • Planning, building and operating infrastructure to a high environmental standard, utilising best-practice sustainable design and innovative technologies to deliver efficient, resilient and adaptable buildings. 
  • Delivering on RMIT’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and actions to enable a transition to a low carbon future, whilst adapting the University to the impacts of climate change.  
  • Monitoring, evaluating, reporting and improving on environmental impacts including the adoption of measures and behaviours that support and promote: 
    • the circular economy through waste avoidance, materials reuse, recycling
    • minimisation of single-use, disposable items including plastics 
    • the responsible management and disposal of landfill and hazardous waste  
    • energy conservation and efficiency  
    • water conservation and sustainable water management, including harvesting, reuse and water-sensitive design  
    • sustainable and safe commuting (walking, cycling and access to public transport modes) through the provision of infrastructure, engagement and practices 
    • preserving and enhancing our cultural assets, built heritage and biodiversity. 
  • Working with our suppliers and contractors to provide greater transparency of our supply chains and drive sustainable outcomes. 
  • Continually improving the Environmental Management System to enhance our environmental performance. 
  • Developing, implementing, monitoring and reviewing safety, quality and environmental management plans and safe and sustainable systems of work. 
  • Regularly monitoring and reporting on our performance to internal and external stakeholders, and evaluating performance to inform continuous improvement. 
  • Attaining and maintaining certification to AS/NZS ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.             

RMIT Property Services is focused on providing facilities & asset management service through stakeholder engagement, planning, operational and sustainable built environments to support RMIT University’s activities. We are committed to achieving best practices using approaches that meet or exceed the requirements of ISO41001 & ISO55001, while complying with all legislative and regulatory requirements.  

RMIT Property Services is committed to providing quality and safe facilities & asset management service by:

  • Demonstrating leadership, commitment and continuous improvement to facilities management activities at all levels of Property Services. 
  • Utilising our integrated services to drive stronger collaboration across disciplines to improve our student and staff quality of life experience and wellbeing. 
  • Incorporating and using facilities & asset planning to inform its strategic planning activities and investment decisions. 
  • Ensuring informed facilities & asset management decisions are conducted throughout the whole of life cycle activities. 
  • Utilising consistent methodology for assessing, planning, managing and reporting on facilities & asset performance. 
  • Achievement of facilities & asset management objectives, measures and targets which align with RMIT’s Strategic Plan and Property Services Annual Plan.  
  • Demonstrating innovation across all disciplines and service groups to improve operational efficiency, effectiveness and workforce productivity. 
  • Attaining and maintaining certification to ISO 41001 Facilities Management - Management System requirements and ISO55001 Asset Management – Management System requirements.

RMIT Property Services is focused on providing quality property, facilities and services to support all University activities in a safe and sustainable manner. Property Services is committed to health, safety and wellbeing by working proactively with stakeholders, contractors and business partners to implement the following safety management objectives: 

  • Health, safety, and wellbeing methodologies will be followed when designing, delivering and operating fit for purpose facilities.  
  • Consultation and participation of workers, including worker’s representative where they exist, is incorporated in health, safety and wellbeing methodologies. 
  • Compliance with all applicable statutory, regulatory and RMIT requirements  
  • Eliminating and reducing identified OHS hazards and risks. 
  • Continual improvement to the OHS Management System to ensure our policies, objectives and processes for OHS performance are established, met and reviewed. 
  • Achieving  OHS objectives, measures and targets which aligns with the Property Services Annual Plan. 
  • Providing and disseminating health, safety and wellbeing information, training and supervision for Property Services Staff and Contractors. 
  • Developing, implementing, monitoring and reviewing safety, quality and environmental management plans and safe and sustainable systems of work. 
  • Undertaking regular site inspections on active work sites. 
  • Attaining and maintaining certification to AS/NZS ISO 45001 OHS Management System. 

RMIT Property Services is focused on providing facilities & asset management service through stakeholder engagement, planning, operational and sustainable built environments to support RMIT University’s activities. We are committed to achieving best practices using approaches that meet or exceed the requirements of ISO41001 & ISO55001, while complying with all legislative and regulatory requirements.  

RMIT Property Services is committed to providing quality and safe facilities & asset management service by: 

  • Demonstrating leadership, commitment and continuous improvement to facilities management activities at all levels of Property Services. 
  • Utilising our integrated services to drive stronger collaboration across disciplines to improve our student and staff quality of life experience and wellbeing. 
  • Incorporating and using facilities & asset planning to inform its strategic planning activities and investment decisions. 
  • Ensuring informed facilities & asset management decisions are conducted throughout the whole of life cycle activities. 
  • Utilising consistent methodology for assessing, planning, managing and reporting on facilities & asset performance. 
  • Achievement of facilities & asset management objectives, measures and targets which align with RMIT’s Strategic Plan and Property Services Annual Plan.  
  • Demonstrating innovation across all disciplines and service groups to improve operational efficiency, effectiveness and workforce productivity. 
  • Attaining and maintaining certification to ISO 41001 Facilities Management - Management System requirements and ISO55001 Asset Management – Management System requirements. 
aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.