Purpose

To protect human health and the environment, ensure regulatory compliance and preserve University interests and assets.

Applicability

All Oregon State University employees, students, and any other individuals conducting business on OSU property.

Background

Effective management of health and safety at Oregon State University is fundamental to delivering excellence in research and teaching. Health and safety should be a concern to everyone since our mutual efforts and vigilance are necessary to eliminate incidents that result in personal injury and loss of property. The majority of injuries and property loss are costly and preventable. Through the dedicated efforts of everyone involved, we can maintain a safe and healthy environment while accomplishing the mission of the University. 

Policy

Oregon State University will make reasonable efforts to provide a safe and healthful working environment for all employees, students and others who may utilize the University's facilities and grounds. All University departments/units will develop and implement safety policies and procedures that promote an injury free environment.

Anyone engaged in University related activities must exercise personal responsibility and care to prevent injury and illness to themselves and others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. No person shall intentionally interfere with or misuse anything provided by the University in the interests of health and safety.. Individuals are required to have the proper training for the safe operation and use of university facilities, equipment and supplies as well as animal handling. Faculty and staff administrators will be held accountable for fulfilling their safety responsibilities. Flagrant disregard of the University safety policies and procedures may result in  disciplinary action.

Priority should be given to safe working conditions and job safety practices in the planning, budgeting, direction and implementation of University activities.

The OSU Health and Safety Policy should be read in conjunction with SAF 103: OSU Safety Program and other safety policies contained in the OSU Safety (SAF) Policy and Procedure Manual.

Cross Reference

SAF 103: OSU Safety Program.

Purpose

To provide guidance for appropriate action during emergencies.

Policy

The first three items listed should be visibly displayed on every Oregon State University telephone.

Emergency Telephone Numbers

Procedure

In Case of Fire

1. Activate the building fire alarm by pulling the nearest wall "fire pull" to alert occupants.  The alarm does not always call fire fighters to the scene, but most alarms are connected to the campus notifier system that is monitored by the Public Safety Dispatch Center.
2. Call the Corvallis Fire Department (911), and give the exact location of the fire.
3. Evacuate occupants from the building.  Follow building evacuation procedures below.  Send someone outside the building to direct fire fighters to the scene.
4. For small fires, use the closest appropriate fire extinguisher.  Do not use water on electrical fires.

Building Evacuation

When the alarm sounds, walk to the nearest usable exit.  Use the stairways and NEVER use the elevator because it can quickly become filled with smoke and be a firetrap when electrical power is lost.  Be aware of alternate exits from the building.

Before leaving the workstation, take personal valuables and lock up any valuable materials or documents.  Do not, however, endanger life through delay.  Assist non-ambulatory persons leaving the building.  (For detailed instructions, see SAF 204: Building Evacuation Planning.)

Use fire escape ladders only when the stairways are closed by fire.  Before opening a door during a fire, feel each door with the back of your hands before opening it.  If it feels hot, use an alternate exit.  If caught in smoke, keep low where the air is better.  Take short breaths through the nose.

When outside the building, do not block doorways or driveways.  Stay a minimum of 100 feet from the building. Do not return to the building until advised to do so by personnel in charge.

Emergency Treatment

Determine the extent of a person’s injury by checking for breathing, pulse, bleeding, possible fracture, and pain.  Administer first aid appropriate for the injuries if you are properly trained.

If the injured person is:

• not conscious or ambulatory, dial 911 on any campus phone for the Corvallis Fire Department ambulance.  The ambulance crew will determine whether injured students should be transported to the Student Health Center or to the hospital.
• conscious and ambulatory STAFF, arrange for transportation by car or ambulance to the hospital or doctor’s office as desired by injured person.  If a supervisor or fellow employee is not available to provide transportation, contact Public Safety at 7-7000 because they are responsible for ensuring that appropriate transportation is obtained.
• conscious and ambulatory STUDENT, arrange transportation to the Student Health Center in Plageman Hall by calling Public Safety (7-7000) day or night.  Students may also go to their personal physicians if desired.

