HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

Every person who participates in the life of the University, at any level, has a responsibility to help create and maintain a safe environment for himself and others. Specific responsibilities for health and safety are in direct proportion to the operational authority of faculty and staff members.

The President

The President bears the ultimate responsibility for health and safety efforts on campus. He may choose to delegate all or a portion of his authority in connection with this responsibility to the University Environmental Health and Safety Committee or to individuals designated to act in his behalf.

The University Environmental Health and Safety Committee

This committee, appointed by the President, reviews and evaluates policies and programs concerning health and safety-related matters. The committee chairperson reports directly to the President, or his designated representative, on the activities of the committee. All pertinent matters that cannot be effectively handled otherwise are brought to the committee for review and resolution. Subjects beyond the scope of the committee are referred to the President. The committee has five primary functions:

• to assist and advise the President on health and safety matters;
• to develop and maintain a safety manual of general policies and procedures, compatible with externally mandated regulations as well as internal requirements;
• to assist administrators in meeting their assigned health and safety responsibilities as outlined below; this includes the evaluation of additional safety policies implemented to address hazards specific to a particular area or department;
• to review safety-related complaints that cannot be resolved via usual administrative channels and formulate recommendations for action to be taken;
• to act as an advisory body to the University community on matters of safety and health;

The University Environmental Health and Safety Committee meets quarterly to review matters of a routine nature. Special sub-committees may be appointed to address specific projects or emergencies. Committee members are appointed by the President with at least one member from each of the following areas: University Police Department, Physical Plant Department, Technology Division, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Division of Health, Physical Education and Recreation/ Athletic Training, School of Nursing, Student Services, and the Student Government Association. Ex-officio members of this committee include the EHS Coordinator, as well as representatives from outside agencies, who provide consultation services as needed.

The Coordinator for Environmental Health and Safety

The Coordinator for Environmental Health and Safety reports to the Director of the Physical Plant and is responsible for the administration of the University’s Environmental Health and Safety Program. However, the implementation of safety policies is the responsibility of every person in direct proportion to his administrative/operational authority.
The Coordinator has the following duties:

• to implement the Physical Plant’s health and safety program and assist the Director in carrying out his safety responsibilities;
• to assist other departments, on request, with their responsibilities as outlined in this manual;
• to manage a fire safety program that includes regular inspections of fire equipment, training, and acting in an advisory capacity on fire code compliance;
• to act as liaison with governmental agencies having jurisdiction over matters affecting the health and safety of the University community;
• to conduct appropriate investigation of on-the-job accidents and forward results to supervisory personnel and to the Business Office; to maintain records of these accidents;
• to investigate safety-related complaints that have not been or cannot be resolved through normal channels;
• to provide for the safe handling, storage and disposal of hazardous liquid and solid wastes and to maintain required records of disposals;
• to maintain a master file of Material Safety Data Sheets, provided by departments, for all hazardous chemicals or products stored or used on campus; to assist departments, if requested, in obtaining these sheets and providing necessary right-to-know training;
• to assist the University Environmental Health and Safety Committee in carrying out its obligations;
• to promote education and training of all employees in health and safety practices, and to provide such training on request.
  
  

Administrators, Deans, and Department Chairs

It is the explicit responsibility of all administrators, deans and department heads to maintain healthful and safe working conditions within their jurisdictions and to monitor and exercise control over their assigned areas. Each administrator is responsible for managing an effective health and safety program which addresses both the general safety of the unit as well as any particular safety issues that may be peculiar to it. It is the responsibility of administrators at this level to insure that such a program exists, that it meets the safety and environmental health needs of the unit and that it is current. Each unit must submit its written program to the University EHS Committee for review and approval prior to its becoming effective. Subsequent revisions or changes must also be submitted to the committee for review and approval. Assistance in preparing this program is available from the EHS Coordinator on request. Problems may also be addressed directly to the EHS Committee for review and resolution. Administrators should implement the following procedures:

