Policy Manual
University of North Texas
Number: 9.6
Date Issued: 6/84,8/95,
8/99,7/03
Policy Manual |
Classification Number: 9.6 Date Issued: 6/84,8/95, |
APPLICABILITY: TOTAL UNIVERSITY I. Introduction The environmental health and safety of faculty, staff, students and the visiting public is of primary concern to the University of North Texas Board of Regents and the University of North Texas. A safe and healthy environment in which to pursue the University's activities is of such importance that it will be given a high priority for implementation. A program is hereby provided to minimize injury to people, hazards to health, and damage to property. The responsibility for establishing a Risk Management & Environmental Services (RM/ES) program, for leadership of the program, and for its maintenance, improvement and effectiveness results ultimately with the President. A formal statement of policy on risk management and environmental health and written procedures for carrying out the program is hereby promulgated. UNT has established a broad role environmental health and safety program covering eleven core areas of responsibility with a wide scope covering one main campus and technical consultation to the University of North Texas system. This expanded role and scope of RM/ES operations fulfills the following three primary responsibilities:
UNT recognizes that a complete risk management & environmental services program, adequately funded and properly staffed with safety professionals is an essential ingredient in maintaining a safe and healthy environment at the University. Risk Management & Environmental Services at UNT more specifically encompasses the identification, evaluation, control and correction of unsafe personnel procedures and unsafe physical conditions within core areas of: asbestos management, fire protection, construction plan engineering review, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation safety, biological hazard safety, industrial hygiene, laboratory safety, food sanitation and water quality analysis, hazardous waste pickup and disposal, human subject and laboratory animal safety, Public Sector OSHA and State Office of Risk Management compliance surveys, workers compensation accident investigation and computer generation of biostatistics, and general liability/auto liability accident investigation and prevention. Operational surveillance of these activities is so varied and diverse that regular preventive health and safety surveys are required throughout all University facilities in order to maintain compliance with applicable regulatory agencies. II. Statement of Policy The responsibilities of the various officials accountable for the University's risk management & environmental services program are as follows: A. President 1. Responsible for all matters pertaining to environmental health and safety and provides the assurance that the University complies with all state and federal regulations related to environmental health and safety particularly those regulations promulgated under the State Office of Risk Management, State Department of Health, State Fire Marshall's Office, and State’s Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). This responsibility will also include enforcement of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1970 for applicable code sections as adopted by state regulatory agencies for enforcement in the Public Sector. 2. The President delegates operational authority for Risk Management & Environmental Services to the Senior Vice President for Administration. B. Senior Vice President for Administration 1. Assumes institutional responsibility through the Risk Management & Environmental Services for the general pattern of overall risk management, health and safety practices and their effective administration at all University facilities. 2. Serves as the chairperson of the University’s Safety and Transportation Steering Committee to assure a strong working liaison between the Risk Management & Environmental Services Office and all other units in the University, particularly the Biosafety Committee, Radiation Safety Committee, Human Subjects Use Safety Committee (Institutional Review Board), and Animal Facilities and Care Committee. 3. Works with Vice Presidents, Deans, Directors and Departmental Chairpersons through the Risk Management & Environmental Services Office in establishing a program that meets all codes and standards pertaining to health and safety of all employees and personnel associated with the University. C. Vice Chancellor and General Counsel UNT/UNTHSC-FW 1. Reviews the personnel and property damage liability agreements that UNT may utilize during emergency disaster operations with the County Disaster Operation Center, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Red Cross. 2. Ensures that UNT interests are represented properly in safety claim lawsuits arising from general liability, auto and fire liability and contract liability cases. 3. Decides employee grievances alleging the existence of unsafe working conditions. D. Risk Management & Environmental Services Office This office is headed by the Director of Risk Management & Environmental Services and in general, the responsibilities of this office include the following: 1. Provides environmental health and safety technical services support to all areas of the University. 2. Responsible for matters relating to investigation, evaluation, and correction of safety hazards in a timely manner and in coordination with the various University specialized safety committees. 3. Recommends concise and responsible policies concerning general environmental health and safety through the University. 4. Assists in health and safety awareness programs on a regular basis such as Housing and Food Facility, fire extinguisher training, and the University-wide Fleet Safety program for applicable personnel. 5. Reviews and approves plans for new buildings, modifications and renovation blueprints and specifications for compliance with State and Federal fire/building codes and State Workers’ Compensation laws pertaining to a safe working environment. 6. Performs periodic health and safety inspections, particularly laboratory safety to assist all colleges and remote campus facilities to ensure compliance with existing state, federal, and local health and safety laws, codes, and regulations. 7. Maintains accident, injury and occupational health records and statistics as required by state and federal agencies. 8. Provides Worker’s Comp status reports for the Vice President for Administrative Affairs indicating the status of environmental health and safety projects for the University. 