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ITHACA COLLEGE
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VOLUME II
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2.8 Health and Safety PoliciesOffice of Public Safety -- Security Awareness and Crime Prevention Programs -- Sexual Offenses -- Hate Crimes -- Campus Crime Statistics -- Campus Disciplinary Actions and Arrests -- Hate Crime Statistics -- Drug and Alcohol Policies -- College AIDS Policy -- Smoking Policy -- Occupational Safety Policies
Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) is responsible for facilitating compliance with all applicable Federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) regulations, as well as those promulgated by the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL). Ithaca College is committed to ensuring a safe working environment. Supervisors are instrumental in achieving this goal. EH&S is available at all times for consultation and education on health and safety issues. If a health or safety matter involves lost work time, workers' compensation, medical claims, relocation of an employee to another work area, or other issues with employee relations' implications, contact the director of benefits or the benefits specialist at Human Resources. Job Safety -- Accidents -- Emergencies -- Emergency Building Evacuation Procedures -- Mercury Spill Safety Procedure
Safety is everybody's responsibility. It is up to supervisors to ensure that employees do their part in preventing accidents. If a supervisor observes or receives a report of a hazardous situation or unsafe equipment, the supervisor should correct the problem if possible or, if appropriate, report the situation to the Office of Public Safety immediately. Students who are aware of a hazardous situation or of unsafe equipment should report them to an appropriate College employee or to the Office of Public Safety.
EH&S coordinates asbestos management at Ithaca College. The Environmental Safety Specialist (ESS) holds a New York State Department of Labor Inspector Certificate allowing bulk samples to be taken for laboratory analysis. Asbestos removal at Ithaca College may be performed for three reasons:
When asbestos is removed as a result of renovation or demolition project, a specification is written to outline Ithaca College's expectations for the conduct of the abatement company and the air monitoring company. This ensures that the contractor takes all necessary precautions for the safety of employees and compliance with all applicable regulations and codes. When an emergency asbestos removal is needed, EH&S contacts a licensed asbestos abatement contractor and air-monitoring firm. The people in the affected building are advised of the removal in accordance with NYSDOL regulations
As required by OSHA regulations (29 CFR Part 1910.1030), employees of Ithaca College with reasonable potential to encounter bloodborne hazards in their jobs are provided with a bloodborne pathogens exposure control program. The purpose of the program is to inform such employees of bloodborne pathogen hazards that may be associated with exposures in the work place. Applicable employees are trained about the proper protective measures that can be taken to reduce potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The Hepatitis B vaccine will be offered to each person covered by the program. Some or all employees who work in any of the following areas are covered in the Ithaca College Bloodborne Pathogens Program:
If an employee or student wishes to have a bonfire on Ithaca College property, a bonfire permit must be submitted. The permit process is initiated by by contacting the Ithaca College Fire and Building Safety Coordinator prior to the event. A minimum of two weeks advance notice should be allowed to ensure the neccessary approvals can be obtained from the Ithaca Fire Department and Town of Ithaca Building and Zoning Office. A copy of the permit application can be downloaded at www.ithaca.edu/safety/pdfs/ehs_bonfirepermit.pdf.
OSHA regulates work that is performed in a "confined space." Specific requirements for working in confined spaces are set forth in 29 CFR Part 1910.146 of the OSHA regulations. A confined space is defined as a space that: 1) Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; 2) Has limited or restricted means for entry and exit (e.g., tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits); and 3) Is not designated for continuous employee occupancy. Due to their physical nature, confined spaces can be very hazardous. Hazards include, but are not limited to: flammable atmospheres, oxygen-deficient atmosphere, trapped toxic vapors or gases, moving mechanical equipment, and engulfment. Ithaca College has a written Confined Space Entry Program to comply with the requirements in the regulation. This program, which is available from EH&S, defines Ithaca College's compliance with regard to hazards, air monitoring, work practices, responsible persons, rescue, the permit system and training. Employees in any of the following areas are covered in the Ithaca College Confined Space Entry Program:
The Office of Facilities and the warehouse at Ithaca College use forklifts ("powered industrial trucks"). To comply with OSHA regulations (29 CFR Part 1910.178), classroom and road training is given to the forklift drivers in those departments. Refresher training is provided whenever an operator is observed driving the vehicle in an unsafe manner, there is an accident or near-miss, an evaluation indicates unsafe operation, or a workplace change affects safe operation of the vehicle. An evaluation of each operator's performance is conducted by the applicable supervisors at least once every three years. Only trained and authorized operators shall be permitted to operate a powered industrial truck.