Accident Investigation

Staff
For accidents involving staff, the supervisor should immediately investigate the accident.  All accidents should be reported to the Office of Human Resources on the Report of Accident form.  Complete the SAIF 801 form and the Report of Accident form for all accidents resulting in lost time or off-campus medical attention.  See SAF 203: Accident Investigation for more information.

Student
A faculty member, supervisor, or other involved person should immediately investigate the accident.  File the Report of Accident form  with the Office of Human Resources, clearly indicating that the injured person is a student.  Student employees are covered by Workers’ Compensation, but students are not.  If the student employee receives medical attention or misses work, complete a SAIF 801 form in addition to the Report of Accident and send both forms to the Department of Human Resources.  See SAF 203: Accident Investigation for more information.

Purpose

To encourage all feasible means of achieving a safe and healthful working/learning environment that includes accident prevention for faculty, staff, students and campus visitors.

Policy

Compliance with Safety Regulations
Oregon State University will maintain, within reason, facilities and practices that are in compliance with local, state, and federal health and safety regulations.  In the absence of appropriate statutes or regulations, standards of nationally recognized professional health and safety organizations will serve as a guide.

Supervisor Responsibility
Although the President has the ultimate responsibility for the safety of staff, faculty, and students, a great deal of safety responsibility has been delegated to supervisors.  A supervisor may be a dean, department head, director, manager, administrator or any other faculty or staff person who is in charge of one or more employees.

Supervisors are directly responsible and accountable for the welfare of employees and students assigned to them and for the administration of health and safety regulations and University Safety Procedures within their areas of control.  One of the criteria for evaluation of administrative personnel shall be their administration of safety procedures and accident prevention efforts.

Employee Responsibility
Employees of the University must have a common goal of keeping accidents to a minimum.  Most accidental injuries in the work environment are caused by unsafe work habits.  Therefore, all employees should continuously strive to develop habits and procedures that will reduce exposure to potential injury.  Employees are urged to make safe performance an essential element of every task. 

University Safety Organizations
Certain administrative organizations have specific responsibilities that deal with the health and safety of faculty, staff, students, and visitors.  Individuals with health and safety concerns should contact the appropriate office.

Procedure

A supervisor's safety responsibilities relating to their work areas and the employees they control should include the following duties:

• Make every reasonable effort to ensure the safety of employees and students under your control and make their workplace free of recognized hazards.  For those hazards that are not within your ability to correct, notify your supervisor about the condition(s).
• Evaluate the physical capability of potential new employees to perform the tasks required.  This is not discrimination, but rather an expected responsibility to make a reasonable determination of a potential employee's skills and physical ability to perform the tasks required by the position.
• Provide job training in work area safety procedures for all your employees, especially for new and reassigned employees with new job activities.
• Conduct regular work area safety inspections with assistance from of Environmental Health and Safety, if needed, to discover and correct unsafe conditions and work practices.
• Investigate injury accidents, not to find fault, but to determine cause and to pursue the correction of any safety deficiencies.
• Report all injuries on a Report of Accident form and send it to Human Resources.  If an injury to an employee requires physician's treatment or will result in lost work, a SAIF 801 claim form should also be completed and sent with the Report of Accident form.
• Contact injured employees early and frequently, especially where lost work time is involved, to pursue avenues for early return to work.
• Promote safe practices and attitudes among employees and students.  If protective equipment must be used, promote its use by example.
• Consider safe work habits and attitude toward the job as a part of all performance ratings.
• Respond to employees' concerns for safety in a positive manner and take appropriate corrective action.

The acceptance of these duties, devotion to this task, and the safety attitude of supervisors will determine the success of the OSU safety program.