9. Maintains on file a resource library of all state and applicable federal laws, codes, and standards related to health and safety. 10. Coordinates in conjunction with the University Emergency Operations Committee, the University Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and is responsible for updating the EOP. 11. The RM/ES Director acts as an ex-officio member to the University’s Safety and Transportation Steering Committee, Radiation Safety Committee, Biosafety Committee, Human Subjects Use Safety Committee (IRB), Animal Facilities and Care Committee, and as a consultant to the University of North Texas Health Science Center-Fort Worth, as that institution may request. 12. Initiates enforcement action where necessary through the principal investigator, departmental chairperson, designated college or department safety representative, or applicable Vice President as required. 13. Offers resource assistance in all areas of environmental health and safety to any unit of the University requesting the same. 14. Coordinates insurance coverages and recommends other risk transfer and financing techniques to protect university resources from loss. E. Deans, Directors, and Departmental Chairpersons Colleges, Departments and/or Divisions at all University facilities shall assign safety responsibility as required and designate building representatives and safety representatives to assist the Risk Management &Environmental Services Office when problems are encountered or when safety consultation is required. Deans, Directors, and Departmental Chairpersons will: 1. Disseminate and enforce (1) University Risk Management & Environmental Services Statement of Policy, (2) Smoking in Buildings Policy, (3) Accident/Injury and Loss Prevention Policy, other environmental health and safety policies, and standard operational procedures pertinent to the personnel and facilities under their direction. This administrative level is also responsible for contacting RM/ES for further information regarding standard operational procedures such as fire alarms, hazardous waste, food sanitation etc. when appropriate. 2. Disseminate risk management & environmental services policies of the Radiation Safety Committee, Biosafety Committee, Human Subjects Use Safety Committee (IRB), Animal Facilities and Care Committee and policies of the RM/ES Office. 3. Notify all faculty members, supervisors, principal investigators and staff that they are responsible for implementation and enforcement of health and safety regulations in their areas of responsibility. 4. Be aware that periodic inspections of facilities under their jurisdiction will be conducted by applicable regulatory agencies or RM/ES at any time with corresponding compliance reports sent to them for prompt correction of health and safety deficiencies. III. University Environmental Health and Safety Committees A. Safety and Transportation Steering Committee This Committee is chaired by the Senior Vice President for Administration with voting members appointed by the Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs, Administration, Finance and Business Affairs and other members appointed by the Faculty Senate, Staff Council, Student Association, Residence Hall Association, and Dean of Students. The committee shall have voting members represented from the areas of Human Resources, Administrative Affairs, Natural Sciences, Faculty, Business Services, Residence Halls Association, Student Association, Housing, Police Services and Facilities. The Director of Risk Management & Environmental Services shall serve as a non-voting ex-officio member who will serve as a technical consultant and ensure that key environmental health and safety issues are brought to the Committee's attention for review and solution approval and then implemented. An RM/ES representative shall serve as the Committee secretary to take the minutes of each meeting and disseminate to all regular members and other copy distribution members. The Committee's charge is to review all risk management, environmental health and safety issues brought to its attention and suggest remediation actions through the Risk Management & Environmental Services office to correct problem areas, code violations, and to reduce loss and minimize exposures to loss. The Committee will also disseminate environmental health and safety reports and injury/illness accident data and recommend corrective action to University agencies for minimizing repetition of similar accidents including workers compensation, general liability, auto liability and student activity waiver of liability cases. The Committee shall meet at least once per quarter and more often if called by the Chairperson. A quorum of seven of the twelve regular voting members and the RM/ES Director must be present to conduct business. Implementation of the University Environmental Health and Safety Program is delegated to the Risk Management & Environmental Services Director in the RM/ES office. B. Radiation Safety Committee This Committee Chair is appointed by the Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer as is the University Radiation Safety Officer and the voting members who act as Assistant Radiation Safety Officers for each academic unit that has a radioactive materials license including academic representatives from departments using non-ionizing radiation or laser radiation, X-ray radiation, and particle accelerator radiation. The Radiation Safety Officer and the Risk Management & Environmental Services Director shall serve as ex-officio non-voting members of the Committee who will serve as technical consultants and ensure that key radiation issues are brought to the Committee's attention for review and solution approval and then implemented. An Academic Affairs representative shall serve as the Committee secretary and take the minutes of each meeting. The Committee's charge is to be responsible for enforcement of policies, licensing, procurement, transportation, operational use, control and disposal of radioactive materials and ioning radiation. The Committee shall meet once per quarter or more often if called for by the chairperson. A simple majority of members and the Radiation Safety Officer must be present to conduct business. Implementation of the Radiation Safety Program is delegated to the Radiation Safety Officer. C. Biosafety Committee (See Policy Number 16 xx, “Biosafety Policy” D. Human Subjects Use Safety Committee (Institutional Review Board for Protection of Human Subjects in Research or IRB) (See Policy Number 16.5, “Human Subjects Research Policy”) E. Animal Facilities and Care Committee (See Policy Number 16.3, “Animal Care and Use Policy”)
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