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CAMPUS COMMITMENT TO SAFETY

University at Buffalo
The State University of New York

Safety Commitments and Responsibilities Defined

Administrators, Managers and Supervisors:
All management and supervisory staff are responsible for safety performance in their areas and for ensuring departments and other units under their supervision have effective programs to meet their safety obligations. This includes reviewing matters such as space allocation and employee health and safety programs as they relate to research involving biohazards, chemical hazards, radiation safety and fire and life safety issues. This also includes providing appropriate safety equipment and personal protective equipment to employees to do the work safely. The Administrative Official may designate a departmental safety coordinator or departmental safety committee (see Appendix 1) to carry out the departmental health and safety responsibilities, but still remains accountable for providing effective health and safety programs.

Environment, Health and Safety Services:
EH&S staff will function as consultants to unit heads, faculty/staff members and students in all areas of environmental compliance, safety and radiological health. EH&S will make routine, as well as special health and risk appraisals or investigations when necessary or requested, will assist departmental safety committees in the development of intra-departmental safety programs and participate in health and safety training and education projects.

EH&S will maintain reference materials from local, state, and federal agencies in regard to safety rules and regulations affecting campus operations and will assist in the technical interpretation of these rules and regulations. In addition, unless a policy or requirement of a local, state, or federal agency supercedes, campus operations will be conducted in accordance with the best available recognized standards such as those promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association, the American National Standards Institute, the National Institute for Occupational Safety, etc.

EH&S will develop, for appropriate review and approval, environmental health and safety standards and policies, which shall be binding once adopted.

EH&S will assist in the identification and assessment of actual or potential health and safety hazards and will identify applicable regulations, standards or similar requirements. EH&S will inspect campus operations and facilities to identify problems, will provide code interpretations and consult with departments to assist in correcting problems. Inspections may be conducted routinely, or at the request of any member of the University community, or in response to accidents or other known problems.

EH&S has the responsibility and authority to intervene to control, reduce or eliminate any condition or activity which poses a direct or immediate safety threat to any individual or illegal discharge to the air, ground or water. The University Police may assist EH&S in meeting this responsibility. Long term resolution or correction of problems, should this occur, is the responsibility of the appropriate dean, director or department head. EH&S will maintain reference materials in support of health and safety training. EH&S will assist the University community in providing appropriate and necessary health and safety training to all staff and students. This assistance will include direct training, train the trainer support and assistance in developing customized or special training programs.

Principal Investigators:
Principal Investigators have responsibility for the health and safety of the individuals they supervise, for safe management of the laboratories or facilities they operate and for the impacts of their activities on the environment and health and safety of the public.

Responsibilities include:

1. Informing new employees about safety and health procedures, rules and regulations and their specific responsibilities.
2. Assuring that required equipment and personal protective devices are provided, maintained and used.
3. Taking prompt action when unsafe acts or conditions are reported or observed.
4. Insuring that individuals receive safety training as required by their responsibilities.
5. Promptly investigating and reporting all on-the-job accidents, and/or work related health problems and requesting medical treatment if required.
6. Coordinating or conducting internal inspections, reviews or audits to assure safe and healthful conditions and compliance with applicable safety and environmental regulations.
7. Providing or acquiring necessary resources for necessary health and safety equipment, materials and facilities.

All Employees:
All employees have the responsibility to comply with health and safety rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

These responsibilities include:

1. Following safety, health, and environmental standards, rules, policies, regulations, procedures and orders.
2. Reporting hazardous conditions to their supervisor and/or EH&S.
3. Wearing prescribed protective equipment.
4. Reporting job-related injuries or illnesses to the supervisor and seeking prompt and appropriate medical treatment.
5. Refraining from operating equipment or apparatus, or conducting any procedure, without proper training and authorization.

Willful Noncompliance:
Any individual, who knowingly and willfully, or in a highly negligent manner, violates a safety or environmental law, regulation, or EH&S policy may be subject to University, civil or criminal action. Such individuals may be denied legal representation pursuant to the Public Officer Law. The University will not accept ignorance of applicable laws, regulations or policies as an excuse.

Appendix 1

Prospective Safety Committee System

Mandatory Committees:

Reactor Decommissioning Safety Committee (RDSC) - oversees activities conducted at BMRC pursuant to Federal (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) License

Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) - oversees and reviews all users and protocols for use of radioactivity in campus labs (exclusive of BMRC) pursuant to Department of Health (DOH) and Environmental Conservation (DEC) license.

Cyclotron Safety Committee - oversees activities conducted at the Cyclotron pursuant to DOH and DEC license.

University Biosafety Committee (UBC) - reviews protocols for use of biohazard materials pursuant to NIH guidelines.

Labor Management Health and Safety Committee - a forum for discussion on health and safety issues between labor and management representatives pursuant to bargaining unit agreements.

Related Committees: (Mandatory)

Institutional Review Board (IRB) - provides oversight of human subjects research

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) - provides oversight of safe and humane use of animals in research.

Proposed Committees:

Chemical Hygiene Committee - to provide oversight of safe use of chemicals and safety practices in laboratories, and to ensure compliance with applicable EPA and OSHA requirements.

Occupational Safety and Health Committee - to provide oversight of occupational health and safety efforts such as medical surveillance, mechanical and electrical safety, infection control, public health, and wellness programs.

Departmental or Decanal Committees - e.g. Chemistry Department Safety Committee, School of Medicine Safety Committee, Center for the Arts Safety Committee etc.