Employees, as part of their safety responsibilities, are expected to do the following:

• Conduct their work safely and try to maintain their work areas hazard-free.
• Wear personal protective equipment as prescribed by their supervisors; the university will provide this equipment.
• Report hazards or unsafe work practices to supervisors or to Environmental Health and Safety.
• Maintain reasonable physical body conditioning for the tasks of the work environment.
• Cooperate fully with supervisors in conducting investigations of accidents so that unsafe conditions or work procedures may be corrected.
• Participate in physical restoration or vocational programs following lost-time injuries to achieve an early return to work

Additional Information

Safety Committees
The University has established advisory committees to review and make recommendations on general safety matters or special areas of safety or health concerns.

The University Safety Committee is appointed by the Vice President for Finance and Administration.  The membership consists of faculty, staff, and students.  The Committee reviews campus safety policy and procedures as published in this Safety Policy & Procedure Manual and recommends needed changes.  The Committee serves as the forum for addressing issues affecting the safety and health of faculty, staff, students, and campus visitors.  The Committee encourages positive safety attitudes and performance among faculty, staff, and students; strives to identify and eliminate hazardous conditions; and supports and strengthens the OSU Safety Program.

The Radiation Safety Committee is appointed by the Vice President for Finance and Administration.  The membership consists of the Radiation Safety Officer and faculty members with expertise in radiation use and safety.  The Committee is responsible for recommending university policy with respect to radiation safety, establishing standards and regulations needed to implement this policy, reviewing operations and procedures of Radiation Safety, and acting as the statutory radiation use review committee required by the State radioactive materials license.

The Chemical Safety Committee is appointed by the Vice Provost for Research.  The membership consists of faculty members and a representative from Environmental Health and Safety.  The Committee is responsible for the development of policy regarding the use and disposal of hazardous chemicals.  The Committee reviews and approves the use of chemical carcinogens as required by the Chemical Carcinogen Safety Program.

The Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects is appointed by the Vice Provost for Research.  This group, also known as the Human Subjects Committee, consists of faculty members and representatives from the general public.

The Vehicle Accident Review Board is appointed by the Vice President for Finance and Administration.  The membership consists of faculty, staff, and the Manager of Transportation Services.  As mandated by General Services Division Regulations, the committee is responsible for the review of accidents involving state-owned motor vehicles.  If the accident is deemed preventable, the Committee assigns appropriate repair costs to the responsible department according to the state's self-insurance program.

The Biosafety Committee is appointed by the Vice Provost for Research.  Membership consists of faculty and staff, and the Biological Safety Officer.  There are also two members who are not affiliated with the University.  The committee is responsible for recommending policy and procedures regarding biological safety.  The committee is also charged with reviewing recombinant DNA research. 

This review includes:

• assessment of the containment levels required by the NIGH Guidelines for the proposed research,
• assessment of the facilities, procedures, practices, and training and expertise of personnel involved in recombinant DNA research; and
• ensuring compliance with all surveillance, data reporting, and adverse event reporting requirements of the NIH Guidelines.

The Farm Safety Committee is appointed by the Associate Dean for the College of Agricultural Sciences.  The committee is made up of members from the different departments within the College of Agricultural Sciences.  There is also a representative from Environmental Health and Safety and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The primary responsibility of this committee is to discuss and advise the College of Agricultural Sciences on safety issues relevant to the operations of the different agricultural departments.

Purpose

To ensure the safety of University personnel, students and the general public during construction projects.

Policy

Construction and renovation activities on campus performed by either outside contractors or University workers will be performed in a manner that prevents injuries and protects the environment.

Construction Safety Program
The Construction Safety program has been established to ensure the safety of University personnel, students and the general public is an integral part of all construction projects on campus.

The Construction Safety program applies to all demolition and construction projects at the main campus.

The intent of the Construction Safety program is to establish minimum requirements for work site isolation and to perform a safety review of projects that may generate dust, noise, and odors or may encounter hazardous materials such as asbestos or lead.  The program includes notification and involvement of Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) by outside contractors prior to the start of any construction project.