OSHA sets specific acceptable safety levels for certain hazardous air contaminants. Additionally, OSHA has chemical-specific regulations for several individual chemicals. The regulations require employers to ensure their employees are protected against exposures to chemical concentrations above regulatory thresholds. EH&S performs air and personal exposure monitoring as necessary to ensure employee safety. If air contaminants are found at unacceptable levels, the appropriate engineering, administrative, or personal protective equipment controls are put into place. An extensive list of regulated air contaminants is provided in the OSHA regulations (29 CFR Part 1910.1000). The following is a list of chemicals for which OSHA has specific regulations. Employees and students who anticipate using any of these listed chemicals on campus, must contact EH&S for a workplace assessment and personal exposure monitoring (if not previously completed).
EH&S periodically surveys the campus to ensure that all appropriate monitoring has been completed for employee exposures to regulated chemicals.
Ithaca College employees who encounter hazardous chemicals on a routine basis in his or her job will be included in the institution's Hazard Communication Program. The Office of Public Safety - EH&S is responsible for maintaining and facilitating the implementation of the Hazard Communication Program. The purpose of the program is to inform applicable employees of the hazards that may be associated with chemicals in the workplace and the proper protective measures that must be taken to reduce exposure to associated hazards. Training of employees who routinely use chemicals in the hazards associated with chemical use is provided at least annually by EH&S. The program fulfills the Hazard Communication Standard promulgated by the OSHA at 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.1200, as well as Article 28 - Toxic Substances, of the New York State labor laws. Ithaca College is committed to the implementation of its mandatory Hazard Communication Program and will take active measures to ensure that the program is effectively implemented. Ithaca College will make a copy of the written Hazard Communication Program available upon request to employees, their designated representative, and OSHA as required by law. Copies of the written program are also maintained by applicable supervisors of employees who regularly use hazardous chemicals. As required by law, material safety data sheets (MSDS) shall be made readily available, during each work shift, to any employee or designated representatives. Employees have access to MSDSs during each work shift. Refer to section 2.8.11.1.11 for information about obtaining MSDSs.
OSHA requires any employer with employees exposed to noise equal to or greater than 85 decibels on an 8-hour time-weighted average implement a hearing conservation program. EH&S performs noise monitoring and administers the Ithaca College Hearing Conservation Program at Ithaca College in accordance with 29 CFR Part 1910.95. As required, employee noise exposure monitoring and audiometric testing is provided by the College at no cost to applicable employees. The following personnel are covered under the Ithaca College Hearing Conservation Program:
A copy of the Hearing Conservation Program is maintained by applicable supervisors of employees with routine exposure to potentially hazardous noise, as well as EH&S.