1. Make every effort to observe and comply with applicable rules established by this manual as well as any additional regulations mandated by external agencies;
2. Identify facilities and equipment that present a health or safety hazard. If it becomes necessary to replace, upgrade, or add items to insure a safe working environment, these improvements must be given highest priority for available departmental or University funds.
3. Conduct, or have conducted, periodic safety inspections of the area and correct any deficiencies that might exist. Departments that involve hazardous operations must be inspected frequently. The EHS Coordinator is available for consultation on corrective measures that may be needed, but the implementation of these measures is the direct responsibility of the affected department. Problems beyond the ability of the department to correct should be referred to the next higher administrative unit for action, or, if appropriate, to the University EHS Committee.
4. Insure that all personnel fully understand departmental safety and emergency procedures and see that needed training is provided.
5. Provide necessary equipment and protective devices for each job.
6. Investigate and review all accidents, injuries, or illnesses occurring within the department that represent any degree of loss or potential loss.
7. Seek prompt medical treatment for any injuries that require it. Insure that reporting procedures for accidents and injuries are followed. Maintain a fully supplied first aid kit in the department and make employees aware of its location and proper use.
8. Encourage the development of departmental safety committees to address internal safety issues and recommend corrective action.

Supervisors

Supervisors are responsible for training personnel under their direction in proper operating procedures and for insuring that all facilities and equipment under their jurisdiction are monitored and maintained in a safe condition at all times. In addition to instruction in operational procedures, supervisors are responsible for providing other safety training that may be necessary. The EHS Coordinator can assist with this training on request.
Other supervisory responsibilities for safety and health include:

1. explaining clearly to employees all relevant safety rules and regulations that apply to specific work duties;
2. conducting regularly scheduled training meetings to assure uniform understanding and compliance;
3. providing personnel with needed safety equipment and demonstrating proper usage;
4. controlling unsafe practices such as horseplay, smoking in prohibited areas, operating machinery without proper safeguards, etc.;
5. inspecting work areas for hazardous conditions or unsafe practices and taking corrective action or reporting the problem to the next higher level of administration
6. practicing and promoting good housekeeping procedures;
7. investigating all accidents promptly and completing necessary documentation
8. notifying the department of any employee who may be physically or emotionally incapable of performing his duties in a safe manner;
9. seeking prompt medical attention for employees who are injured;
10.  commending and encouraging employees who maintain a uniformly safe environment and accident-free work record, or who develop unique safety practices for their work areas.

Faculty and Teaching Assistants

Faculty members and teaching assistants are responsible for the dissemination of information regarding safety regulations to students and employees under their active academic supervision. These responsibilities include:

1. explaining to students campus safety regulations and procedures established by this manual and departmental procedures that are pertinent to their academic tasks or activities;
2. assuring proper use of manual or powered equipment by first demonstrating correct operation, then providing training, and thereafter maintaining periodic surveillance over the use;
3. insuring that students use required protective equipment properly;
4. seeking prompt medical treatment for injured students from the department or the nearest medical facility;
5. inspecting instructional areas frequently to identify and eliminate unsafe practices and conditions; if necessary, request corrective action from the appropriate administrator;
6. submitting periodic recommendations for the improvement of the immediate academic environment to the appropriate department chair or administrator.

Employees and Students

All University employees and students are subject to the campus health and safety rules established in this manual, departmental rules and safety procedures, as well as external laws and regulations. Compliance with all of these standards is vital to the creation and maintenance of a healthy and safe campus environment and to facilitate the pursuit of desired goals and activities.
Students and employees have the right to expect a safe campus environment for work or study, and share in the responsibility for their own safety and health. These rights and responsibilities include:

1. the right to receive information and instruction regarding hazards that might be encountered in performing assigned duties; the responsibility for understanding and complying with University and departmental safety instructions, whether written or oral, when performing these duties;
2. the right and the responsibility to refuse to perform any unsafe task before consulting with the appropriate supervisor or instructor. Before any task is attempted, unsafe conditions should be corrected or training provided in safe procedures; no one is required to perform any task under unsafe or hazardous conditions.
3. the right to have proper tools and equipment for each job; the responsibility to use only tools approved or provided by the supervisor or instructor;
4. the right and the responsibility to use appropriate safety equipment or guards, to work within established safety procedures, and to give precedence to correct methods over shortcuts or expedience;
5. the right to be told of the presence of chemical hazards, to read the material safety data sheets for those chemicals, and to be given training in understanding the sheets; the responsibility to use the information on the sheets to handle and dispose of the chemicals properly.
6. the right and the responsibility to report unsafe conditions, practices, or equipment immediately to the supervisor or instructor. Health and safety problems not resolved at the supervisor, instructor or department levels may be appealed following established grievance procedures.
7. the right to prompt medical treatment for injuries received in performance of assigned duties; the responsibility to inform the supervisor or instructor immediately of accidents or injuries, to cooperate in any investigation and to complete required documentation.