Construction safety requirements have been established that relate specifically to work performed on campus.  EH&S will discuss these requirements with contractors along with a schedule of any necessary safety inspections.  The construction safety requirements that apply to construction on campus are as follows:

• All contractors and subcontractors shall come to the job trained in all Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) Standards applicable to the work process.  This information can be found in OR-OSHA document titled “Occupational Hazards Common to Construction and Remodeling in Oregon.”
• All demolition or renovation projects require an initial survey for asbestos or lead containing materials.  EH&S must be notified prior to the start of any demolition or construction activity so that they can perform any required survey.
• All construction and maintenance activities regardless of size and/or scope must be fenced, barricaded, or otherwise isolated to restrict entrance and to ensure the safety of those in the general area.  EH&S will set the standards for project isolation.
• Any excavation across or adjacent to sidewalks or pathways which must be left open overnight, must be identified with working, blinking construction lights in addition to solid barricades.
• Contractors are required to fill out the "Oregon State University Construction Project Safety Form."  Contact EH&S to obtained the form (541-737-2275).

Purpose

To protect nonlaboratory employees from hazardous chemicals in the workplace; to ensure employees and employers are adequately informed about hazardous chemicals in the workplace and how to protect themselves; and to prevent employee work-related injuries and illnesses from exposures to hazardous chemicals.

Background Information

The Hazard Communication and Training Act requires employers to inform workers about hazardous chemicals in their work areas and to provide training in safety procedures.  Oregon State University has designated Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) to administer a program to comply with this law.

Policy

Hazardous Chemicals Index

EH&S maintains a list of the hazardous chemicals or substances in the workplace.  Each department is responsible for providing EH&S with a copy of each material safety data sheet that they receive from manufacturers.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Departments may obtain computerized material safety data sheets for hazardous materials from EH&S by using one of the following procedures:

• MSDS Web Page = http://oregonstate.edu/ehs/msds
• In an emergency, personnel without access to computers may call OSU Public Safety at 7-7000.

If a necessary material safety data sheet is not on the computerized list, contact EH&S; they will obtain a copy of the MSDS from the manufacturer of the hazardous chemical.

Supervisor Responsibilities

Employee Training and Information
Each supervisor is required to train each employee on the presence and safe handling of hazardous chemicals in the employee's workplace.  This training shall be provided at the time of the employee's initial assignment and whenever a new hazardous chemical is introduced into the workplace.  This training should include at least the following:

• The physical and health hazards of the chemicals.
• The methods that may be used to detect the presence or release of the hazardous chemicals.
• The measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards.
• The details of the hazard communication program, labeling requirements, and how employees can obtain and use the chemical hazard information.

EH&S recommends that the supervisor keeps a record of the training.  EH&S has developed training outlines and may be contacted for assistance.  Each employee must also receive a copy of Working Safely with Hazardous Materials Handbook for Employees.  This booklet is given to new employees as part of the orientation program conducted by the Office of Human Resources.

Non-Routine Hazardous Tasks

When OSU employees are required to perform a hazardous non-routine task involving a chemical substance, the supervisor should inform each affected employee of:

• specific chemical hazards;
• protective safety measures that can be taken;
• measures taken by the university to lessen the hazard (such as ventilation, respirators, required presence of fellow workers); and
• established emergency procedures.

Examples of non-routine tasks are work in confined places, work with asbestos, and work with PCBs.

Container Labeling

Supervisor Responsibilities
Supervisors must verify that all containers in their area of responsibility are properly labeled.  If a proper label is not provided, the supervisor should contact EH&S for labels and instructions.  Supervisors must ensure that all secondary containers are labeled with either an extra copy of the original manufacturer's label or with other labels that contain at least the name of the chemical and the appropriate hazard warning.

Employee Responsibilities
Employees are responsible for clearly labeling all chemicals and chemical products that are in their original container, including the content, appropriate hazard warning, and name and address of the manufacturer.  EH&S is available to provide assistance in labeling.