As required by 29 CFR Part 1910.1450, employees who encounter hazardous chemicals in laboratories on a routine basis in their jobs are provided with a chemical hygiene plan. The purpose of this plan is to inform employees of the hazards that may be associated with chemicals in the laboratory and the proper protective measures that can be taken to reduce exposure to any hazards associated with these chemicals. The Ithaca College Chemical Hygiene Plan also contains specific safety and health procedures to be used in laboratories. Laboratory safety training is required at the time of initial employment and annually thereafter. Exposure records, if any, must be kept. Employees who work in laboratories for the following departments are covered under the OSHA Chemical Hygiene Plan requirements:
Ithaca College has a lockout/tagout program that establishes the minimum requirements for the isolation of hazardous energy sources in accodance with OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.147. These include but are not limited to the following: electrical outlets and fixtures; electrical substation; fumehoods; any work on fans; breakers; high voltage switch gear; motors; capacitors; boilers; print shop machinery and air handling units. Lockout/tagout procedures must be used to ensure that the machines or equipment are isolated from all potentially hazardous energy before employees perform any servicing or maintenance activities where the unexpected energization, start-up or release of stored energy could cause injury. The hazards are both electrical and mechanical. Employees who work in the following areas are covered under the Ithaca College Lockout/Tagout Program:
Material safety data sheets (MSDS) provide specific health and safety information, chemical data, physical properties, personal protection measures, handling precautions, etc., on hazardous chemicals used in the work place. As required by OSHA regulations, all employees must have unobstructed access to an MSDS for each chemical product they may use or potentially be exposed to during their work. Ithaca College uses a fax-on-demand MSDS program, provided by the 3E Company, Carlsbad, CA, to ensure that all employees have easy access to an MSDS 24 hours per day. To obtain an MSDS, dial 1-(800) 451-8346. Be sure to have the following information available when you call: (a) product name and number, (b) manufacturer name, and (c) UPC code (if available). The most current copy of the MSDS will be sent to the fax number specified by the caller. In most cases the MSDS will be faxed immediately, but no more than 20 minutes after calling. If the caller does not provide a fax number, their department fax is inoperative, they do not know their fax number, etc., the MSDS will be automatically sent to the Public Safety Dispatch Center located in the Center for Public Safety and General Services, which is open 24 hours per day. The fax-on-demand 800# and calling instructions are posted at applicable locations throughout campus (including the Human Resources bulletin board in Job Hall). Posters and phone stickers with the 800# and instructions are available through EH&S. Because they are continuously being updated, employees should not keep files of MSDSs. Employees should call for the most current copy of an MSDS each time it is needed to ensure that they receive the appropriate health and safety data. EH&S maintains an inventory of all chemicals on campus. This inventory is periodically provided to the 3E Company to ensure that it maintains a list of all chemicals used at Ithaca College in its database. Supervisors must inform the environmental safety specialist of the material name, manufacturer, and UPC code whenever a chemical product is purchased from a new vendor or manufacturer so, the database can be updated.
Ithaca College is required, under 29 CFR Part 1910.1020 of the OSHA regulations to make available to its employees information about how to obtain access to their exposure and medical records. An "exposure" means that an employee is subjected to a toxic substance or harmful physical agent in the course of employment through inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, absorption, etc. An exposure record is a record containing information on workplace monitoring, biological monitoring, material safety data sheets and any other record which identifies where and when a toxic agent or harmful physical agent was used. A medical record can be a medical or employment questionnaire, results of medical examinations, medical opinions or diagnosis, first aid record, a description of treatment, and employee medical complaints."
Every spring, information about these regulations and how to access the medical and exposure records is distributed to employees informing them of their rights under this clause. In addition this information is in the yearly benefits package and is also posted on the Human Resources bulletin board in Job Hall.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration requires employers to protect their employees from workplace hazards. The preferred way to eliminate hazards is through engineering controls. Engineering controls eliminate the hazard at the source and do not rely on worker behavior. As such, these are generally the most reliable means of personal protection. Other controls include: machine guards, safe work practices, and/or administrative controls. When these controls are not feasible or do not provide sufficient protection, personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used to protect employees from the risk of injury. PPE is not a substitute for good engineering or administrative controls or good work practices, but should be used in conjunction with these controls to ensure the safety and health of employees. The Ithaca College Personal Protective Equipment Program is intended to guide College personnel in the proper assessment, selection, use, and maintenance of PPE to ensure the safety of its employees. Personal protective equipment will be provided, used, and maintained when it has been determined that its use is required and that such use will reduce the risk of occupational injury and/or illness. The Ithaca College Personal Protective Equipment Program addresses eye, face, head, foot, body, and hand protection. Separate programs exist for respiratory (2.8.11.1.14) and hearing protection (2.8.11.1.8) since the need for participation in these programs is established through industrial hygiene monitoring performed or coordinated by Environmental Health & Safety, require medical clearance (respiratory), and specific training.
