Each State agency is to have a written health and safety program for State employees, based on clearly stated goals or objectives, that promotes safe and healthful working conditions.
EHS Program Goals and Objectives: Intrapreneurship, Compliance, Growth, Education
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) is committed to providing a safe and healthful environment for all persons associated with the University, including faculty, staff, students, visitors, and members of the Chapel Hill community.
State regulations require each State agency to create environment, health and safety committees to perform workplace inspections, review injury and illness records, make advisory recommendations to the administration, and perform other functions determined by the State Personnel Commission to be necessary for the effective implementation of the State Workplace Requirement Program. This section provides an overview of how UNC-Chapel Hill has implemented this requirement.
A work unit is a subdivision of a department in which the employees are involved in a common function(s). The work unit has a supervisor or manager that is responsible for the operations, including safety, of the unit. Although a work unit may be involved in more than one work environment, the safety issues and training requirements will be considered for the entire unit, i.e., the work unit will not be further subdivided into the work environment categories into which departments are subdivided
Safety deficiencies may be identified by employees, department administrators, safety committees, Facilities Services employees, Environment, Health and Safety employees, state and/or federal inspectors, insurance underwriters, or anonymous reporters.
The Environment, Health and Safety Manual describes environment, health and safety policies and procedures that have been approved and implemented at the University. These procedures are to be followed by all University faculty and staff, whether full-time, part-time, or temporary. Training sessions are provided to familiarize HR Facilitators and supervisors with the University’s Environment, Health and Safety Manual.
Physical facilities are to be inspected at least annually to ensure that workplaces are free from recognized safety hazards. To achieve full compliance with the requirement, inspections will be performed by one or more of the following: self-inspection, i.e., inspection by the employee(s) occupying the area
Maintaining a safe and healthful environment is the responsibility of all employees. To augment the inspection efforts of environment, health and safety committees and the Environment, Health and Safety Office, each work unit is required to perform a self-inspection annually.
All employees are required to attend an Environment, Health and Safety Orientation program appropriate to their work environment. Orientation programs are offered in several areas.
Many State and Federal regulations require employers to provide specific training programs and occupational medical surveillance to employees initially upon employment and in some cases, as shown in Appendix A, annually thereafter. Safety training is the mechanism used to inform employees on specific regulations and the safety procedures to follow while employed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Police Department is an accredited agency dedicated to the welfare of the University community. Our mission is to “…support the University’s core mission of teaching, research, and public service by developing partnerships within the University Community that encourage problem solving and communication in order to identify and address public safety and transportation needs with professionalism and integrity, while protecting North Carolina’s future
Safety and health policies and procedures are established and enforced to protect employees from injury and illness as well as to provide for a safe and healthful place of employment.
To achieve full compliance with the annual workplace inspection requirements of Section 1-8 and 1-9 of the Environment, Health and Safety Plan, inspections will be performed by one or more of the following: employees (self-inspection), Workplace Safety Environment Committee members, Department of Environment, Health and Safety personnel, state and federal agency personnel, insurance underwriter personnel, or a combination of these.
Modifications to, or changes in, University buildings and grounds must be done through the University Facilities Services (UNC Business Manual, PHY Section, Policy 1). The purpose of the policy is to avoid the creation of unsafe or hazardous conditions, to avoid developing future maintenance problems, and to assure compliance with statutory requirements. Plans for such modifications are sent to the Environment, Health and Safety Office for review and recommendations.
The contractor is responsible for preparing a Site Safety Plan that they discuss with their employees and is made available to EHS. Further, OSHA requires that general contractors have a qualified person perform a daily safety site inspection which itemizes safety deficiencies and corrective actions taken. The contractor shall provide a weekly written report of these findings and corrective actions to the UNC Construction Manager assigned to the project.
