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7. New Faculty Guide to CNSM Safety Program Requirements
7.1 Overview of the CNSM Safety Program
7.2 Introductory Safety Training: Mandatory
7.3 Continuing Education/Training
7.4 Faculty Responsibilities as a "Supervisor"
7.5 Room Responsibilities: Your Designated Work Areas
7.6 Hazardous Materials - General
7.7 Radioactive Materials
7.8 Hazardous Equipment
7.9 Research and Safety
7.10 Animals in Instruction/Research
7.11 Injury Response Procedures
7.1 Overview of the CNSM Safety Program
This safety program outline was specifically prepared to help acquaint new faculty members with the requirements of the CNSM Environmental Health and Safety Program. Questions on CNSM safety should be referred to Jeff Mellon or Kristin Hunter located in PH3-018, ext. 5-5623.
State law and mandatory CSULB administrative procedures require that faculty participate in the Environmental Health and Safety/Chemical Hygiene Program. Careful control of all hazardous materials and potentially dangerous equipment are key aspects of these safety programs. The employer (CSULB/CNSM) is required to communicate program information to the employee (faculty) and ensure that the applicable health, safety, and environmental requirements are met. Some EH&S issues and program requirements are so important that this document has been prepared to alert new faculty to issues that must be addressed both prior to and promptly after arriving on campus.
7.2 Introductory Safety Training: MANDATORY! Participation in the CNSM Safety Training program is a condition of employment.
Please contact your Department Office WITHIN YOUR FIRST WEEK at CSULB to do the following:
1. View the CNSM Safety Program training videotape or make an appointment for "live" training presented by CNSM Safety personnel.
2. Receive and read the CNSM Safety Program Manual packet. The packet
includes the CNSM Safety Program Manual, an orange "Safety Program Form" and an indexed set of "Green Sheet" Safety Memos-- the principal vehicle for safety- related continuing education.
3. Fill-out and return the orange "Safety Program Form." New Faculty are required to read the Safety Program Manual and the Green Safety Memos, then complete
the orange form and return it to the Department Office within one week of hiring.
The above Safety publications and forms are also available through the CNSM web page. Click on "Safety Offices" to find the CNSM Safety Office site.
7.3 Continuing Education/Training
Current health and safety problems or change in regulations are brought to the attention of the faculty and staff via Department meetings, biannual College meetings, and "Green Sheet" Safety Memos which are periodically issued to CNSM faculty and staff. The campus Office of Safety and Risk Management also publishes EH&S information. Occasionally faculty and staff are required to personally participate in an EH&S training exercise. Faculty and staff are responsible for adopting/implementing new EH&S policies communicated through continuing education.
7.4 Faculty Responsibilities as a "Supervisor"
You are a SUPERVISOR if you direct or oversee the work of any students (class/labwork, student research project, thesis work) and/or student employees, including Teaching Assistants, Graduate Assistants, Research Assistants/Associates, Student Assistants, College Work Study Students, volunteer workers, etc. Students are not covered by Cal/OSHA regulations but require the same degree of effective supervision, safety training, etc. as employees.
Each faculty who is a supervisor is responsible for ensuring that all persons being supervised have received the appropriate safety training, including special training in the use of hazardous materials and/or equipment, and have been informed of all new EH&S policies/information previously communicated to the supervisor via Green Sheet Safety Memos, meetings, etc. The supervisor must ensure that all employees that he/she supervises have obtained the CNSM Safety Training prior to beginning work. This mandatory, minimum-level training is continually available at each Department Office and/or Issue Room. The supervisor is also responsible for monitoring all work practices to insure that safety rules are followed. The supervisor is required to serve as a safety information resource person for supervised individuals, and must therefore, be careful to be well informed about applicable safe work places. The CNSM Safety Office, ext. 5-5623, is available to help faculty in this important area.
REMEMBER - Faculty are responsible for ALL chemicals, equipment, and procedures used by any student/employee they supervise! Chemical used/purchased for student work belong to the supervising faculty, not the students.
7.5 Room Responsibilities: Your Designated Work Areas
A. Room Labels: Faculty are typically assigned specific work space(s). The CNSM uses warning labels for each work area that indicates the hazards within and who to contact in an emergency. It is important to work with your department room label coordinator to see that the room label information is accurate and up-to-date, especially where laboratories are involved.
B. Room Contents: The person responsible for a room is required to coordinate with other room users (if any) to insure that all equipment in the room is in safe working order, that all hazardous materials are properly stored and labeled, and that the hazardous materials inventory (see item 7-6 below) for that room is current. Please report any abandoned chemicals or other problems to your Department Chair and the CNSM Safety Office promptly upon discovery. You should not have to "inherit" problems left over from a previous occupant.
C. Housekeeping: Housekeeping in laboratory or Office space is a matter of safety as well as good work practice. Aisles and eyewash stations must not be blocked, chemicals must be stored properly, electrical cords must not dangle across spaces, spills must be cleaned up promptly, etc. Prompt spill clean-up is especially essential when mercury, radioisotopes or other hazardous materials are in use. Master's Theses should not be approved until the project materials ave been cleaned up, materials labeled, etc.
D. Reporting Problems/Incidents: Workplace injuries, spills, malfunctioning safety equipment, dangerous unsecured items (missing earthquake bracing), and other safety problems must be reported promptly to the CNSM Safety Office and your Department Chair. Department Offices stock a standard "Incident Report Form" which you must fill out and return to your Department Office in the event of an injury to yourself or someone you supervise; a hazardous/large chemical spill; dangerous "near-miss" event; etc.