Ithaca College is committed to providing a safe work environment and the necessary personal protective equipment to ensure the safety of its employees. The College will provide properly fitting PPE that is of safe design and construction to protect employees against applicable hazards, at no cost to the employee. PPE must be worn whenever it is necessary to guard against hazards capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation, or physical contact relative to any operations, work environment, chemicals, blood or other potentially infectious materials, radiological materials, or mechanical exposures. Office Directors and Department Chairs have the primary responsibility for determining and providing the appropriate PPE for their areas. EH&S will work in conjunction with the directors, chairs, or designees to make PPE determinations as needed. Employees will be informed of the PPE selections and the specified required use in the workplace. Employees are required to wear the assigned PPE for the applicable hazards. Employees must ensure that the assigned equipment is used and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition. Defective or damaged PPE shall not be used. Employees must notify his/her supervisor immediately of any damaged or defective PPE to obtain a replacement. Employees failing to wear the required PPE and adhere to the College PPE policies are subject to progressive disciplinary action.
Individual College offices and departments have the ultimate responsibility for ensuring the safety of their employees. Relative to PPE, these responsibilities include:
Supervisory personnel have the primary responsibility for implementation of the PPE Program in their work area(s). This involves:
The PPE user is responsible for following the requirements of the PPE Program. This involves:
Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) is responsible for the development and administration of the PPE Program. This involves:
As required by OSHA regulations, Ithaca College shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of PPE. For each work site or job task, a “Personal Protective Equipment Assessment Form” must be completed to indicate the applicable hazards and the specific protective equipment needed for each work area or job task. Supervisors are most familiar with the jobs, tasks, and work areas and potential hazards encountered by their personnel. As such, supervisors have the primary responsibility to conduct a PPE Assessment of each work area and/or job-task to identify sources of hazards, including impact, penetration, compression, chemical, heat, dust, electrical sources, material handling, and light radiation. Each survey will be documented using the PPE Hazard Assessment Form which identifies the workplace surveyed, the person conducting the survey, findings of potential hazards, and date of the survey. A blank copy of this form is available through EH&S and via the Public Safety website (www.ithaca.edu/safety). Once the hazards of a workplace and/or job-task have been identified, EH&S will work with the applicable Supervisor(s) as necessary to determine the suitability of the PPE presently available and select new or additional equipment that ensures an adequate level of protection against anticipated hazards. Care will be taken to recognize the possibility of multiple and simultaneous exposures to a variety of hazards. Adequate protection against the highest level of each of the hazards will be provided or recommended for purchase.
All personal protective clothing and equipment will be of safe design and construction for the work to be performed and shall be maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition. At a minimum, PPE used by Ithaca College employees must conform to the updated American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards that have been incorporated into the OSHA PPE regulations. Careful consideration must be given to comfort and fit of PPE to ensure that it will be used. Protective devices are generally available in a variety of sizes. Care should be taken to ensure that the proper size is selected.
Prevention of eye injuries requires that all persons who may be in eye hazard areas or performing work that has the potential to cause an eye injury, wear protective eyewear. These individuals include: employees, visitors, researchers, contractors, or others passing through an identified eye hazard area. Supervisors shall procure a sufficient quantity of goggles and/or plastic eye protectors that afford the maximum amount of protection possible. If these personnel wear personal prescriptive glasses, they shall be provided with a suitable eye protector to wear over them.
