It is the policy of the University to maintain a work environment free of physical and health hazards to the greatest extent possible. The University's Injury and Illness Prevention Program describes policies and procedures implemented to maintain a safe and healthy work environment at USD. Employees, supervisors, department heads, EH&S, and the Director of Human Resources (HR) share responsibility for implementing the Injury and Illness Prevention Program.
Employees are defined as anyone receiving compensation from the University for performance of services and include all faculty, staff, administrators, part time, temporary, and student workers.
Implementation Procedures
Individual employees are responsible for performing their work in a safe manner and for reporting any unsafe equipment, working condition, process or procedure or any injury to their supervisors immediately.
The office of Environmental Health and Safety and the Director of Human Resources are responsible for assisting supervisors in developing and implementing the University's various environmental health and safety programs.
Responsibilities
- Advising senior management on safety and health issues.
- Working with senior management to develop and distribute the University's health and safety guidelines, policies and procedures.
- Maintaining current information on local, state and federal safety and health regulations.
- Serving as liaison with governmental agencies.
- Coordinating and safety training and assisting supervisors
- Developing a code of safe practices and safety inspection guidelines.
- Establishing and maintaining an incident report and incident investigation procedure.
- Coordinating with the University's Department of Risk Management on maintaining injury and illness records (OSHA log 300).
- Reviewing injury and illness trends.
- Reviewing effectiveness and periodically updating written programs.
- Providing training and technical assistance to managers and supervisors on implementation of the IIPP.
- Providing training and assistance to Building Safety Representatives on performing Workplace Safety Inspections to identify, evaluate, and correct hazards.
- Evaluating the adequacy and consistency of training designed by schools, departments, etc.
- Maintaining records of building safety inspections, incident investigations, corrective actions, and training.
- Reviewing, updating and evaluating the overall effectiveness of the IIPP.
- Ensuring individuals under their management have the authority and funding to implement appropriate health and safety practices, policies, and programs.
- Areas under their management comply with University health and safety practices, policies, and programs
- Knowing the requirements of and ensuring compliance with the University's health and safety programs
- Ensuring that workplaces and equipment are safe, well maintained, and in compliance with external agency regulations and University policies, programs, and practices.
- Ensuring that safety and health practices and procedures are clearly communicated and understood by employees through training programs.
- Ensuring that all employees are properly trained on safe performance of their duties before exposure to any known hazards.
- Ensuring that the workplace is free of unnecessary hazards.
- Seeking advice from the office of Environmental Health and Safety whenever the need arises.
- Ensuring that an injured employee receives proper and immediate medical treatment.
- Promptly notifying the department of Public Safety of injuries in the workplace.
- Promptly and thoroughly investigating the circumstances of any accident.
- Acknowledging employees who contribute to maintaining a safe workplace and initiating corrective action for all violations of safety rules.
- Encouraging employees to report workplace hazards and injuries without fear of reprisals.
- Ensuring that corrective actions are completed after safety inspections and incident investigations.
- Keeping themselves informed of conditions affecting their health and safety.
- Adhering to all health and safety policies and procedures in their workplace.
- Participating in training programs as required.
- Promptly notifying their supervisors of potential hazards and workplace incidents (injuries, exposures, or illnesses).