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The State Workplace Safety Program requires Environment, Health and Safety Office review of hazardous materials and selected safety-related equipment and supplies.

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 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 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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.