As stated in section 2.8.11.1.13.3.3, Eye and Face Protection, prevention of eye injuries requires that all persons who may be in eye hazard areas or performing work that has the potential to cause an eye injury, wear protective eyewear. If these personnel wear personal prescriptive glasses, they shall be provided with a suitable eye protector to wear over them that can be worn without disturbing the proper position of the prescription lenses or the protective lenses. In most situations, department supervisors have the usual assortment of safety glasses and goggles for employees to select from, in addition to over-the-glass safety glasses for those employees with prescription glasses. These traditional articles of safety equipment will continue to be the primary types/varieties that employees may select from. The College understands, however, that there are other variables or human factors which influence the effectiveness of the safety glasses program. With this in mind, Ithaca College will fund the purchase of prescription safety glasses for applicable employees pursuant to the following policies. The College will provide prescription safety glasses, within the parameters set forth below, for any employee who wears corrective lenses and who is actually or potentially exposed to chemical or physical hazards on the job, and who has traditionally had to use over-the-glass safety glasses for his/her protection. The intent of this program is not to buy employees prescription safety glasses for home use, or to provide an additional employee healthcare benefit. The intent is solely aimed at providing an additional protective equipment option to those in need of corrective lenses, in a manner that encourages employee compliance with the College’s eye protection program. Policy Conditions: Applicability: Employees authorized to participate in this program are all personnel who perform work on a regular basis that has reasonable potential to cause an eye injury (see section 2.8.11.1.13.3.3) due to flying particles, projectiles, and similar foreign objects. Applicable work and jobs are reviewed by EH&S to determine whether there is reasonable potential for eye injury. Authorization: The EH&S Manager is responsible for authorizing the purchase of prescription safety eyewear through the Ithaca College Prescription Safety Eyewear Program. Employees wanting consideration for inclusion in the program must contact the EH&S Manager.
Lenses:
Frames:
Extra Features: This program only covers the cost of prescription safety lenses, side shields, and frames. Any extra features (e.g., tinting, UV coatings, glare resistant, etc.) that an employee desires are to be paid for by the employee. Circumstances in which an employee has a documented medical condition that may require an extra feature (e.g., tinted lenses for a photosensitive person) will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Payment: Empire Vision will directly bill the College for the costs of covered items. Any additional charges or overages (e.g., extra features, eye exams, etc.) will be paid for by the employee at the time of sale. Usage: Prescription safety eyewear purchased through this program is intended to be used for Ithaca College business-related work. Employees must store his/her prescriptive safety eyewear in the case provided in a clean environment, away from equipment, objects, or people that could accidentally damage it. Other than the designated reimbursement date, prescription safety eyewear will only be replaced if it is damaged or broken while the employee was performing College work (more information below). Additional Terms:
Program Contacts: EH&S Manager (4-3757): Questions on applicability, eye protection, job hazard analyses, and similar matters. Obtain “Vision Service Authorization” forms. HR Benefits Operations Specialist (4-3245): Questions on reimbursement.
Head protection will be furnished to, and used by, all employees engaged in applicable maintenance, construction, and other miscellaneous work involving potential head injury hazards. Head protection is also required to be worn by engineers, inspectors, and visitors at construction sites and other areas where hazards from falling or fixed objects, or electrical shock are present. Additionally, employees must confine their hair if there is a risk of injury from entanglement in moving parts or likelihood of contamination by hazardous substance. A protective helmet must be worn by any employee working under any of the following circumstances:
Each applicable employee will be assigned one hard hat. All purchases of hard hats shall be by the supervisor or a designee. It is the responsibility of the employee to wear his/her hardhat in accordance with this policy. Employees are responsible for maintaining his/her hard hat in good condition. Employees must inspect all hard hat components daily for signs of dents, cracks, penetration, and other damages. In addition to everyday wear, ultraviolet rays from sunlight may degrade the shell of a hardhat over time. The hat will lose its glossy finish and have a chalky appearance or, the shell may start flaking away. Any damages, defects, or other problems regarding a hard hat should be immediately brought to the attention of the appropriate supervisor. Any hard hat that fails a visual inspection must be removed from service until the problem is corrected or the equipment is replaced. All hard hats shall meet the specifications of American National Standard Institute (ANSI) Z89.1-1997. Additionally, helmets for the head protection of employees potentially exposed to high voltage shall be nonconductive and meet the specifications of ANSI Z89.2-1971.
Safety shoes or boots with impact protection are required where there is a danger of a foot injury due to falling or rolling objects. Such hazards may include: carrying or handling materials such as packages, objects, parts or heavy tools, which could be dropped on the feet; and for other activities involving equipment and objects that could cause foot injuries. Additionally, safety shoes or boots with puncture protection are required where sharp objects such as nails, wire, tacks, screws, large staples, scrap metal etc., could puncture the sole and cause a foot injury. Foot protection is also required where employees are exposed to electrical hazards. All safety footwear shall comply with ANSI Z41-1991. Since most safety footwear can be worn off the job, Offices and Departments who opt to require this type of protection, are not obligated to bare the full cost of the footwear. Individual departments and offices are responsible to formulate their specific policies for purchasing and furnishing safety footwear.
