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Function Included Tasks
Accident Prevention Proactive recognition, evaluation, and control of hazards for the purpose of preventing accidents and injuries.
Task Assigned to
Asbestos/Lead Identification, removal, maintenance, and management of asbestos and lead in campus buildings; notification, protection, and treatment of exposed personnel is included.
Biological Safety Safe handling of disease-causing microorganisms and infectious agents that can cause disease in healthy humans or cause significant environmental or agricultural impact, including work with humans or primate tissues, fluids, cells or cell culture, rDNA, transgenic plants or animals, and work with animals known to be vectors of zoonotic diseases. Design and implementation of infection-control procedures in health centers, research laboratories, etc., is part of this process. Specific tasks include:
• Developing policies and procedures for handling, storage, and transportation of disease producing microorganisms
• Inspecting labs and other facilities for biosafety storage compliance
• Record keeping
• Ensuring the certification of biosafety cabinets is current
• Training for biological safety involving bloodborne pathogens, tuberculosis, recombinant DNA, and infectious agents
• Reviewing research and teaching protocols involving use of biohazardous materials and rDNA techniques
• Recommending appropriate disinfectants
• Ensuring that biohazard communications requirements are met
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Function
Chemical Safety
Included Tasks
Handling, storage, transportation, record keeping, training, and compliance related to hazardous chemicals. Specific functions include:
• Developing policies and procedures for the handling, storage, and transportation of chemicals
• Training and communication regarding chemical safety
• Inspecting laboratories and other facilities for chemical handling and storage compliance
• Maintaining and making available Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
• Generating reports for required under laws and regulations
• Maintaining records of chemical inventories
Construction Safety Addresses construction site safety and review of contractor safety programs.
Disaster
Preparedness
The establishment of contingency plans in the event of natural or man-made disasters and environmental contaminations, including risk assessment, loss minimization preparations, and resource commitments.
Emergency
Response
Planned actions designed to minimize hazard to human health or the environment from fires, explosions, chemical and radioactive material incidents, and confined space rescue.
Task Assigned to
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Function
Environmental
Health/Sanitation
Included Tasks
Issues related to health codes for housing, sewage systems, drinking water, insect and pest control, swimming pool sanitation, food preparation, and storage. These activities include:
• Developing policies and procedures related to environmental health and sanitation
• Training and communication
• Inspection of appropriate areas for acceptable environmental health and sanitation practices and compliance
• Investigation of environmental health and sanitation problems
• Maintaining records
• Reviewing construction plans for compliance with environmental health and sanitation standards
Environmental
Issues
The University’s programs and actions to reduce pollution and its impact on the land, air, and water resources.
Environmental
Permitting
Appropriate permits are secured from regulatory agencies, including:
• Air permits (except radiological) for incinerators, boilers, etc.
• Underground storage tanks permits
• Wastewater (sewer and turnoff) discharge permits
• Other environmental permits
Task Assigned to
Fire Safety Inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire detection systems, building inspection, construction plan review, fire investigation, and fire safety training. Specific duties include:
• Creation and maintenance of fire safety policies and procedures
• Fire detection system inspection and testing
• Fire suppression systems inspection and testing
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Function Included Tasks
• Building inspection
• Training of the campus community in fire safety issues, including fire wardens, laboratory users, residence hall occupants, office staff, and others
• Communication of fire related information with the campus community
• Construction plan review
• Review and/or monitoring of special events for fire safety compliance
• Fire investigation
General Safety Program management, safety training, building inspections, OSHA compliance and accident investigations. All investigation work, including investigations associated with workers’ compensation, is included. Specific activities include:
• Developing general safety policies and procedures
• General safety training (e.g., first aid, CPR, forklift training, confined space entry, lockout/tagout, defensive driving)
• New employee orientation
• General Industry OSHA compliance
• Accident investigations
Task Assigned to
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Function
Hazardous
Chemical Waste
Included Tasks
Collection, transportation, storage, disposal, treatment and recycling of hazardous chemical waste. This program includes only chemical waste. Specific functions include:
• Collection of hazardous waste
• Transportation of hazardous waste on campus
• Storage of hazardous waste
• Disposal of hazardous waste
• Treatment of hazardous waste
• Recycling of hazardous waste
• Training and communication regarding waste minimization
Industrial Hygiene Anticipation, identification, evaluation, and control of factors in the workplace that lead to illness, discomfort, or inefficiency in employees or members of the community. Includes exposure assessments. Areas of concern include personal protective equipment (PPE), ergonomics, ventilation, air quality, etc.
Medical/Biological
Waste
The proper handling, storage, and disposal of anatomical and pathological waste and waste potentially containing disease-causing organisms (e.g., human and animal blood). Specific functions include:
• Collection, transportation, storage, treatment, and disposal of biological/medical waste
• Record keeping related to biological/medical waste
• Training and communication regarding biological/medical waste
• Auditing of disposal, hauling, and treatment facilities
Task Assigned to
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Function Included Tasks
Occupational Health Programs related to the health and well-being of employees on and off the job. Program areas involve maintenance of toxic material exposure records, medical exams, medical surveillance, and worksite health and wellness promotion.
Radiation Safety The safe use of radiation-producing devices and radioactive materials. Includes proper maintenance of equipment, accountability of devices and materials, personnel training, radiation surveys and personnel dosimetry, and record keeping. Radiation
Safety includes:
• Developing policies and procedures for the use of radiationproducing devices and radioactive materials
• Training and communication
• Inspecting facilities for radiation safety compliance
• Assuring that physical inventories and records of radioactive materials are maintained
• Calibrating radiation monitoring devices
• Maintaining records of personnel dosimetry
• Authorizing user applications and renewals
• Assuring the decommissioning of user facilities
• Supporting the Radiation Safety Committee
• Reviewing and approving research protocols
• Reviewing construction plans for radiation safety issues
Task Assigned to
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Function Included Tasks
Radioactive Waste Activities related to the collection, transportation, and storage of radioactive waste. Includes the proper processing and distribution of radioactive waste. This function includes:
• Developing policies and procedures
• Training and communication
• Collecting, transporting, storing, processing, and disposing of radioactive waste
• Maintaining records related to processing and disposal of radioactive waste
• Training and communication on radioactive waste minimization
Task Assigned to
1 This information is based on definitions developed and utilized by the Campus Safety, Health and Environmental Management Association as part of its benchmarking program.
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