Chapter 3-200: University Policy on Health, Safety and the Environment

The University Policy on Management of Health, Safety and the Environment sets forth the University’s policy, standards, and guiding principles on health, safety and the environment. It provides a description of the University’s integrated health, safety and environmental management system and states the University’s commitment to comply with all applicable federal and State environmental health and safety rules and regulations.

3-210 Compliance with Applicable Government Regulations

The University must consider all applicable State and federal laws and regulations as well as other pertinent information concerned with the health and safety of employees and the protection of the environment. Specifically, the University Policy states:

The University of California is committed to achieving excellence in providing a healthy and safe working environment, and to supporting environmentally sound practices in the conduct of University activities. It is University policy to comply with all applicable health, safety, and environmental protection laws, regulations and requirements.

In complying with these various regulations, the University may issue its own policies and procedures and set up internal University committees to oversee their implementation.

3-220 Responsibility for Compliance

As required by Title 8, California Code of Regulations, Section 3203, and in support of the University Policy on Management of Heath, Safety, and the Environment, each campus is required to have a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) which identifies the person or persons with authority and responsibility for implementing the campus’ health, safety, and environmental program. In most cases the Chancellor is identified as the person responsible for ensuring that the policy is implemented; however, those in management positions, including Principal Investigators, are responsible for implementing the IIPP in their facilities within their respective jurisdiction. This responsibility includes ensuring that appropriate health and safety training is provided to employees within their facility.

The Guiding Principles to Implement the University of California Policy on Health, Safety and the Environment states that:

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2. Management Responsibility for Safety and the Environment
University employees who direct the activities of other individuals are responsible for protecting faculty, staff, students, visitors, the public and the environment, and for adhering to this policy. Accountability should be addressed in job descriptions and performance evaluations, and in contracts.

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6. Identification of Safety and Environmental Standards and Requirements
Before a member of the University community conducts an activity which has potential adverse implications for health, safety or the environment, a responsible party must evaluate the associated hazards and environmental impacts and identify the appropriate set of protective safety and environmental requirements to assure that faculty, staff, students, visitors, members of the public, and the environment are protected from adverse affects. The principal responsibility for such an evaluation resides with employees and supervisors. The campus Environmental Health and Safety Office (EH&S) will provide assistance and consultation to identify requirements, controls, and their implementation.

Appendix A of Academic Personnel Manual, APM-245, Department Chairs, reiterates this administrative duty of Department Chairs (or equivalent officers) "to be responsible for departmental observance of proper health and safety regulations, in coordination with the campus health and safety officer."

EH&S Offices support this policy implementation by assisting managers/supervisors and Principal Investigators in identifying hazards and providing employee safety training programs. However, while EH&S Offices do support their campus's departments, they do not have the line authority to manage the safety programs within each department.

With regard to extramurally sponsored projects, Chancellors and Vice Presidents are responsible for ensuring that all matters of environmental health and safety have been considered and agency requirements are met before approving or recommending solicitations for contract or grant research, training or public service and that provisions for safe operation under the proposed programs have been or will be made.

Several offices at each University are responsible for the review and implementation of environmental health and safety regulations and procedures. They advise faculty and staff regarding compliance with these procedures. These offices include: EH&S, Facilities Management, Risk Management, and Materiel Management. The role of each of these offices is discussed in further detail below in the sections which cover their respective areas.

3-230 Contracts and Grants Officers' General Responsibilities

The general responsibility of Contracts and Grants Officers concerning environmental health and safety is to coordinate the reviews of proposals or awards with the campus EH&S or other campus offices as applicable. Contracts and Grants Officers also sign clean air and water certifications (See Section 3-820).