General policies for sanitation: Housekeeping, Waste Disposal, Vermin Control, Water Supply, Toilet Facilities, Washing Facilities, Showers, Clothes Drying Facilities, Consumption of Food and Beverage on Premises
The State Workplace Safety Program requires Environment, Health and Safety Office review of hazardous materials and selected safety-related equipment and supplies.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is committeed to providing a safe and healthful environment for its employees by developing an ergonomic program (for details see the ergonomics web pages).
The purpose of this policy is to provide a safe and healthful environment throughout the University facilities in the general office setting. These requirements shall apply to all office work units as a minimum standard of general office safety. This policy prescribes safety precautions to be observed by employees in office areas.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (the “University” or “UNC”) recognizes the importance of Assistance Animals for individuals with disabilities. The University is committed to providing equal access to its classrooms, research facilities, public spaces, and housing for all of its community members, including students, employees, and visitors.
A Laboratory Safety Plan must be prepared for each campus laboratory by the Principal Investigator and submitted online to the Environment, Health and Safety Office. The purpose of the Laboratory Safety Plan is to provide safety information specific to that laboratory for the benefit of the laboratory workers and for emergency response planning.
All occupational health services for UNC-CH employees based in the Chapel Hill area are provided at the University Employee Occupational Health Clinic (UEOHC), located at 145 North Medical Drive. The UEOHC provides comprehensive occupational health services to the University community. The clinic provides medical care/case management for all workplace injuries/illnesses.
Incidents resulting in personal injuries to students, staff, faculty, and visitors while on University property, or in the course of University employment or activity, are to be reported to the University Department of Environment, Health and Safety. EHS will investigate for potentially unsafe conditions and initiate corrective action as appropriate. Campus Police are to notify the Department of Environment, Health and Safety of incidents to which they respond.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is committed to correcting an unsafe and/or unhealthy work environment. In order to do so, it is imperative incident investigations are conducted immediately to ensure that workplaces and equipment are safe and well maintained and safe and health work practices/procedures are clearly communicated and understood by employees. Prompt investigations demonstrate the University’s level of dedication and concern for safety and the well being of employees
Workers’ Compensation benefits are available to any employee who suffers disability through accident or occupational disease arising out of, and in the course of, his or her employment, according to the provisions of the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act.
Summary of Total State Service, Retirement System, Miscellaneous Payroll Deductions, Vacation and Sick Leave, Vacation Leave in Excess of 240 Hours, Employee/Dependent Health Insurance, etc., and Longevity Pay.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gives priority to permanent employees on Workers’ Compensation Leave to affect an early return to work. To facilitate an early return to work and to identify potential rehabilitation and/or training needs, EHS Workers’ Compensation Manager will request regular updates from the primary treating physician.
Summary of OSHA Regulations, Policy, First Aid Requirements, and First Aid Kit
The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill continues to grow as a leader in international education and global health through programs such as UNC Global, the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Disease, and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health.
The University Emergency Plan was established to outline an organizational structure and to assign responsibilities for coping with emergencies affecting the health and safety of people, facilities, or the environment.
How you react in the event of fire depends on how well you have prepared for a fire emergency. Therefore, departments should ensure that all employees are familiar with the procedure to follow in the event of an emergency as outlined in the University’s Emergency Plan.
Requests for Fire Department assistance should be made by telephoning “911,” the number to be used for all emergencies. In the event a fire occurs on any property, the owner or occupant shall immediately report such fire to the fire department. Once the fire has been extinguished, the incident must be reported to the Environment, Health and Safety office, Fire Marshal and the Materials Support Department. Even minor fires that may not require emergency assistance must be reported.
The University uses Occupational Safety and Health Regulations and North Carolina Fire Prevention Codes and recommendations of the NFPA Life Safety Code as minimum standards to be attained. The State Department of Insurance may also impose requirements as a condition for providing insurance on campus buildings and equipment.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and its Department of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) are committed to the health and safety of its students, faculty, staff and visitors. It is therefore critical that the means of egress in University buildings be maintained and unobstructed to ensure safe emergency evacuation of occupants, as well as allow access for emergency responders.
