Environmental Health and Safety
May 15: The Laboratory Safety Five Target Area Assessment results from the 2017 initiative are now available. This assessment looked for compliance with the items targeted in the lab safety memo from the VP for Infrastructure and VP for Research: chemical waste storage, personal protective equipment (PPE), sharps and biohazard handling and disposal, access to emergency equipment and proper fume hood use. The results indicated a number of areas for improvement and a need for ongoing assessments of these areas of improvement.
June 1, 2017: The Tool Box Program gives supervisors tools to ensure safe work practices through tailored training and Safe Operating Procedure guidance documents. It is designed to cultivate a culture of safety and assist supervisors in fulfilling their safety-related duties by providing a framework to guide job-specific training given to their employees. EHS manages and maintains a variety of safety and regulatory compliance programs and offers a wide range of safety trainings; the Tool Box Program enhances the delivery of these programs with focused, brief training sessions.
UI APM 35.32.A-4 states: "Supervisors are responsible for providing safe environments and operations under their control, and are required to ensure that all reasonable and necessary precautions are taken to prevent accidents and to preserve the life and health of the employees, instructors, students and others under their supervision." In about ten to fifteen minutes, Tool Box Program meetings provide the knowledge for units to establish safety protocols that keep everyone safe on campus while maintaining compliance. All supervisors are encouraged to contact EHS at 111-111-6524 or email: [email protected] to sign up for an organized tool box meeting with the safety subject of their choice.
What training do I need?
Because we are frequently asked about our training courses and how to know which courses a particular person or job may need, we have prepared a matrix for supervisors to use as a guide in determining training. Based on answers to a list of questions, a training profile can be developed for each job. The matrix is intended as a starting point, and all of our general training must be accompanied by job/task-specific training from the supervisor or designee. Our website provides supplementary written materials on many topics, and we can provide supervisors with individual assistance upon request.