Safety

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY


Environmental Health & Safety provides services that promote a healthy and safe environment for the University community. EHS works with our community members to prevent accidents, report unsafe conditions and protect the environment. These involvements pose exposures to a variety of potential hazards. These include musculoskeletal injuries, repetitive motion, awkward positions, and indoor/outdoor temperature.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES AND CONTROLS:


Collecting, Transporting and Processing Waste: [Click here for image]

  • Keep loads as small as possible and close to the body,
  • Avoid lifting above the shoulders,
  • Use a cart or hand truck whenever possible,
  • Full drums must be moved by hand truck or mechanized equipment,
  • Use carts and hand trucks specifically designed for handling drums and other materials,
  • Use handles for drums that need to be lifted or carried by hand.

Providing Emergency Response: [Click here for image]

  • Pay particular attention to bending, twisting and lifting motions,
  • Select and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE),
  • Follow established clean-up protocols,
  • Remember that long duration work in PPE can be exhausting. Take breaks and stay hydrated during hot weather,
  • If possible, use a lighter-weight SCBA or Supplied Air Respirator,

Vehicles: [Click here for image]

  • Prior to use, inspect the vehicle from the exterior for any obvious defects or dangerous conditions,
  • Position seat, mirrors, radio, working papers, etc. at the start of shift to your size and configuration,
  • Avoid keeping bulky or sharp objects in pants pockets or utility belts when seated for long perioss of time,
  • Assess weight and position of heavy or awkward objects prior to moving them from trunk, vehicle cargo area or bed. Beware of any load-shifting and respect the force of gravity on tilting objects or stacked materials,
  • Pay particular attention to road and walk surfaces,
  • Maintain high visibility of and for other motorists, and use caution when stopping for loading or unloading.

Computer work: [Click here for image]

  • To work comfortably at a computer workstation you need to have your body in the proper orientation relative to the monitor, the keyboard, the source document, the chair, and the floor,
  • See 'Workstation Ergonomics' for additional information.

Surveys and Inspections [Click here for image]

  • Whenever possible reduce the size and weight of the bag that you are carrying to make handling easier,
  • Use shoulder straps to carry the bag instead of gripping the bag’s handle,
  • To keep your balance while surveying the floor, bend at your knees and let your legs and hips do most of the work,
  • To prevent injuries on a construction site, wear steel toe shoes, hard hat, and safety glasses.