OSU SAF 001: Introduction

The Safety Policies and Procedures Manual (SAF) provides guidelines and information for Oregon State University about programs and services provided by the Department of Environmental Health & Safety.  Policies and procedures contained in this manual reflect requirements, standards, and statutory and regulatory mandates established at the local, state, and federal level and by the State Board of Higher Education.

Emphasis is on providing guidelines and information on prudent operating practices to:

1. Protect human health and the environment,
2. Ensure regulatory compliance, and
3. Preserve University interests and assets.

This emphasis is consistent with the department’s mission statement: 

To promote and maintain a safe and healthy environment for all staff, faculty, students, and visitors.

Programs and Services
Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) is responsible for providing to the University community comprehensive programs and services in environmental affairs, fire prevention and general safety, loss prevention, and risk management.

Environmental Affairs Program: Responsible for promoting and maintaining environmental and occupational safety and health regulatory compliance.  Specific programs include hazardous waste management and incident response, industrial wastewater monitoring and sampling, underground storage tanks, air pollution permitting, infectious waste management, and general environmental compliance assistance.

Fire Prevention and General Safety Program: Responsible for conducting audits of university facilities to ensure life, safety and fire code compliance.  This program is also responsible for general campus safety and special event safety coordination.

Loss Prevention Program: Responsible for asbestos abatement and monitoring, occupational safety and health education development and training, general loss prevention such as ergonomics, slip and trip hazards, and other broad university liability issues.

Risk Management Program: Provides services in University property and liability insurance claim processing, tracking, and recovery, contractual document review for risk management and insurance issues, certificate of insurance processing, and alcohol permit review and approval.

Industrial Hygiene and Special Assignments Program: Responsible for laboratory safety audits and compliance, indoor air quality investigations, and industrial hygiene activities related to occupational health and safety.

Contact
Additional guidance documents and information regarding programs and services can be found at the EH&S Web site.  Comments regarding these policies and procedures or any EH&S program or service can be submitted via phone (541) 272-2274 or email to the Manager of EH&S or the SAF Manual Coordinator.

In the event of an inconsistency or conflict, applicable law and the State Board of Higher Education's policies supersede University policies and University policies supersede college, department or lower unit bylaws, policies, or guidelines.

The University reserves the right to add, amend, or revoke any of the contained rules, policies, regulations, and instructions or incorporate additional ones, with or without notice, as circumstances or the good of the University community may require.

A printout of this manual and each change to this manual is created from the original text source for the online version and retained permanently as an official record at University Archives.  Printouts of all revisions to online Policies and Procedures Manuals are similarly available.

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