Although not designed to protect the feet or any specific body part, some jobs/tasks (e.g., custodial work) may occur in areas that are continuously wet and slippery. Offices or Departments with employees who regularly work under these conditions may choose to provide slip resistant footwear. Since the anti-slip footwear can be worn off the job, Offices and Departments who opt to require this type of protection, are not obligated to bare the full cost of the shoes. Individual Departments and Offices are responsible to formulate their specific policies for purchasing and furnishing anti-slip footwear.
Hand protection is required whenever employees are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical or thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes. There are gloves available that can protect workers from these individual hazards or combinations thereof. Glove selection shall be based on performance characteristics of the gloves relative to the task, work conditions, duration of use, and potential hazards present. Skin contact is a potential source of exposure to toxic materials. It is important that the proper steps be taken to prevent such contact. The first step in glove selection for chemical use is to determine, if possible, the exact nature of the substances to be encountered. Read instructions and warnings on chemical container labels and material safety data sheets (MSDSs) before working with any chemical to ensure that compatible gloves are worn. Recommended glove types are often listed in the MSDS section for personal protective equipment. All glove materials are eventually permeated by chemicals. Gloves can be used safely for limited time periods if specific use and other characteristics (i.e., thickness and permeation rate and time) are known. Gloves should be replaced periodically, depending on design, frequency of use, and permeability to the substance(s) handled. Disposable latex, nitrile, and similar gloves should not be reused. EH&S can assist in determining the specific type of glove material that should be worn for a particular chemical. Hand protection should generally be worn whenever it is necessary to handle rough or sharp-edged objects, and very hot or very cold materials. The type of glove materials to be used in these situations include leather, welder’s gloves, aluminum-backed gloves, and other types of padded or insulated glove materials. The following is a guide to the most common types of protective work gloves and the types of hazards they can guard against: Disposable Gloves - Usually made of light-weight plastic, latex, nitrile, and other similar materials can help guard against mild irritants. Fabric Gloves - Made of cotton or fabric blends are generally used to improve grip when handling slippery objects. They also help insulate hands from mild heat or cold and protect against minor abrasions or cuts. Leather Gloves - Used to guard against injuries from sparks, scraping against rough surfaces, cuts, and punctures. They are also used in combination with an insulated liner when working with electricity. Metal Mesh Gloves - Used to protect hands form accidental cuts and scratches. They are used most commonly by persons working with cutting tools or other sharp instruments. Aluminized Gloves - Made of aluminized fabric are designed to insulate hands from intense heat. These gloves are most commonly used by persons working with molten materials. Chemically Resistant Gloves - May be made of rubber, nitrile, neoprene, polyvinyl alcohol or vinyl, etc. The gloves protect hands from a variety of hazardous substances. There is no single glove, however, that is compatible with all chemicals. When selecting chemically resistant gloves, be sure to consult the manufacturers’ recommendations, especially if the gloved hand will be immersed in the chemical. EH&S also has reference sources that identify glove compatibility.
Careful attention must be given to protecting your hands when working with tools and machinery. Power tools and machinery must have guards installed or incorporated into their design that prevent the hands from contacting the point of operation, power train, or other moving parts. To protect hands from injury due to contact with moving parts, it is important to:
Certain jobs may have the potential to injure the arms, legs, and torso. PPE must be used whenever employees are performing work that could expose these bodily areas to injurious chemical splashes; sharp or rough surfaces; impacts or cuts from tools, machinery, and materials; extreme heat; potentially infectious materials (e.g., blood); and radiation. PPE that protects the torso, legs, and arms includes (but is not limited to): apron, coveralls, or other specialized clothing; protective suits made of various materials; cut resistant leggings or chaps; and arm-length gloves. When necessary, employees shall be provided and use appropriate body protection. Depending upon the hazard, PPE may include an apron, coveralls, chaps, or a full-body suit. Employees working around machinery must ensure that they do not wear loose clothing, jewelry, and other accessories that could be entangled in moving parts. Welders must wear leather aprons, and shirts with long sleeves and collars, as well as the required head, face, eye, hand, foot, and respiratory protection. Employees working near vehicular traffic hazards must wear bright orange warning garments (e.g., shirts, vests, jackets, etc.) during the day and reflective warning garments after dark.
