44.115:  Environmental Health and Safety Code

Status:	Approved on January 6, 2004	Signatures and dates on archival copy
Effective:	when approved
Initiated by:	Charles Hart Director of Environmental Health and Safety
Reviewed by:	Herman ("Butch") Hill, Chair Policy and Procedure Review Committee
Endorsed by:	Gary North Vice President for Administration
Approved by:	Stephen Kopp Provost

Purpose

The purpose of the Environmental Health and Safety Code is to establish standards that will provide for the reasonable protection of the health and safety of University students, staff, and visitors whenever they may be participating in an officially recognized campus activity, and to designate Environmental Health and Safety as the department of the University responsible for inspections and for enforcement of all provisions of the Environmental Health and Safety Code.

Policy

The Department of Environmental Health and Safety will implement regulations and establish standard and procedures in the following areas.

I.  Water Supplies

All water supplied for human consumption, domestic, or culinary purposes, by recognized University groups participating in official University activities, shall meet the standards of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standards.

II.  Plumbing

All plumbing in University-occupied buildings and related housing, such as fraternities and sororities, shall be installed, maintained, and operated in accordance with the requirements of the Ohio Department of Health Plumbing Code, as administered by the Ohio Department of Health.

III.  Sewage and Industrial Wastes

All waste water, including domestic and industrial wastes, originating on University grounds and in University-occupied buildings shall be collected, conveyed, treated, and disposed of in accordance with the standards of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or local Health Departments, as applicable.

IV.  Food Handling, Processing, and Distribution

All food service facilities owned or operated by the University, by an officially recognized University group, or by an outside vendor serving the University or an officially recognized University group, shall be constructed, maintained, and operated in accordance with the requirements of the State of Ohio Food Service Law and Ohio Department of Health Rules. Those groups exempt from the Law and Rules shall meet the requirements specified by Environmental Health and Safety.

V.  Student Housing

All student housing, including residence halls and apartments owned by the University, fraternities, and sororities, is to be maintained and operated in accordance with accepted standards for safety and sanitation. Compliance with such minimum standards as may be designated shall be a requirement for approval of student housing.

VI.  University Building Sanitation

Standards of safety and sanitation for University-owned or -occupied buildings may be established. Environmental Health and Safety may establish measures and methods to reduce or eliminate vermin of public health significance and those likely to cause personal injury.

VII.  Swimming Pools and Bathing Places

Swimming pools and bathing places owned or operated by the University shall be constructed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the Ohio Department of Health Rules.

VIII.  Occupational Health and Safety

Health and safety standards for work place operations will be maintained for all shops, laboratories, offices, and other University-owned or -operated worksites and facilities, in order to reduce or prevent occupational illnesses and injuries. Compliance will be maintained with all governmental regulations, such as those of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA); Ohio EPA; State of Ohio, Division of Industrial Relations, Public Employee Risk Reduction Program; and others. Issues such as indoor air quality, ergonomics, lead, and similar concerns will be addressed under this program. Government regulations will establish minimum standards. Some Ohio University programs will be more stringent than required by the government.

IX.  Lighting, Heating, Ventilation

Standards will be established for adequate lighting, heating, and ventilation of University-owned or -operated buildings, and of buildings owned or operated by other entities specifically for use by University students or staff.

X.  Injury Prevention

Environmental Health and Safety will establish standards for the general safety of all students, faculty, staff, and the public, to prevent injury on campus, in buildings, athletic facilities, temporary events, and places of public assembly.

XI.  Radiological Health

Standards shall be established for the protection of students, faculty and staff from the potential hazards of all forms of ionizing radiation. These standards will be consistent with the standards of personnel protection and environmental control of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Ohio Department of Health, and such other federal agency regulations as are applicable to Ohio University.

XII.  Hazardous Materials and Waste Management

Standards may be established for the protection of students, faculty, staff, and public from the potential hazards of all forms of hazardous materials and waste. The standards of personal protection and environmental control shall be in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and rules that address the subject matter. Primarily the following agencies have enforcement authority: United States Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Department of Health, United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, United States Department of Transportation, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, State of Ohio Division of Industrial Relations, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations, and the Ohio Highway Patrol.

XIII.  Fire Prevention and Fire Safety

All University facilities will maintain fire safety standards as promulgated by the Ohio Fire Code, Ohio Building Code, and other applicable codes that may be established. In addition to code compliance, a fire safety education program will be maintained to increase fire safety awareness, and reduce the incidence of fire emergencies.

XIV.  Biosafety and Infectious Waste

Standards and regulations for the control of biological hazards will be adopted to assure safe handling of biological agents and infectious waste in research, medical, and other operations. Compliance will be maintained with the guidelines and regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Ohio EPA, Center for Disease Control (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and other appropriate agencies.

XV.  Facility Design

Plans for new or renovated facilities, such as buildings, laboratories, and other structures, will be reviewed by Environmental Health and Safety in cooperation with other University Departments. Recommendations will be presented in order to provide safe and healthful facilities, and to maintain regulatory compliance with building, fire, environmental, health, and safety codes.

XVI.  Workers' Compensation and Occupational Health

Environmental Health and Safety will cooperate with the office of Workers' Compensation Administration, who manage all workers' compensation claims as they relate to occupational injuries and illnesses. See Policy 40.032, "Workers' Compensation - Injuries and Occupational Diseases." This will include prevention activities, minimum job activity requirements for individuals, and as indicated, directing occupationally injured employees to the workers' compensation rehabilitation program.

Procedures

The Department of Environmental Health and Safety will publish the regulations, standards, and procedures that it establishes, for access by the University community, either on paper, electronically, or both.

Reviewers

Proposed revisions of this policy should be reviewed by:

1. Policy and Procedure Review Committee

2. Vice President for Research

3. Associate Vice President for Administration for Facilities and Auxiliary Services

4. Assistant Vice President for Administration for Human Resources

5. Director of Workers' Compensation Administration

6. Director of Facilities Planning and Construction

7. Director of Legal Affairs

Forms

There are no forms that are specific to this policy.

Dick Piccard and Kristina Schnelle revised this file (http://www.ohiou.edu/policy/44-115.html) on January 6, 2004.

Please E-mail any comments or suggestions to "polproc@www.ohiou.edu".