7.6 Hazardous Materials - General:
A. Transport of Hazardous Material: Any faculty member who brings or arranges for the transport of any chemicals to CSULB must check with the CNSM Safety Office prior to transporting to ensure compliance with U.S. Transportation Department regulations. Shipments of hazardous materials off-campus carry the same liabilities and is forbidden without Safety Office authorization.
B. Inventory and Management: Hazardous materials on campus are required to be listed on a master database inventory. Once you have procured a working inventory of hazardous chemicals CNSM Safety personnel will forward a supply of forms and an instruction sheet. Typically the completed forms must be returned to the CNSM Safety within two weeks. Please note that faculty are responsible for the inventory, storage, use, and disposal of the hazardous materials acquired by her/his upper division students, graduate students, and research project personnel.
C. Forbidden Hazardous Materials: Cal/OSHA regulated carcinogens(see Safety Program Manual), Level 3 or 4 biohazardous materials, explosives, DEA regulated "drugs" such as sodium barbital, etc. Human blood and blood products, and highly unstable/water reactive materials are either forbidden on-campus, or very highly regulated. Contact CNSM Safety for details.
7.7 Radioactive Materials
A faculty or staff member must become an "Authorized User" of radioisotopes via the CSULB Radiation Safety Committee PRIOR TO bringing (or placing an order for) radioactive materials, radiation-producing machines or radiation detection equipment onto this campus. The CSULB authorization can be initiated several months prior to the projected arrival of new faculty. Contact the Campus Radiation Safety Officers Jeff Mellon or Kristin Hunter in the CNSM Safety Office at (562) 985-5623. All equipment you have shipped to CSULB must be free from radioactive contamination and radioactive warning labels.
7.8 Hazardous Equipment.
Equipment that produces ionizing radiation such as x-ray machines/ electron microscopes must be registered with the State of California, and the use/ordering of these devices must be pre-approved by the Campus Radiation Safety Officer in the CNSM Safety Office. Faculty intending to use Class III or IV lasers must meet with CNSM Safety personnel prior to laser use on this campus. Other hazardous equipment may be regulated and should be approved by your Department Chair/supervisor. Microwave devices, U.V. Light producing equipment, high voltage/amperage items, high-pressure devices, etc. Must be in safe working condition and be equipped with provisions to minimize the potential injury to employees and students.
Even common "non-hazardous" equipment brought to campus must be carefully evaluated for hazards. Frayed, damaged, or non-specification electrical wiring, missing belt/chain guards, or similar hazardous conditions on any device is a safety hazard and is in violation of state law. Essential equipment that is out of compliance with safety requirements can be brought on-campus if tagged "out of service until repaired/upgraded." Details regarding repair of incoming equipment/ donations must be addressed within the Department/institute to be sure that funding is available for the repair. Bringing "white elephant" equipment items that can not be repaired on to campus is highly discouraged.
7.9 Research
Faculty are responsible for ensuring that student projects they approve have incorporated proper safety and environmental protection measures. All project work conducted outside of the regularly-scheduled classroom/lab must be reviewed for EH&S provisions, often at both the Department and college levels. Standard "Project Authorization Application" forms are available in your Department Office. Please obtain and fill this form, and return it to your Department Office if you intend to work on projects outside of scheduled lab classes. Project descriptions should be broad enough to encompass all faculty research and authorized student projects.
7.10 Animals in Instruction/Research
This is a highly regulated area. The University Animal Welfare Committee is charged with reviewing projects that employ living vertebrates. You must contact the Animal Facility Coordinator at 985-4459 prior to working with ANY living vertebrates (including field projects).
7.11 Injury Response Procedures (See attached 7-b)
A. Employee Injuries: All employees injured "on the job" must contact (or have their supervisor contact) the designated administrative representative for University employees (Henry Wu at ext. 5-4646 or Frank Costa at ext. 5-4265); or the Human Resources Officer for Foundation employees (Noelle Mastagni at ext. 5-7949). Unless the injured employee has previously filed a "Employee's Choice of Physician" form with Safety & Risk Management or Foundation's Human Resources, treatment should be sought ONLY at the approved facilities.
Each Department Office should have facility information posted in the form of a CNSM "Green Sheet" Safety memo, but verify the approved facility with the appropriate administrative representative before leaving campus as the approved facility may change. The University administrative or Founda- tion Human Resources Officer will provide any necessary forms to the employee and obtain a taxi if needed.
Treatment obtained at facilities other than the above will normally NOT be reimbursed by CSULB. The injured employee or the employee's supervisor must fill out a CNSM "INCIDENT FORM," available from any Department Office. Foundation employees must complete an ACCIDENT/ INJURE REPORT available at the Foundation Human Resources Office.
B. Faculty Responsibilities Regarding Student Injuries: Faculty must first determine if the student was injured while performing work for which they are paid by either the University or the Foundation. If the student was injured while working as an employee (TA,GA,SA,WS RA, etc.), the above "Employee Injuries" section fully applies. If the student was NOT injured while working as an employee, the student should be informed that they are responsible or all medical costs incurred though treatment at any location other then the SHC. This includes treatment sought for service injuries (necessitating off-campus treatment) or injuries that occur when the SHC is closed; EVEN IF THE STUDENT WAS INJURED IN CLASS. Please inform your students that supplemental medical insurance is available through the SHC for a nominal fee. Please refer to materials distributed at your initial safety training session for further information regarding student injury policies and procedures (also posted on the CNSM Safety webpage).