UC Santa Barbara Policy 5400
Policies
Issuing Unit: Administrative Services Date: June 1, 1989
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
I. REFERENCES (Available at the Environmental Health and Safety Office):
A. California Code of Regulations: Title 8, Title 17, Title 19,
Title 22, Title 24, Title 26
B. California Health and Safety Code, NFPA National Fire Codes,
Uniform Fire Code, Uniform Building Code and other applicable
campus, local, state and federal safety and health standards.
C. University Policy on Environmental Health and Safety, Office of the
President (1987).
D. University of California, Santa Barbara policies related to health,
safety and the environment.
II. POLICY:
The University shall maintain as safe and healthy an environment as is
reasonably feasible for its students, faculty, staff and visitors by:
A. Conducting its operations and activities in a safe manner to
minimize the risk of injury to people and minimize property damage
at all locations where University operations and/or activities
occur.
B. Complying with applicable regulations, safety and health consensus
standards, and practices generally accepted by ex perts in the field.
III. DEFINITION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Vice Chancellors are responsible for ensuring that units
under their authority comply with the campus environmental
health and safety policy. Deans, unit heads, principal
investigators, and supervisors are accountable for
establishing and maintaining programs to ensure compliance
within their areas and which will provide a safe and healthy
environment.
All employees are responsible for knowing the applicable
safety regulations governing the activities they carry out
and are accountable for complying with them.
The Environmental Health and Safety Office (EH&S) is
responsible for developing safety education and monitoring
programs to ensure compliance with campus environmental
health and safety policy. EH&S is authorized to inspect all
areas of the campus.
In case of regulatory and/or life safety and health
violations, the Director of EH&S or his/her designee has the
authority to order the cessation of the activity until the
hazardous condition is abated or adequate measures (as
determined by the EH&S Director/designee) are taken to
minimize exposure for bodily harm or property damage.
IV. PROCEDURES:
To anticipate and respond to health and safety issues. EH&S
will establish, coordinate, and maintain programs to educate
and provide training to the campus community. Environmental
Health and Safety programs will address specialized areas as
well as more general topical issues. They will provide
guidelines for compliance with regulations, and with
published standards of recognized professional health and
safety organizations.
Environmental Health and Safety will inspect and monitor
environmental health and safety elements in all campus
operations and activities.
Cessation of Activities
In the event that the Director/designee orders cessation of
an activity due to the serious nature of the hazard, EH&S
will communicate the violation(s) to l) the principal party;
2) the Vice Chancellor, Administrative Services and, if
different, the Vice Chancellor to whom the unit ultimately
reports; and 3) the appropriate dean and unit head. The
activity may be resumed only with the approval of the
Director/designee in consultation with the appropriate Vice
Chancellors, Dean and unit head.
V. PROGRAM ELEMENTS:
Environmental Health and Safety programs will include but
are not restricted to:
Biological Safety
Regulations and accepted standards of the campus Biosafety
Committee governing the use, storage, and disposal of
hazardous biological agents and materials will be observed.
The biological safety program includes facility
surveillance, personnel training, and investigating new
methods to handle and dispose of biohazardous materials in
compliance with regulatory and University controls.
Construction Safety
All construction and alteration projects will be monitored
to ensure that potential hazards and disruptions have been
minimized by using proper barricades. traffic controls
(pedestrian, bicycle, vehicle), and noise and dust abatement
measures. Contractors working on campus owned or leased
property will be held responsible for complying with the
campus environmental health and safety policy.
Disaster Preparedness
The development, dissemination, and maintenance of disaster
preparedness plans will be coordinated by Environmental
Health and Safety. Preparedness plans define appropriate
responses to disasters and outline how diverse campus and
non-campus emergency service units (defined in the Emergency
Operations Manual) will be coordinated. Departments will
develop departmental response emergency plans, assisted by
Environmental Health and Safety.
Diving and Boating Safety
Scuba diving and small boat operations under the auspices of
the University shall be conducted in compliance with state
and federal regulations, American Academy of Underwater
Sciences (AAUS) safety standard, and the campus diving
control board manual.
The purchase of "self-contained underwater bathing
apparatus" (SCUBA) and related equipment, boats, and engines
shall be monitored and approved by EH&S to ensure that users
are qualified and approved. All scuba diving and boating
equipment shall be inspected and maintained in compliance
with referenced regulations.
Technical evaluation of environmental concerns will be
undertaken in areas such as air quality, toxic emissions
inventory and control, and underground storage tanks. EH&S
will coordinate activities with government regulatory
agencies, obtain necessary permits and represent University
needs and interests.
Fire Protection
Facilities and equipment shall be inspected, maintained,
occupied and operated in compliance with mandated
regulations and accepted standards to protect life and
minimize the risk of injury and property damage from fire.
The design and construction of new University-affiliated
facilities or alterations to existing facilities shall, at a
minimum, comply with State Fire Marshal regulations. Program
elements include the monitoring and enforcement of safe
occupant loads in classrooms facilities, and at special
events.
General Safety and Accident Prevention
Campus and campus-leased facilities, transportation systems,
grounds, equipment and fleet vehicles will be maintained to
reduce the risk of accidental injury and minimize University
exposure to liability. Programs will be developed to
identify, evaluate, and correct factors to a reasonable
degree which may contribute to accidental injury of members
of the campus community.
Hazardous Waste
All University operations shall be conducted so that
chemical and radioactive waste is minimized. All waste
produced will be collected stored, and disposed of in
accordance with federal, state, and local regulations.
Industrial Hygiene/Hazardous Materials Management
Occupational health hazards will be identified, evaluated
and controlled in all campus activities, including
facilities maintenance, laboratory functions, office work
and other areas as needed. Program priorities will focus on
engineering controls, followed by administrative controls
and then personnel protective equipment. Program elements
include comprehensive, routine, and emergency management of
hazardous materials.
The care and use of laboratory animals must comply with
state, federal, University regulations, and with accepted
standards for humane treatment.
Occupational Health
The occupational health programs will include surveillance,
identification, and the coordination of preventive measures
to respond to occupational diseases and injury consistent
with regulatory guidelines. accepted industry standards, and
University policy.
Radiation Protection
Regulations shall be observed in the use of radioactive
materials and radiation producing machines, including lasers
and other sources of nonionizing radiation. The provisions
of our California radioactive materials license, the
Radiation Safety Manual, and regulations established by the
Radiation Safety Committee shall be observed and enforced.
All exposure to ionizing radiation and all releases of
radioactive materials to the environment shall be kept as
low as reasonably achievable, but always below the
applicable regulatory limits.
Relations with Governmental Agencies
Environmental Health and Safety will communicate and consult
with coordinate activities with, and guide official
regulatory agencies on all environmental health and safety
issues relating to the campus.
Sanitation
All University facilities and grounds, including swimming
pools, construction sites, living quarters. and food service
operations shall be maintained and operated in compliance
with applicable regulations and accepted standards of
sanitation. Activities shall include but not be limited to
good housekeeping practices, water quality, insects and
rodent control, and liquid and solid waste disposal.
Seismic Safety
Emergency planning, training, and seismic hazard abatement
programs (such as seismic bracing) shall be conducted on a
regular basis to minimize the possibility of injury and
property damage associated with earthquakes. Inspections and
surveys of campus facilities for compliance with University
policy on seismic hazards shall be conducted.
Training
Training of employees and students in all pertinent areas of
safety and health shall be supported and promoted.
For questions or comments regarding the format of the above information, please contact webcontact@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu.
Last Modified By: HMW, 5/21/97
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