50 Things Any EH&S
Staff Member Should
Know
Robert Emery, DrPH, CHP, CIH, CSP, RBP, CHMM, CPP, ARM
Assistant Vice President for Safety, Health, Environment & Risk Management
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Associate Professor of Occupational Health
The University of Texas School of Public Health
Need for Comprehensive
Understanding
University health and safety issues are rarely
limited to a single risk or aspect – most issues
are typically multi-faceted
University enterprises continue to expand in
scope and complexity, but EH&S budgets
may not grow in suitable proportions
Ability to demonstrate how EH&S program
furthers the key missions of an institution is
critical for program survival and continued
proportional support
Observations/Remarks
Experience based on multiple EH&S program peer
reviews across the country, and 8 years of
conducting the “EH&S Academy” has shown:

A consistent lack of understanding about how universities
operate and how to succinctly convey what the EH&S
program does to further the mission of the institution

Shortcoming likely due to lack of specific training in this area
– virtually every person enters the university EH&S field from
other settings, with no formal academic preparation on
university operations
The 50 Questions
To address this shortcoming, a list of 50 key
items collectively considered important for
any EH&S person to be able to answer about
their institution was developed
Consists of both objective and subjective
issues
Debated (heatedly) amongst EH&S
management staff and system level staff until
consensus list identified (almost)
Disclaimer
Knowledge of the “50 questions” will not
make everyone an expert nor omnipotent
Intended merely to equip persons with a
fundamental awareness of issues and the
ability to adequately handle basic inquiries
and problems
“Your list may vary”
Ability to answer and comprehend the 50
items likely places persons in the top 5 to
10% of the profession (this is inclusive of
EH&S management as well!)
50 Question Major Topic Areas
Institutional parameters, program aspects
Fire & life safety
Risk management & insurance
Chemical safety
Biological safety
Radiation safety
Environmental protection
Indoor air quality
Security
Pilot Application:
The Sanity Check
16 participants in an EH&S Academy session
held in Houston, TX in August 2005 provided
the 50 questions on first day (without the
answers) and asked 2 questions:


Could you answer this question for your institution
(yes or no)?
In your opinion, would knowing the information be
of benefit to you fulfilling your EH&S function (yes
or no)?
Ability to Answer 50 Questions?
gray = yes, white = no,
participants: n = 16 August 2005 EH&S Academy
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
Administration
Biosafety
Chemical Safety
Radiation
Environmental
Fire Safety
Risk Mgmt
Security
Benefit Knowing Answer?
yellow = yes, white = no,
participants: n = 16 August 2005 EH&S Academy
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
Administration
Biosafety
Chemical Safety
Radiation
Environmental
Fire Safety
Risk Mgmt
Security
Ability to Answer 50 Questions?
gray = know and should know, yellow = should know but don’t, white = see no need to know,
participants: n = 16 August 2005 EH&S Academy
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
Administration
Biosafety
Chemical Safety
Radiation
Environmental
Fire Safety
Risk Mgmt
Security
The
50
Questions
Implementation at UTHSCH
Questions presented to staff during
weekly professional development
seminars (over 4 to 5 sessions, each
lasting one hour)
Answers and rationale for importance
also discussed
Expectation for ability to answer such
questions in the future established
Outcomes to Date
Improved staff understanding of overall
processes, inclusive of important perspectives
Improved customer service and improved “point
of service” delivery
Improved management confidence and
assurance – staff understanding and conveying
knowledge of the “big picture”
Improved stakeholder perception of program –
less perception of “unnecessary specialties” or
“duplication of efforts”
Initiated pathways for future learning,
professional development
Outcomes for EH&S Academy
Participants in August 2005 edition echoed the
comments of the UTHSCH staff
Enjoyed novel approach in class
Will employ as some sort of course contest in
future editions
Exploratory efforts with others (UC System) also
promising
Comments/Questions?
Your feedback on this approach is
welcomed!