Contractor Requirements & Responsibilities

All contractors are required to submit to EH&S a hazardous chemical list and material safety data sheets for those chemicals that fall within the scope of the Hazard Communication rules.  This list should be submitted five (5) working days before introduction of the chemical to the campus.  This gives EH&S time to provide safety information to OSU employees and other contractor employees who will be involved with the chemical.

Department Responsibilities

Departments are responsible for removing, if possible, all hazardous chemicals that contract employees may be exposed during their work.  If requested, employing departments are responsible for supplying contractors with a chemical list and/or material safety data sheets prior to the beginning of any job.  This information must include all hazardous chemicals that contract employees will be exposed to while at the job site and protective measures they may take to lessen the possibility of exposure.  The departments employing the contractors are responsible for notify the contractors of their right to the hazardous chemical safety information.

Purpose

To minimize the risk of exposure to asbestos.

Definitions

Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACM)

Any materials containing more than one percent asbestos.  A few common examples of ACM include: pipe and boiler insulation (TSI), sprayed on fire proofing, troweled or acoustical plaster, floor tiles and mastic, linoleum, transite shingles, transite lab bench tops, roofing materials, wall and ceiling plaster, joint compound, ceiling tiles, blackboards, mastics, and gasket materials.

Presumed Asbestos-Containing Materials (PACM)

Any surfacing material, TSI, or resilient floor coverings present in buildings constructed prior to 1980 are assumed to contain greater than one percent asbestos unless they have been sampled to negate the presence of asbestos.

Small Operations and Maintenance Activity

Any activity conducted by the University’s in-house trained asbestos workers that requires the abatement of less than 3 linear feet or 3 square feet of known or assumed asbestos containing materials.

Suspect Asbestos-Containing Materials

Any material that may contain more than one percent asbestos, but has not been sampled and tested to determine its asbestos content.

Asbestos-Containing Flooring Material (ACFM)

This group includes vinyl asbestos tile (VAT), linoleum and/or the mastic that adheres the VAT or linoleum to the sub-floor.

Policy

All asbestos-containing materials in University owned buildings and facilities should be managed to minimize the exposure of University personnel, students, guests, visitors, and contract employees to asbestos.  All activities that may impact, disturb or dislodge asbestos fibers are to be conducted and abated in a manner consistent with the procedures below and in compliance with applicable State and Federal asbestos abatement regulations.

