(Approved by the Executive Director of Health Sciences Administration by authority of Executive Order No. 1)
All of the University's organizational units are required to plan and implement occupational safety and health programs to ensure that facilities, equipment and supplies, management practices, and operational procedures meet applicable safety and health standards. Note: Department or unit safety and health programs must be documented in a written safety and health plan. Assistance in developing these programs and copies of the state and other occupational safety and health standards can be provided by EH&S. At a minimum, programs should include the following:
Accident investigations must be conducted following accidents that cause serious injuries and have immediate symptoms. For serious accidents, investigation must be conducted by EH&S and include the immediate supervisor of the injured employee, witnesses, an employee representative, and any other person with the special expertise required to evaluate the facts relating to the cause of the accident. The findings of the investigation shall be documented by EH&S. Less serious accidents do not require EH&S's involvement in the investigation, but all accidents must be investigated by the supervisor of the employee(s) involved and findings and corrective action reported on the appropriate University incident/accident report form (see Section 4 of this policy statement).
Hazard identification is critical to establishing effective employee safety and health programs. Employing departments and supervisors must be aware of and identify the potential hazards in work areas under their control. If employees have the potential to be exposed to workplace hazards, specific programs must be in place. EH&S can assist departments in identifying hazards and implementing the appropriate health and safety programs. Following is a list of occupational safety and health concerns which are regulated by WISHA; however, the list is not necessarily conclusive. Any workplace hazard must be identified and corrected, whether a specific regulation exists or not.
fluorocarbons) laboratories nonlaboratory compressed gas equipment hazardous materials incidents motion/cumulative trauma) shoring hazards |
(lockout/tagout) shipping operations guarding storage, including cranes, derricks, rigging equipment (illumination, ionizing & nonionizing radiation, vibration, pressure, temperature) floors & wall openings, ladders, scaffolds |
WISHA regulations covering these hazards require a variety of protective measures such as specific safety procedures, equipment, and training; medical surveillance; engineering controls; etc. EH&S can provide information needed to comply with these regulations.
To determine whether work areas meet the General Safety and Health Standards and Occupational Health Standards (Chapters 296–24 and 296–62 WAC) established by L&I, departments must conduct regular, thorough inspections to evaluate work conditions and work practices. These inspections should be held at regular intervals to insure continuing compliance with standards; contact EH&S, 206–543–7388, for assistance.
| 1) | Conditions
Not in Compliance With WISHA—Conditions
identified as being out of compliance with
WISHA should receive immediate corrective
action. EH&S will advise departments on ways
to correct specific conditions. Further consultation
with L&I is available to departments needing
assistance in solving specific problems. State
consultants do not issue citations as state
inspectors do when areas are below standards,
but rather advise and recommend corrective
actions. Requests for these services should
be made through EH&S. The L&I representative
will be received by EH&S, and the consultation
will be conducted jointly with an EH&S representative. |
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| 2) | Correction of Noncomplying Conditions—If a department is unable to correct a condition which is out of compliance due to budget or personnel limitations, the department must submit a report to the appropriate vice president or dean for resolution. The report should include the recommended corrective action and an estimate of the resources needed to implement it. |
Safety orientation is required for all employees. This requirement is met in part by the University's New Employee Orientation Program and in part by the employing department.
| 1) | New
Employee Orientation Program—The
New Employee Orientation Program covers the
following information:
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| 2) | Employing
Department—The employing department
provides the following information:
Note: Temporary and hourly employees do not attend the University's New Employee Orientation Program, so employing departments must provide comprehensive safety orientation within the department at the time of their initial assignment; call EH&S, 206–543–7201, for a New Employee Safety Orientation checklist. |
To ensure an effective program, employees must be trained in safe work practices. Supervisors are responsible for seeing that these practices are followed. EH&S will assist departments in implementing safety training and education programs upon request.
| 1) | Training
New Employees—New employees should
be thoroughly trained in safe operation of
equipment, and in safe procedures for performing
all duties included in their job assignments
before being permitted to perform on their
own. |
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| 2) | Safety
Education Meetings—Safety education
meetings should be held periodically in each
organizational unit to reinstruct employees
in safe work practices and to inform employees
of new developments relating to safe operations. |
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| 3) | Specific
Training—Specific training is required
for certain occupations and occupational exposures.
Contact EH&S Training, 206–543–7201,
for assistance in determining employee safety
training requirements. |
In certain workplaces it is a requirement that personnel trained in first aid be present. For example, shops, dispersed work crews, and field trips must have first-aid certified employees present during each shift. EH&S will interpret first-aid requirements for organizational units, and can provide qualifying first-aid training upon request.
As specified by WISHA, first-aid kits must be readily accessible and procedures in place to assure that first-aid kit contents are maintained in a serviceable condition; contact EH&S, 206–543–7388, for first-aid kit content requirements.
The University of Washington has implemented an occupational Health and Safety Committee Plan to comply with WISHA regulations and to provide a forum for employee participation in assessing and enhancing workplace health and safety at the University. University health and safety committees are structured along organizational lines and report to the head of the organizational unit. A University-wide health and safety committee, composed of members of the organizational unit committees, provides campuswide consistency and oversight and reports to the director of EH&S. See Administrative Policy Statement 10.11, for a description of the University's Health and Safety Committee Plan.
Each University unit or department must have a bulletin board for posting safety notices and safety educational material. The board must be in a location accessible to all employees (hallway, lunchroom, photocopy room, etc.) and at a minimum must display the posters required by L&I and the University Hazard Communication poster; call EH&S, 206–543–7201, to obtain copies of the required posters.
State standards require designated organizational units to maintain records of all safety activities covering the previous twelve months. These records must be made available to L&I noncompliance personnel at their request. Department records should include: