Risk Management/Environmental Health & Safety (RM/EHS)

Annual Report FY04

 

 

I. Departmental Mission

 

The Risk Management/Environmental Health & Safety Department will protect our students, visitors, faculty and staff through training, education, hazard abatement and information dissemination.   Additionally, we will assist in the preparation of our students for the future in the area of environmental health and safety.  We will ensure that all activities conducted on campus meet and exceed requirements set by local, state and federal agencies, thus enhancing the overall working environment while fully supporting the education mission on campus.

 

Our vision is to make the State University of West Georgia a forerunner in the areas of Risk Management, Environmental/Occupational Health & Safety compliance by maintaining current regulatory information, providing training and continuing our positive presence throughout the University community.

 

 

II. Departmental Statement of Goals, Process to Assess These Goals, and Assessment Results:

 

The strategic goals of RM/EHS are designed to further enhance the overall mission of the University as well as support the Bread and Butter Goals specific to:  Public Relations, The University Experience, Student, Faculty and Staff Morale, External Relations, and the Campus Infrastructure.

 

Goals and Assessment Objectives:

 

1. Reduce insurance loss claims by 20 percent in the areas of worker compensation, auto/property liability and third-party claims by providing appropriate training and information to all University personnel.
1. Develop required safety-related/environmental-compliance documents while working closely with departments to incorporate existing policies/procedures in order to reduce duplication and confusion on similar topics. 
2. Inspect all buildings once a year in accordance with the established schedule to identify potential safety and maintenance concerns, thus reducing future loss claims and costly maintenance repairs.   Work closely with departments to quickly correct any deficiencies within 30 days.
3. Provide meaningful and effective safety training to the University Community by structuring sessions to meet the needs of the audience in both content and media delivery.
4. Respond to indoor air quality (IAQ) complaints within two working days.  Follow up by working with the clients to develop systematic, cost efficient plans to study and correct most situations within six months.

 

2. Improve two-way communications with the campus community on issues concerning incident reporting, safety, indoor air quality and liability.
1. Provide information via all faculty/staff email, website postings and mailings.
2. Broaden the scope and depth of our newsletter, Due Diligence.
3. Conduct annual evaluation/assessment of all required written safety, environmental & loss control manuals/policies and provide updates to the campus community in accordance with the established schedule.

 

III. Give An Example of How Your Department Used The Assessment of Goals and Outcomes to Change/Improve a Process

 

1. RM/EHS designs and conducts monthly safety training sessions for Facilities Division personnel based on their job duties.  By tracking every individual, we have identified trends, and have modified our training appropriately.  For example, we identified Slips, Trips & Falls as being a primary cause of Custodial injuries, and hence provided training that would aid in identifying and avoiding slip hazards.  We also identified that inattention was the single largest contributing factor to all injuries; and hosted the Tanner Employee Assistance Program in providing stress management training. 
2. Conducted 13 building inspections and identified 1300 discrepancies.  RM/EHS collaborated with over twenty different departments to correct these items.
3. Requested and received monies to install emergency notification systems in each of our art & science buildings that use chemicals (Art Annex, Biology, Boyd, Callaway, Cobb, and TLC).  These phones will direct dial to Public Safety when activated. OSHA Standard 29 CFR 191.151(c) requires eyewash equipment for emergency use where the eyes of an employee may be exposed to injurious materials.  Eight new emergency eyewash stations were installed in the following locations: Art Annex, Cobb Hall, Humanities, Townsend Center, Geography, Facilities Motor Pool, Facilities Chemical/Pesticide storage.
4. The Safety & Loss Control Manual was completely revised in June, 2003.  It was presented to the AVP of Campus Planning & Facilities and the VP of Business & Finance for review and was then forwarded to the President and Vice President in October 2003.  This document was signed and adopted by the President on October 24, 2003.
5. On January 5, 2004, hard bound copies of the manual were distributed in person by RM/EHS to each VP, Dean, Director and Department Head.  The manuals have a unique serial number and individuals were required to sign for their copy.  Each member of the Safety Committee also received a copy.
6. The Chemical Management Guide was also published and distributed with the Safety & Loss Control Manual to those departments that generate chemical waste.  The web version is available on the RM/EHS Home page under the Safety Manual Button and the Chemical Management Guide is located under the Chemical Safety Button. End users may print the document from their computer if they desire a hard copy or they may request one from RM/EHS.
7. The Safety Committee officially met for the first time on May 27^th 2003.  They met again on February 20^th 2004.  Each member was assigned specific chapters from the Safety & Loss Control Manual to review and revise.  The suggested revisions are due to RM/EHS no later than June 18^th, 2004 so that the updates can be posted on the web and sent out to all VP’s, Deans, Directors and Department Heads by July 5^th 2004.  The minutes from both these meetings are posted on the RM/EHS website.
8. The Safety & Loss Control manual was announced in the January and May 2004 publication of Due Diligence prepared by RM/EHS. RM/EHS will continue to spotlight different sections of the manual in their newsletter and direct individuals to it whenever questions or concerns involving safety and loss control are brought to their attention via phone calls, email, First Report’s of Injury Forms or in person during building inspections.
9. RM/EHS assumed complete responsibility in administering the Workers’ Compensation for the entire University.  We are currently developing a revised panel of physicians and are expecting that it will reduce the time that our office devotes to processing Workers’ Compensation claims by 40%.

