HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY STATEMENT
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As part of its responsibilities, the Health Center makes safety expertise and services available to all its programs through departments such as Research Safety, Public Safety, Facilities Management, and Employee Health Services. Faculty and staff provide oversight of safety and environmental protection activities through committees such as the Institutional Review Board, the Animal Care Committee, the Institutional Safety and Environmental Health Committee, Hospital Safety and Disaster Planning Committee, and the Hospital Infection Control Committee. Institutional Safety Policies and Guidelines on special issues outline procedures to be followed by everyone.
The following statements are intended to highlight selected minimum safety principles. All faculty, staff, and students are expected to know and comply with these precepts.
Safety is everyone's responsibility and cannot be delegated!
All employees are expected to carry out their assignments in a way that prevents injury to themselves and others.
Faculty and all employees must set personal examples of safety for their students and other employees. The Health Center's Rules of Conduct must be followed.
Faculty and staff must be alert to recognizing and resolving potential safety and environmental hazards so that risks for employees, students, volunteers and visitors are identified and reduced or eliminated.
Supervisors and employees must establish, follow, and enforce safe practices and procedures.
In research, principal investigators have a key role in establishing and enforcing safe practices and procedures.
Every individual must know the potential hazards associated with their duties and follow all applicable safety practices and procedures.
Disciplinary action up to and including termination may be appropriate for failure to comply with or follow required safety procedures/policies.
Mandatory training is a key component of many safety efforts.
Management at all levels MUST enforce attendance at appropriate training sessions (Laboratory Safety, Radiation Safety, General Chemical Safety, Universal Precautions, Humane Care and Use of Animals, etc.).
Supervisors are responsible for having their employees attend required training.
Supervisors/Principal Investigators must provide information to their employees and students on the specific hazards associated with their activities and the safety procedures to be followed.
Employee Health Services will provide for the initial medical management of occupational injuries and illnesses. When Employees Health Service is not open (nights, weekends or holidays) or when the injury may require the resources of the Emergency Department, employees need to report to the Emergency Department.
Occupational injuries and illnesses of employees and students must be promptly reported by the employee to both their supervisor and to Human Resources (x2204) regardless of severity. For each employee, Human Resources completes the WC-207 form "Report of Occupational Injury on Disease to An Employee". Supervisors are responsible for evaluating such reports and taking prompt action.
The Environmental Health and Safety Office will review such injury and illness reports, coordinate the incident with the supervisor for their investigation/action, and maintain the Institution's OSHA log of such incidents.
All activities are encouraged to have their own programs that further emphasize safety and assist in ensuring a safe environment, regulatory compliance, accreditation, etc.
During each employee's performance evaluation the supervisor needs to consider the individual's adherence to prescribed safety responsibilities.
The Health Center's Policy for the Control of Employee Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens (OEBP) and Exposure Control Plan prescribes safety procedures that must be followed to reduce the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Guidelines for the Conduct of Activities with Biohazardous Materials at the University of Connecticut Health Center are also applicable, especially to laboratory activities.
Research involving recombinant DNA molecules must follow the guidelines of the National Institutes of Health referenced below.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) are used by manufacturers to provide health and safety information on chemicals and commercial products. MSDSs are available to faculty, staff, and students through the Lyman Stowe Library database under "M". MSDS's are also available through the Office of Research Safety homepage. Questions on MSDSs and their interpretation should be referred to supervisors, PIs, and/or the Environmental Health and Safety Office.
As a Connecticut State Agency, the Connecticut Occupational Safety and Health Regulations apply. These regulations are enforced by the CT Department of Labor, CT OSHA. Employees must comply with these regulations. For example:
Appropriate equipment guards must be used and maintained.
Work with chemicals, as appropriate, may require goggles or goggles and a face shield, gloves and/or an apron. Such protective equipment is available for purchase from the warehouse and will then be provided to the employee at no cost.
Employees using respirators for chemical protection must have it selected and fit tested by Environmental Health and Safety (EHSO). The EHSO will also provide the required training and Employee Health Services will provide the required medical certification.
Potentially hazardous materials including compressed gases, flammable liquids, chemical reagents, infectious materials will be received and delivered by personnel trained in the potential hazard and appropriate emergency response.
Users of potentially hazardous materials will understand the potential hazards and ensure proper storage and labeling. Consistent with operational requirements, users are expected to minimize quantities kept in their area. Materials stored will be kept so as to prevent the contact of incompatibles and protected from breakage that could result from improper storage on unstable or overcrowded shelves.
Individuals will comply with established policies for the disposal of their hazardous materials (radioactive materials, chemicals, and regulated medical wastes).
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Radiation Safety Office (RSO)
- Environmental Protection Agency - Research Safety Office
- OSHA - Research Safety Office
- CT Department of Environmental Protection - Research Safety Office
- CT Department of Public Safety or CT Fire Marshal's Officials - Public Safety Office and Facilities Management
- Building Code or Insurance Carriers - Facilities Management and Public Safety
University of Connecticut Health Center Hazard Communication Rule Compliance Policy
University of Connecticut Health Center Chemical Hygiene Plan for Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in the Laboratory
Guideline for the Conduct of Activities with Biohazardous Materials at the University of Connecticut Health Center supplemented by Working Safely with HIV in the Research Laboratory (NIH)
Policy for the Control of Employee Occupational Exposures to Bloodborne Pathogens (OEBP) and Exposure Control Plan
Regulated Medical Waste Disposal Policy
NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules
Chemical and Laboratory Safety Training Policy
Guidelines for the Disposal of Chemical Waste
Standards for the Handling of Compressed Gases in Cylinders
Guidelines for the Laboratory Use of Carcinogens
Chemical Hood Policy
Policy and Procedures, Permit Required Confined Spaces
Policy for the Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
Information and University of Connecticut Health Center Policies Governing the use of Controlled Substances in Laboratories
Small Children and Babies in the Workplace
Smoking Policy
Rules of Conduct
Copies of the above references are available for review in the Library (Health Topic File, UCHC File Drawer, UCHC Research Safety Folders). Contact the Research Safety Office for additional information.