This policy applies to all University buildings or portions of buildings used for gatherings of 75 or more persons for such activities as entertainment, dining, amusement, lectures, seminars, etc. Described minimum criteria are for emergency planning and fire prevention practices to be employed by University departments responsible for such gathering places.
The provisions of this policy apply to the selection, distribution, inspection, maintenance and testing of portable extinguishing equipment. The requirements given herein are minimums. Portable extinguishers are intended as a first line of defense to cope with fires of limited size. They are needed even when a facility is equipped with automatic sprinklers, standpipe and hose, or other fixed protection equipment.
It is the policy of the University to use the recommendations contained in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Codes as minimum guidelines to acceptable practices on Campus. A number of the NFPA Codes have been incorporated into the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) Standards, the North Carolina State Building Code, or are mandated as a condition of insurance coverage by the North Carolina Department of Insurance.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard Z53.1, Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards, and the identification of certain equipment specifies standard colors and signs to be used in a safety and health program. The State’s Work Place Requirements Program for Safety and Health adopts ANSI Z53.1 in order to provide uniformity throughout the University.
The UNC-CH Environment, Health and Safety Office is responsible for planning, coordinating, and monitoring the fire safety program for the University. Fire Safety, as used in the University’s Environment, Health and Safety Manual, includes those areas of safety commonly referred to as “life safety”. The Environment, Health and Safety Office has been designated as the liaison between the University and the Chapel Hill Fire Department for matters involving fire safety.
The UNC-Chapel Hill Environment, Health and Safety Office is responsible for planning, coordinating, and monitoring the fire safety program for the University. Any University facility manager desiring to utilize pyrotechnics, either directly or by arrangement with non-University personnel or entities, must demonstrate satisfactory evidence of qualification to use pyrotechnics and demonstrate a satisfactory level of safety of the proposed use of pyrotechnics.
The Town of Chapel Hill Fire Department provides fire protection coverage for the University, and is aided by fire protection systems in place. This procedure identifies personnel authorized to manage alarms that are generated on campus.
The University Environment, Health and Safety Office is responsible for inspecting buildings for compliance with the Fire Codes, Life Safety Codes, and the National Electrical Code.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and its Department of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) are committed to the health and safety of its students, faculty, staff and visitors. Due to technological improvements and lower costs, automated external defibrillators (AEDs) may now be safely acquired, installed and used by University departments to save victims of sudden cardiac arrest.
Christmas trees are permitted in University Buildings for the holidays. While the trees are delightful sights and cheerful reminders of the holidays, they can also be fire hazards. The following precautions are to be observed to minimize hazards.
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for safe work practices due to the inherent dangers and potential hazards associated with various types of complex equipment inside mechanical rooms. The potential for serious incident resulting in injury and/or property damage mandates that this policy be strictly enforced.
This Policy establishes permissible use of open flame in exterior spaces of the University. This Policy applies to all exterior open flame activities on University property, whether that person in possession of the open flame or responsible for any open flame is a student, employee, or non-affiliate.
An impairment of a fire protection system poses a risk to students, faculty and staff. This policy describes required actions to be taken by the University if a required fire protection system is impaired or taken out of service due to construction, alteration, malfunction, a special event, or an emergency condition.
Beginning July 1, 2014, the Town of Chapel Hill implemented the Chapel Hill Accidental Alarm Program (CHAAP), an ordinance to reduce the amount of accidental alarms. All University building fire alarm systems are covered by this ordinance. Civil penalties for excessive accidental activations are assessed as part of the new ordinance.
The NC Fire Prevention Code (NCSFC) requires tents, canopies and other membrane structures to be evaluated for fire and life safety and a permit issued prior to any event that utilizes such a structure. The University Fire Marshal, in the Department of Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS), will be responsible for Carolina’s compliance with this requirement.
The University has designated an Emergency Coordinator(s) for all of its occupied buildings. This document describes what each Emergency Coordinator is responsible for before, during, and after an emergency.
