Health Programs
The Department of Environmental Health & Safety administers Health programs in compliance with OSHA guidelines in order to protect the well-being of campus workers, students, and visitors.
Automated External Defibrillators are portable devices that administer an electric shock to the heart and restore the heart's normal rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest. The purpose of the USD AED Program is to provide campus-wide access to emergency defibrillation equipment. EH&S inspects and maintains 70 campus AEDs. Defibrillators are mounted in central, accessible areas in all administrative buildings and residence halls with occupancies of 200+ people. Mobile AEDs are also available for protection during university travel. USD maintains a partnership with SD Project Heart Beat, in order to provide quick incident response when necessary.
AED, CPR, and First Aid classed are conducted by the Athletics Department for employees that require first aid training as part of their job duties. Training is conducted before initial assignment and annually after. Please contact EH&S to request an AED, CPR, or First Aid class for a group of 5 or more employees.
Prior to 1980, a fibrous mineral called asbestos was added to many building materials because it is heat and chemical resistant, strong, and not easily degraded. Asbestos containing materials can also be found in building materials used after 1980, although it is rare. Asbestos creates a respiratory hazard when fibers become airborne. Materials that can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure have the potential to become airborne. Intact, sealed, and undisturbed materials do not present an exposure risk.
An asbestos building survey is conducted by an AHERA Building Inspector before every demolition or renovation of over 100 square feet on USD property. If asbestos containing material (ACM) is detected, certified abatement workers are contracted to remove the material. If the ACM is not abated, it is labeled and left intact, sealed, and undisturbed. Awareness training is provided annually to all employees whom through their normal job duties may have contact with materials that contain asbestos. USD employees must contact EH&S if ACM will be disturbed by their maintenance or renovation projects.
Ergonomics is the study of people's interactions with their surroundings. Repetitive interactions with a workstation over time can create imperceptible strains on the body that can accumulate into serious injury. Workstation ergonomic evaluations conducted by trained professionals are designed to assess and remedy any potential hazards present in a person's work station.
The purpose of the USD Ergonomics Program is to eliminate all repetitive motion injuries in the workplace through preventative workstation evaluations and employee training.
New employees are trained on basic ergonomic principles and instructed to request a workstation evaluation as soon as their workstation has been set up. Every employee is encouraged to schedule a workstation evaluation if they have not been evaluated in the past five years, or if their workstation has changed. Please schedule an ergonomic evaluation by placing a General Work Request.
The purpose of the University of San Diego Hazard Communication Plan is to prevent chemical-related occupational injury or illness by guaranteeing all employees the “right-to-know” the hazards and identities of the chemicals with which they work. EH&S maintains an inventory of chemical hazards located in each work space on campus. The Hazard Communication Program transmits information to employees regarding the hazards of chemicals through:
- The Written Hazard Communication Program
- Standardized Safety Procedures and Protective Equipment
- Chemical Inventories
- Safety Data Sheets
- Container Labels (bilingual when necessary)
- Annual Training
The University complies with General Industry Safety Order, Title 8, Section 5194 and 29 CFR 1910.1200.
This program is conducted to assure implementation of hearing protection measures specific to the job duties of each department. It involves noise evaluation, training, medical evaluation, engineering controls, postings, use of hearing protection and management enforcement of all aspects of hearing conservation. Training is conducted before initial work assignment and annually.
Please report air quality concerns to EH&S with a General Work Request. This includes
- Problem odors
- Ventilation issues
- Leaks
- Visible organic growth
EH&S investigates reports of air quality concerns and determines the most effective monitoring, maintenance, and abatement procedures for each unique case.
Controlling moisture and humidity is key to indoor organic growth prevention. As long as moisture and oxygen are present, organic growth can grow on any organic material, including food, wood, paper, carpet, walls, ceilings, and insulation.
The USD Respiratory Protection Program provides protection for workers at risk of inhaling harmful contaminants in the workplace. Engineering and administrative controls are implemented to avoid exposure to hazardous airborne materials, but, when necessary, respirators are provided to employees to protect them from respiratory hazards. Health questionnaires are reviewed annually to determine employees' abilities to safely wear respirators and fit tests confirm functionality of respirators for each individual. Annual training is provided to employees whose work could require the use of personal respirators. The written Respiratory Protection Program meets the requirements of California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 8, Section 5144.