Employees are responsible for keeping the assigned PPE clean and properly maintained to ensure its effectiveness. Cleaning is particularly important for eye and face protection where dirty or fogged lenses could impair vision. PPE should be inspected, cleaned, and maintained at regular intervals (e.g., as recommended by manufacturer) so that the PPE provides the requisite protection. PPE will be distributed for individual use whenever possible. Personal protective equipment shall not be shared between employees until it has been properly cleaned and sanitized. PPE that is overtly contaminated should be rinsed and then carefully removed after use. It is also important to ensure that contaminated PPE that cannot be decontaminated is disposed of in a manner that protects employees from exposure to hazards.
Any worker required to wear PPE shall receive training in the proper use and care of PPE. Office directors and department chairs have the primary responsibility for ensuring that each applicable employee receives the appropriate training in the PPE required for their areas. At a minimum, each employee shall be trained to know the following:
Each employee who is required to wear PPE must demonstrate an understanding of the training provided, and the ability to use the PPE properly before performing any work that requires PPE. In addition to job-specific training completed by the individual Offices and Departments, EH&S provides instruction in the PPE Program at regular intervals throughout the year to applicable employees. If an employee who has been trained demonstrates that he/she does not have an understanding and the skill required, the employee will be re-trained. Additional circumstances where an employee must be retrained include, but are not limited to, situations where: a) changes in the workplace render previous training obsolete; b) changes in the types of PPE render previous training obsolete; c) inadequacies in an affected employee’s knowledge or use of the assigned PPE indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill.
Commonly used personal protective equipment is available to Ithaca College employees through the General Services Warehouse. The following items are regularly stocked:
Other personal protective equipment (e.g., hard hats, face shields, work gloves, safety footwear, etc.) applicable to a specific job or work area may be obtained through the supervisor by the normal purchasing procedures. The expense for such equipment is to be borne by the requesting department. EH&S is available for consultation in selecting the proper personal protective equipment for the specific job or hazard(s). EH&S can also provide recommendations for safety equipment vendors.
Employees may choose to provide and use their own PPE. Any personally owned PPE used at the College must first be approved by the supervisor (in consultation with EH&S as necessary) and meet the applicable ANSI standards. The OSHA PPE regulations require employers to provide and pay for personal protective equipment required by the institution for the worker to do his or her job safely and in compliance with OSHA standards. Where equipment is personal in nature and may be used by workers off the job, the matter of who pays for the PPE is left up to the respective Offices and Departments. Examples of PPE that would not normally be used away from the worksite include, but are not limited to: welding gloves, wire mesh gloves, respirators, hard hats, specialty glasses and gloves (e.g., designated for laser or ultraviolet radiation protection), specialty foot protection (such as metatarsal shoes and linemen's shoes with built in gaffs), face shields and rubber gloves, blankets, cover-ups, hot sticks and other live-line tools used by power generation workers. Examples of PPE that is personal in nature and often used away from the worksite include, but are not limited to): non-specialty safety glasses, prescription safety glasses, safety shoes, anti-slip footwear, and cold-weather outer wear of the type worn by construction workers. (However, shoes or outwear subject to contamination by carcinogens or other toxic or hazardous substances which cannot be safely worn off-site must be paid for by the employer.)
Employee receipt of PPE and associated training must be documented through a written certification that contains the name of each employee trained, the date(s) of training, and that identifies the subject of certifications. A blank copy of the Ithaca College “PPE Assignment Form” is available from EH&S or through the Public Safety website. Completed original forms must be maintained by the individual Office or Department, with a copy sent to EH&S. These PPE records must be maintained on file at EH&S for at least 3 years.