The University is committed to protecting its employees from environmental hazards that arise out of or during the course of employment. The industrial hygiene program deals with the recognition, evaluation, and control of environmental health hazards. Environmental health hazards may include conditions which cause legally compensable illnesses, or any conditions in the work environment that impair the health of employees to the extent that they lose work and/or efficiency.
OSHA regulations require medical examinations for certain types of work involving exposure to hazardous or toxic substances.
The purpose of the Hearing Conservation Program is to provide for the protection of University employees from long term hearing loss associated with noise levels in the workplace in compliance with OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.95 Occupational Noise Exposure.
The Asbestos Control Program is a set of practices and procedures applied to building cleaning, maintenance, construction, renovation and general operation in order to maintain buildings at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The use and storage of hazardous chemicals potentially pose threats to the environment, health and safety of employees and citizens at large as evidenced by events such as the methyl isocyanate gas release in Bhopal, India. The threat is especially great for fire and emergency response workers and potentially severe for employees and citizens in the vicinity of bulk storage facilities.
Planning and implementation of control practices for the prevention of occupationally acquired cancer and for the protection of the general environment is to be included in all research programs involving known or suspected chemical carcinogens.
As a generator of hazardous waste, the University is required to comply with federal standards promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT). These regulations require documentation of the transfer of hazardous waste from the point of generation to it’s final disposal.
The OSHA “Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens” (29 CFR Part 1910.1030) is applicable to employees with exposures to blood and other potentially infectious materials. The standard defines an “occupational exposure” as reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of an employee’s duties.
OSHA 1910.1450, “Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories” (henceforth referred to as the Laboratory Standard) dictates that employers limit employees’ exposure to hazardous chemicals to below the permissible exposure limit (PEL) (or action level, if applicable) for a specific chemical.
Planning and implementation of control practices for the prevention of laboratory-acquired infections and for the protection of the general environment are to be included in all research programs involving biohazardous agents.
This policy is designed to identify a procedure to remove, repair, or replace, products or devices which may be unsafe for patient or employee use throughout the medical center.
This policy applies to Industrial, Maintenance, and Construction, and Support Services operations. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidelines for research laboratories are contained in Chapter 5 of the Laboratory Safety Manual. Personal Protective Equipment for Clinic operations are governed by the Exposure Control Plan.
University policy on eye and face protection is derived from two items of legislation enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly. The first act: “Policy for Eye and Face Protection,” passed in 1969, requires that eye protective devices be worn by students and instructors in shops and laboratories.
Safety glasses which are professionally measured and fitted to the individual are recommended for permanent employees whose job duties require frequent eye protection. These specially fitted glasses are available through the Eye Care Center and the North Carolina Department of Corrections.
A pair of safety glasses is issued to each student in the first Chemistry laboratory course taken. The students are required to keep this pair of safety glasses for all future Chemistry laboratory courses at UNC. If they lose or break the safety glasses they are required to purchase a replacement pair from the teaching laboratories administrative office.
Employees are expected to wear footwear appropriate for the duties of their employment. Sandals or other open-toe style shoes are not permitted to be worn in laboratories, shops, or other job locations where glass, caustic or corrosive chemicals, or hot materials are used or handled.
The health and safety of workers and building occupants is the most important factor to consider in laboratory work. In addition to these health and safety concerns, compliance with OSHA, Radiation Protection, and EPA regulations is also important because of the severe financial consequences, especially related to EPA hazardous waste regulations.
The purpose of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) Respiratory Protection Program is to protect the health of employees in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR 1910.134. Respirators shall be used to protect against harmful dusts, fibers, fumes, mists, gasses, smokes, sprays, bio-aerosols, and vapors.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (University) is committed to providing students, faculty and staff with engineering controls that minimize their exposure to hazardous materials. This policy addresses the installation, removal, change, and monitoring of ducted and non-ducted equipment used to control exposure to chemicals, toxins, radionuclides, and biohazard agents at the University.
