Charge
The University is cognizant of its responsibility to provide an environment conducive to the health and safety of all employees, students, visitors, and neighbors. In order to establish uniform policies in this area, the University Environmental Health and Safety Committee has been established to advise the Vice Provost for Research.
The Committee is charged with formulating policy and procedures related to:
- The use of biohazardous agents, including: human pathogens, oncogenic viruses, other infectious agents, and recombinant DNA. These issues shall be addressed by a standing subcommittee termed the Institutional Biosafety Committee.
- The use of hazardous chemicals including: carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens and toxic, reactive and flammable chemicals.
- The use of physical hazards including: lasers, cryogenic liquids, electrical hazards and compressed gases.
- Oversight of hazardous and infectious waste disposal programs.
- Establishing minimum facility standards.
In carrying out its charge, the Committee will:
- Develop
policies to enable the University to comply with government guidelines
and regulations in the areas of environmental health & safety.
- Provide consultation and guidance to similar committees appointed within schools or departments
- Notify the Vice Provost for Research of instances of apparent noncompliance
with University health and safety policy and make appropriate
recommendations to the Vice Provost for Research as appropriate based
on its findings.
Additionally,
the Committee may provide comments to regulatory agencies on proposed
health and safety regulations which may affect the University.
The Office of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety is the operational
group of the committe and its director shall act as secretary to the
Committee.