Chapter 9 - General Provisions
Previous Publication Date: May 7, 2004
Publicate Date: November 7, 2024
Policy Reviewed Date: November 7, 2024
Policy Owner: VP for Business Affairs
9.05 Environmental Health and Safety
I. POLICY STATEMENT
UTSA is committed to being a model of safety excellence for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. This is achieved through compliance with applicable institutional, local, state, and federal environmental, health, and safety requirements and best practices. By adhering to these standards, UTSA ensures a secure and healthy environment, fostering a culture of safety and responsibility across the campus community.
II. RATIONALE
To identify authority and responsibility for the proper management of the University’s environmental health and safety program in accordance with applicable policies, laws, regulatory requirements and best practices.
III. SCOPE
This policy applies to all UTSA faculty, staff, students, contractors, visitors, and volunteers and those engaged in university activities at UTSA.
IV. WEBSITE ADDRESS FOR THIS POLICY
http://www.utsa.edu/hop/chapter9/9.05.html
V. RELATED STATUTES, POLICIES, REQUIREMENTS OR STANDARDS
- University of Texas System Policies or the Board of Regents' Rules & Regulation
- UTS 135 – Fire and Life Safety
- UTS 157 – Automobile Insurance Coverage for Officers and Employees and General Requirements for the Use of Vehicles
- UTS 161 – Environmental Review for Acquisition of Real Property
- UTS 172 – Emergency Management
- UTS 174 – Environmental Health and Safety
- UTS 190 – International Travel
- State Statutes
- Texas Administrative Code, Title 30 – Environmental Quality, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
- Texas Administrative Code, Title 28 - Insurance, Chapter 34 State Fire Marshal
- TexasAdministrative Code, Title 25 - Health Services, Chapter 289 Radiation Control; Chapter 295 Occupational Health; Chapter 96 Bloodborne Pathogen Control
- UTSA HOP Policies
VI. CONTACTS
If you have any questions about this HOP 9.05 - Environmental Health and Safety, please contact the following offices:
- For Academic anda Research Environments, Hazardous Materials and Waste:
Office of Laboratory Safety & Hazardous Materials Management:
210-458-8515;
LabSafety@utsa.edu
- For Occupational Health and Safety, Fire Prevention, Risk Management, Environmental Protection, Emergency Management, Workplace Injury:
Office of Risk and Emergency Management
210-458-5250
Safety@utsa.edu
VII. DEFINITIONS
- Office of Risk and Emergency Management – (OREM)
Provides leadership in health and safety issues, including fire prevention, risk management, occupational, construction, and environmental health and safety, workers’ compensation, business continuity, and emergency management.
VIII. RESPONSIBILITIES
- Office of Risk and Emergency Management:
- Develop and maintain programs for safe work environments and environmental stewardship.
- Advise departments on promoting safe work practices.
- Conduct inspections and audits for compliance.
- Provide effective training programs.
- Monitor safety program effectiveness through audits.
- Respond to incidents and analyze accidents for prevention strategies.
- Coordinate Workers’ Compensation program.
- Oversee risk management and insurance acquisition.
- Consult with external agencies for regulatory compliance.
- Supervisor/Administrator/UTSA official
- Establish and promote a culture of safety within the department.
- Ensure employees are aware of and adhere to University environmental, health, and safety policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Provide and ensure the proper use of safety and personal protective equipment.
- Monitor and respond to safety inspections, reporting all injuries and incidents as per University procedures.
- Identify job functions at risk of exposure to various hazards, communicate these hazards to employees, and ensure the use of established work procedures and controls.
- Investigate incidents involving direct report employees and ensure participation in required OREM training.
- Faculty, Staff, Students, Contractors, Visitors, and Volunteers:
- Conduct activities in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, University rules, and best practices.
- Promptly report unsafe practices, conditions, accidents, incidents, and near misses to supervisors and OREM.
IX. PROCEDURES
Safety manuals, policies, procedures and forms are hosted on the Office of Risk and Emergency Management website at https://www.utsa.edu/ba-administration-operations/services/risk-emergency-management/.
X. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION
None
XI. FORMS AND TOOLS/ONLINE PROCESSES
XII. APPENDIX
None
XIII. Dates Approved/Amended
11-07-2024
05-07-2004