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UC IRVINE ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES & PROCEDURES


PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND PROPERTIES
EH&S
Sec. 903-10: Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Policy


Responsible Administrator: Director - Environmental Health & Safety
Revised: January 2005
 

References / Resources Contact: EH&S at (949) 824-6200

A. Policy

All University of California, Irvine employees have the right to a safe and healthful workplace. Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) ensures that UCI complies with applicable health, safety and environmental laws, regulations and requirements; and, that activities are conducted in a manner that protects students, faculty, staff, visitors, the public, property, and the environment. UCI is committed to excellence in health, safety and environmental performance and strives to achieve:

  • Zero injuries or illnesses
  • Zero environmental incidents
  • Zero property loss or damage
  • Achieving these goals is the responsibility of everyone at UCI and supervisors have particular responsibility for individuals reporting to them. The University implements best practices, and the Integrated Safety and Environmental Management System (ISEM) is used at UCI to manage health, safety, and environmental concerns, such as the sustainable use of natural resources, in all campus activities.


    B. Responsibilities

    The Chancellor is responsible for the allocation of appropriate resources and the implementation of UCI's EH&S policy at all facilities under campus authority. All faculty, staff and students are responsible for compliance with this policy as it relates to operations under their control, or activities in which they participate. Specific responsibilies follow:

    1. Vice Chancellors and Deans provide a safe teaching and research environment by:

    2. Department Directors and Chairs provide a safe teaching and research environment for departmental activities by:

    3. Principal Investigators, Administrators and Supervisors provide safe working, teaching, and research environments by:

    4. All Employees and Students will learn, practice, and keep up-to-date on UCI and departmental safety practices by:

    5. Environmental Health & Safety provides campus-wide program direction, consultation, and liaison services by:


    C. EH&S School Coordinators

    EH&S School Coordinators are representatives located in academic Schools who will answer health and safety questions, and explain state and federal regulatory requirements. They coordinate services with EH&S, identify and report unsafe conditions, and provide compliance assistance. Common activities include investingating accidents, inspecting and moving labs, orienting new faculty, and responding to odor concerns.


    D. EH&S Programs

    1. Administration
    2. EH&S Administration provides support for departmental activities that directly impact campuswide programs, such as Emergency Management, legislative analysis, regulatory agency liasison, and recharge administration.

    3. Training

      Specific training requirements are mandated by State and federal regulations. EH&S helps faculty, staff and students understand safety issues, identify individual training requirements, and recognize specific hazards that may be associated with their work or environment. EH&S offers a wide variety of training program formats that include regularly scheduled courses, online training, and customized training designed to meet special needs.

    4. Safety Management
    5. EH&S Safety Management is responsible for assessing and facilitating the University's compliance with applicable State and federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration safety regulations. Frequently requested services involve ergonomics, compressed gases, forklift operations, the Injury and Illness Prevention Program, motorized cart safety, and personal protective equipment.

    6. Occupational Health
    7. The Occupational Health Program (OHP) is representative of UCI's commitment to providing a safe and healthy work environment for all employees. Federal and State laws require that certain services and medical monitoring be provided to employees who perform specific work. Eligibility to participate is discussed in the specific health service or medical monitoring program.

      Alcohol and drug testing of transportation employees
      Automated External Defibrillators (AED) Program
      Controlled substances
      Hepatitis B immunization and titers
      Laboratory Animal Occupational Health Program (LAOHP)
      Reproductive health
      Smoking Policy
      Tuberculosis screening for research environment

    8. Environmental Sanitation
    9. The California State Department of Health Services has designated EH&S as the Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) for all properties owned by The Regents of the University of California.

      Disinfection Procedure for Water Distribution Lines
      Drinking Water Program
      Food Safety and Permit Program
      Swimming Pool Water Quality Program
      Refrigerator and Freezer Purchasing Procedure for UCI Laboratories

    10. Fire Safety
    11. EH&S is responsible for fire prevention activities on campus, and the Campus Fire Marshal (designated State Fire Marshal representative) works to ensure reasonable and consistent protection for the campus community from injury, business interruption, and property damage resulting from fires and related perils. Responsibilities include evacuation plans; oversight of fire alarms, extinguishers, and sprinklers; State Fire Marshall plan reviews and construction inspections; welding permits; and Research Assistant training.

    12. Industrial Hygiene
    13. The Industrial Hygiene Program focuses on anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling potential health and safety hazards. Oversight responsibilities of EH&S include hazardous chemicals and other environmental factors that can affect the health, comfort, or productivity of the campus community. Chemical exposure assessment includes asbestos, carcinogens, and lead. Responsibilities include oversight of the EH&S Emergency Response Team (ERT); hazardous materials transportation; auditory and respiratory protection; and vivarium safety.

      Indoor Environmental Quality During Construction Projects
      Laboratory & Research Information Resources
      Material Data Safety Sheets (MSDS)

    14. Biological Safety
    15. The Biological Safety Program provides oversight of research and clinical work involving infectious agents, bloodborne pathogens, select agents and other biohazardous materials.

      Biological Use Authorization (BUA)
      Select Agents Overview

    16. Environmental Management
    17. EH&S is responsible for assessing and facilitating UCI's compliance with environmental laws and regulations, and for ensuring the safe handling and storage of hazardous materials and waste. Program responsibilities include air quality, oil spill prevention, storm and waste water management, PCB and CFC waste management, and monitoring storage tanks.

      Hazardous Waste Management Program
      Air Quality Management Program
      Water Quality Management

    18. Radiation and Laser Safety
    19. Radiation and Laser Safety staff provide assistance to radiation users on campus. They ensure safety procedures are followed and that radiation exposures are reduced to levels that are As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) for ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.



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