Each department head has the responsibility for ensuring that space allocated to his/her department is used safely and in compliance with occupational and environmental health and safety standards. This responsibility includes compliance with life safety codes and regulations involving the use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials.
UNC employees and contractors must be aware of potential hazards associated with accessing campus roofs, and this policy has been developed to assist in mitigating those hazards.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is committed to providing a work environment that is free of recognized hazards and to investigate complaints that may be related to poor indoor air quality (IAQ). Acceptable indoor air quality is air in which there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations as determined by the Department of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) and with which a substantial majority of people exposed do not express dissatisfaction.
This policy explains how the University protects employees responsible for removing damaged lead containing paint, and for repainting in buildings constructed prior to 1978 from elevated exposures to lead.
This document describes vaccination requirements for specific University positions.
Working in a health care environment poses a risk for acquiring certain infectious diseases greater than that for the general public. To reduce the potential risk, employers are required to establish a medical surveillance program which documents immunity for some diseases, monitoring for others such as Tuberculosis, along with safety training on methods to prevent exposure and disease.
The purpose of this policy is to provide reasonable and appropriate policies and procedures for safe use of cellular telephones and other wireless communication devices. This policy addresses the potential risk of electromagnetic interference to medical equipment, the safe use of cellular telephones while driving a motor vehicle, and prohibits the use of camera telephones, PDAs or Blackberries within UNC Health Care for the purpose of taking pictures of patients in violation of HIPAA regulations
It is the policy of UNC-Chapel Hill Clinical Facilities and UNC Health Care that all employees be protected from overexposure to glutaraldehyde in the course of performing their jobs. If glutaraldehyde exposure is documented by EHS above 0.2 ppm, engineering or administrative controls will be implemented to reduce exposure below the limit. Typical trade names for glutaraldehyde solutions used in UNC-CH Clinical and UNC Health Care facilities are Cidex, Rapicide, and Wavicide.
Latex allergy occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to proteins found in natural rubber latex (NRL). NRL, commonly referred to as latex, is most often associated with disposable gloves but may be found in thousands of other products both within a health care setting and in normal daily life.
Responding to the scientific literature indicating that there may be adverse health effects associated with exposure to waste anesthetic gases, UNC-Chapel Hill Clinical Facilities and UNC Health Care have established a program for the safe use of anesthetic gases that meets or exceeds the recommendations of occupational health advisory agencies (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the American Society of Anesthesiologists) and complies with JCAHO accreditation criteria.
This Policy supports UNC Health and the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine strategy for providing a safer environment for health care personnel and patients through influenza and COVID-19 vaccination, while also meeting applicable regulatory requirements.
This policy addresses the procedures required by the University and UNC Hospitals to reduce the risk for provider-to-patient transmission of Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and/or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, (HIV) for health care personnel who provide direct patient care. This policy also reinforces the University and UNC Health Care requirements of strict adherence to Standard Precautions for all health care personnel in clinical care areas.
The Environmental Affairs Group of the Environment, Health and Safety Department (EHS) at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH or University) assists the University in complying with environmental regulatory compliance obligations including, but not limited to, Clean Air Act regulations, Clean Water Act regulations, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulations, Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act regulations, Toxic Substance Control Act regulations...
The purpose of this Policy is as follows: To improve the quality of surface water and ground water within the watershed areas owned and maintained by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) by preventing illicit discharges and illicit connections. To prevent the discharge of contaminated stormwater runoff from UNC-Chapel Hill properties and operations into the storm drainage system and natural waters within UNC-Chapel Hill.
To ensure that new potable end use devices and newly installed piping do not leach contaminates into water and ensure that new plumbing lines have been properly flushed and seasoned to prevent contamination.
The purpose of this article is to ensure that new potable end use devices and newly installed piping do not leach contaminates into water and ensure that new plumbing lines have been properly flushed and seasoned to prevent contamination.