Ithaca College employs people who are required to wear respirators in the course of their work. Therefore, a written respiratory protection program, annual training, medical surveillance and respirator fit testing are required for these people to meet the OSHA requirements (29 CFR Part 1920.134). Specific people in the following departments use respirators on campus: Health Center, Facilities HVAC, Facilities Plumbing, Facilities Grounds, EH&S, and certain Facilities utility workers. No other groups on campus are authorized to wear respirators without the required training and testing. The program includes an annual fit-test and training performed by the EH&S. The Health Center provides medical surveillance free of charge to applicable employees.
Electricity is a serious workplace hazard, exposing employees to such dangers as: shock, electrocution, fires, and explosions. All Ithaca College employees must follow some basic safety procedures to prevent electrically related injuries and property damage. At a minimum, the precautions listed below must be followed:
All employee accidents should be immediately reported to the employee's supervisor. If an employee or another person is injured on campus, call the Office of Public Safety (X4-3333 campus phone or 274-3333) to seek necessary first aid. If it is an emergency, dial 911 (see section below regarding emergencies). Students should similarly report accidents to the Office of Public Safety or, in an emergency, dial 911. Employees who have an accident while working for the College are covered by the New York State Workers' Compensation Law (see Volume III of the Ithaca College Policy Manual). If an employee is injured while on the job, a report of such injury must be made to the individual's department supervisor, who should file an accident report with the Office of Human Resources within 24 hours even though the injury may not involve loss of time from work. If the employee seeks treatment after the submission of the accident report, the employee must notify the employee's department supervisor and the Benefits Department immediately. What may seem like a minor injury or accident could result in later complications. Employees who have been involved in an accident at work must notify their supervisor immediately. The Office of Human Resources has developed an accident reporting system for the College. A "Report of Accident Investigation" form should be completed and sent to the Office of Human Resources within 24 hours of the accident. A copy of the form is available at www.ithaca.edu/safety/pdfs/form_accidentrpt.pdf. The accident report alerts the College to potentially harmful situations on campus and initiates corrective action. Supervisors must impress upon employees that it is their responsibility to promptly inform them of all accidents. Heavy fines may be imposed on the College if this legal reporting requirement is not done on time. If treatment by a doctor is required, inform the doctor that the injury is work-related.
If a serious accident occurs or if an employee or student discovers serious damage, theft, or forced entry on College property, the employee, student, or someone else at the scene should immediately dial 911 to reach the Office of Public Safety (x4-3333 campus phone or 274-3333). Callers should identify themselves and give the dispatcher the location and a brief account of the problem. An officer will respond to the location to obtain further information or give whatever assistance is needed.
Each building at Ithaca College has a written emergency evacuation procedure which is kept on file at EH&S. Floor plans indicating exits and fire safety implements accompany each of these procedures. The floor plans are filed in the EH&S office and are posted in each building. EH&S regularly offers fire safety and evacuation training to the occupants of all Ithaca College buildings. Initial training is provided during new employee orientation. Copies of floor plans and building evacuation procedures are provided to employees during the training. A generic written procedure follows:
*****Dial 911 to report a fire or any other emergency***** Each building has a floor plan that shows the locations of fire alarm pull stations, exits, assembly areas, and fire extinguishers. Know the locations of these before an emergency occurs. IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR OTHER BUILDING EVACUATION EMERGENCY, FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
All residents must stay a minimum of 150 feet away from the affected building.
Mercury contained in items such as, blood-pressure cuffs, thermometers, etc., can be very toxic, when spilled, if it is absorbed through the skin or, if a person inhales its vapors. Therefore, mercury-containing equipment must be handled with the utmost care to prevent accidental spillage. The following safety actions must be taken whenever a spill of mercury occurs.
Note: Short-term, low-level exposure to mercury
vapors is generally not a reason for concern. Spills must be promptly
cleaned up, however, because long-term exposures can cause serious health
problems. |
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Last Updated: June 1, 2006 |
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This document is maintained by the Office of the College Attorney. Send comments to: Deb Emnett |
