Environmental Health and Safety Policy

General Policy

1. It is the policy of Binghamton University to maintain an environment for its faculty, staff, students, and visitors that will not subject them to avoidable risk of injury.
2. The applicable health and safety standards are contained in rules and regulations promulgated by Federal and State agencies which must be followed in establishing campus safety policies.  In addition, the published standards of nationally recognized professional health and safety organizations serve as guidelines in areas not covered by the government standards, rules and regulations.

Environmental Health and Safety Responsibility

1. Management

   The President of the University is legally responsible for campus health and safety and must ensure that appropriate health and safety policies are established for environmental protection and the prevention of health and safety hazards. These responsibilities are delegated to all levels of supervision in order to ensure that campus health and safety objectives are met.
   
   

2. Role of Department Chairs/Directors

   The chairs or directors of each department are responsible for the health and safety of all students, faculty, staff and visitors in their area.  They have the obligation and authority to prevent or stop any operation they consider unsafe.  They are also expected to obtain whatever assistance they may need from the Department of Environmental Health and Safety in order to develop and implement a departmental health and safety program. The chair/director may delegate all or part of these obligations to a departmental safety coordinator.  Ideally, the safety coordinator should be a faculty member in an academic department.  However, such delegation in no way relieves the chair or director of their responsibility in matters of departmental health and safety.
   
   

3. Supervisors

   Each supervisor must develop initiatives that will maintain a safe work place and also develop training for employees and students regarding safe work practices. This training must ensure that employees and students know:
   •  All the potentially hazardous conditions associated with departmental operations, and methods  established to control them.
   •  All applicable safety regulations for the area of operation.
   • That they are expected to help all persons unfamiliar with the area to comply with applicable  safety regulations.
     
     The goal is for employees and students to develop awareness and responsibility for safety so they will act in a safe manner when faced with situations not covered by established rules or regulations.
     
     

4. Individuals

   Many injuries are caused by unsafe acts rather than unsafe conditions.  It is incumbent upon each individual to provide constant vigilance necessary to avoid unsafe acts. Thinking "safety" is a part of everyone's job.  Each person has an obligation to take all reasonable precautions to prevent injury to themself or their fellow employee or student.  Individuals are expected to learn and follow all health and safety policies and standards which apply to their activities and to check with their supervisor when there are doubts concerning potential hazards.
   
   

5. Department of Environmental Health and Safety

   The University's Department of Environmental Health and Safety provides guidance and services to campus personnel so that the goals and objectives of the campus environmental health and safety policy may be attained. The Department of Environmental Health and Safety:
   
   
   •  Provides the President, or their designee, the information needed to formulate campus health and  safety policies. 
   • Investigates and reports health and safety incidents involving campus personnel or visitors.
   • Assists campus personnel to plan, establish, and maintain safe work practices and a safe work environment in compliance with the Public Employees Safety and Health Act of 1980.
   • Updates and reviews all established EH&S safety procedures and protocols as required by regulations.