Procedure

1. Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) shall write and maintain an Asbestos Management Plan which establishes asbestos operations, maintenance, and inspection procedures.
2. Prior to the start of any renovation and/or demolition project, excluding small operations and maintenance activities, EH&S must be contacted to coordinate a survey for suspect and known asbestos containing materials in the project area. Any suspect asbestos containing material identified in the project area, that may be impacted or disturbed, must be either sampled and tested to determine its asbestos content or assumed to contain asbestos and managed as an asbestos containing material. Small operations and maintenance activities do not need to be coordinated through EH&S.
3. Any materials known or identified to be ACM that will be impacted or disturbed as a result of renovation or demolition activity must be properly abated in accordance with Department of Environmental Quality Regulations, and Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration Asbestos Standards. EH&S will determine the proper abatement methods to be used.
4. Asbestos abatement projects, excluding small operations and maintenance activities, must be coordinated by EH&S and supervised and monitored by an Oregon Full-Scale Supervisor. Small operations and maintenance activities do not need to be supervised and monitored unless they are completed in public areas. Examples of public areas include, but are not limited to, offices, classrooms, auditoriums, conference rooms, hallways, bathrooms, living spaces, common building areas and laboratories.  Any exceptions to the supervision and monitoring requirement must be determined on a case by case basis by EH&S.
5. Any University employee who may disturb ACM or PACM as part of their job shall receive asbestos awareness training and annual refresher training thereafter.
6. University employees who are required to perform asbestos abatement activities must be certified by the State of Oregon as asbestos abatement supervisors or workers. All abatement activities need to be monitored by a State of Oregon asbestos abatement supervisor.
7. Any University employee or contractor that identifies any damaged, suspect or known asbestos containing materials shall notify EH&S immediately upon identification.  EH&S will assess the situation, arrange for the appropriate corrective actions, and notify the regulatory agencies as necessary.
8. Asbestos consultants that are contracted by the University to prepare asbestos abatement specifications, conduct facility surveys for ACM, monitor asbestos abatement projects and analyze bulk and air asbestos samples shall be pre-approved by OUS.
9. Asbestos abatement contractors that are contracted by the University to complete asbestos abatement projects shall be pre-approved by OUS.
10. Any ACFM adhered to a concrete sub-floor will be removed prior to the installation of new flooring materials.  Any ACFM adhered to a wood sub-floor will either be removed or a new underlayment will be secured to the wood sub-floor through the VAT or linoleum prior to the installation of new flooring materials.
11. As a general rule, the cost of required asbestos abatement is to be funded by the organization that has the maintenance responsibility for the building.  For example, Campus Operations is responsible for funding asbestos abatement in all education and general fund buildings, unless it is a departmental requested elective improvement.  Other organizations such as Housing, the Memorial Union, Agricultural Experiment Stations, etc. are responsible for funding asbestos abatement in their buildings.  However, the cost of any associated asbestos abatement will be incorporated into the cost of any renovation or remodeling project regardless of its size or funding source.

Purpose

To prevent injuries, loss of life, property damage, and interruption to University operations due to fires and fire related incidents. 

Policy

Oregon State University will pursue every reasonable effort to comply with the Oregon Amended International Fire Code and other applicable fire and life safety regulations.

Responsibilities

University Safety Committee (USC)

• The USC has overall responsibility for review and recommendation of policies pertaining to fire safety.

Each College and Operating Unit

• Require that all persons evacuate buildings in an orderly manner when the fire alarm is activated and verify evacuation.
• Correct deficiencies noted in fire and life safety inspections.
• Notify EH&S of major changes in the use of space (e.g. office becomes storage room for chemicals).

Environmental Health & Safety

• Designate an individual to develop, coordinate and administer a fire safety program.
• Assist in developing emergency evacuation plans and assist with evacuation drills for all occupied University buildings.
• Conduct periodic audits of University buildings to determine whether they provide adequate protection to occupants in the event of a fire, and report audit findings in writing to the responsible party for action to address concerns.
• Develop fire safety training and awareness programs aimed at providing University staff with information on fire prevention and proper response to any fires that may arise.
• Consult with Facilities Services, colleges and units on the design and testing of fire protection systems and other building design features that impact fire and life safety.
• Develop programs to reduce the potential for fires and/or false alarms.
• Review all building and construction plans for renovation and construction projects for adherence to current fire and life safety codes.
• Function as the University's liaison with the Corvallis Fire Department.

OSU Facilities Groups (Facilities Services, University Housing and Dinning Services, Memorial Union, etc.)

• Ensure renovation and construction projects are designed and constructed in accordance with applicable fire and life safety codes.
• Maintain all fire protection systems to be operational and functioning properly.
• Resolve issues related to fire safety identified in periodic inspections.
• Coordinate with the Office of Risk Management (ORM) for the restoration of damaged property by fire or fire related incidents.

Department of Public Safety / Oregon State Police

• Provide assistance and guidance during building evacuations and fire emergencies.
• Function as the lead agency in any fire investigation if criminal activities are suspected.
• Assist the Risk Officer in preparation of insurance claim related paperwork for any property damage or third party liability claims resulting from a fire or fire related incidents.

OSU Office of Risk Management

• Function as the liaison with the DAS Risk Management Division for all property damage or third party liability claims resulting from fire or fire related incidents.