 

IV. General Statement of Department Condition:

 

1. The Office of Risk Management/Environmental Health and Safety has been very successful in establishing a positive presence within the campus community and has developed strong professional relationships with many University departments as well as with the Environmental Protection Division, Public Health Department, the Board of Reagents Environmental Affairs Office and the Department of Administrative Services.
2. Forty percent of our time is spent out in the field, responding to incidents, investigating claims or potential concerns, overseeing contractor safety work practices, and walking the campus grounds and inspecting buildings to identify hazards to life safety, fire safety, and indoor air quality concerns.  Currently this office is comprised of only two full-time professional personnel.  The more we see, the more we realize the amount of work that lies ahead of us and the need for at least one more full-time person to accomplish our goals and foster the University mission.

 

V. Departmental Achievements:

 

1. Updated the Contingency Plan and Emergency Procedures Manual mandated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
2. Applied for and received a grant in the amount of $3,210.00 from the Board of Regents and P2AD to replace mercury thermometers on campus.  UWG agreed to provide $2,915.00 in matching funds.  Replaced mercury thermometers in all but one academic laboratory.
3. By closely monitoring and segregating waste, reduced total recycling costs by 78%.  Reduced ballast recycling costs by 89%.  Overall, our efforts saved Facilities approximately $6,500.00 during FY 04.
4. Initiated a nickel-cadmium/nickel-hydroxide battery recycling program on campus.  Over 160 pounds of batteries were recycled at no cost to the University.
5. Conducted five environmental compliance training sessions for faculty and staff in the School of Art and Sciences.  Each of these sessions was attended by the VP for Academic Affairs and the Dean.
6. Conducted food service inspections of UCC and Z-6.
7. Served as a point-of-contact to the City of Carrollton Fire Department on fire safety pre-emergency planning.
8. Tracked and/or updated 191 uniquely-designed Fire Evacuation Plans on campus.  Designed and/or installed an additional 28 plans in five other buildings.
9. Assisted Residence Life and Facilities with Residence Hall Fire Drills.
10. Investigated, documented, and processed 66 insurance claims for auto/property damage, general liability claims, safety hazards, and environmental concerns. 
11. Submitted 18 workers compensation; processed and/or tracked  59 reports of injury.  Generated one lost-time accident report.
12. Hosted the Georgia Higher Education Network Environmental Health & Safety (GHENEHS) meeting on campus.
13. Conducted asbestos sampling in 13 buildings, submitting over 144 samples for analysis.  Coordinated and managed six asbestos abatement projects.
14. Designed and presented 22 safety training classes to 695 Facilities, Archaeology, ITS, and Townsend personnel throughout the year.  Tracked the attendance of each training session and forwarded reports to Continuing Education. 
15. Obtained turn key service for the disposal of two hazardous waste shipments.
16. Conducted Right-to-Know training for the Chemistry Department.

 

VI. Staff Productivity:

 

Assistant Director

1. Secretary of the UWG Homeland Security Committee.
2. Active member of the BOR Environmental Safety Advisory Council.
3. Active member of the Georgia Higher Education Network for Environmental Health & Safety (GHENEHS).
4. Active member of the Alabama Society of Hazardous Materials Managers
5. Attended required refresher courses for Asbestos, RCRA, DOT certifications.
6. Recertified as a Master Level Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM).  Required every five years.
7. Recertified as an Environmental Trainer (CET) required every three years.
8. Attended three a day Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) Pipeline Safety Seminar
9. Attended the ACHMM 2003 National Conference in Dallas, Texas.
10. Received 30 hour OSHA training certification.

 

EHS Coordinator

1. Chair of the University Safety Committee.
2. Attended three a day National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code Seminar.
3. Attended require refresher courses for Asbestos Maintenance and Building Inspector certifications.
4. Attended two-day Georgia Interagency Safety Advisory Council (GISAC) seminar.
5. Attended Violence of Campus seminar, sponsored by UWG Public Safety.
6. Attended Food Safety forum, hosted by Carroll County Health Department.

 

 

Both Personnel

1. Attended Carroll County Work Place Security Meeting.
2. Attended NPDES training at UGA.
3. Met with DOAS and Facilities Directors to establish a Return-To-Work Program.
4. Attended the Georgia Department of Administrative Services Customer Conference in Atlanta.
5. Attended 85% of all UWG pre-construction meetings, reviewed contractor safety manuals and provided over-site guidance.
6. Attended two day ServSafe  Public Health Food Service Training.

 

 

VIII. Other Awards, Distinctions and Achievements:

 

Assistant Director

1. Certified Hazardous Materials Manager
2. Certified Environmental Training
3. Certified EPA/AHERA/ASHARA Asbestos in Buildings Inspector

 

EHS Coordinator

1. Certified Asbestos Maintenance Worker
2. Certified EPA/AHERA/ASHARA Asbestos in Buildings Inspector