SECTION 2 Environment, Health & Safety Program Responsibilities

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The Dean's Responsibilities

As the principle administrative officer for the College of Chemistry, the Dean has ultimate authority over EH&S matters in the College. With assistance from faculty and staff administrators, the Dean will provide continued support for all College EH&S activities. The Dean's responsibility includes:

• Ensuring that environmental, health and safety obligations are carried out in the College.
• Communicating to faculty, staff, students and visitors that health and safety and a concern for the environment are top priorities on the Berkeley campus.
• Ensuring that all College units are implementing required environment, health and safety programs that are applicable to College activities.

College Managers and Supervisors

College managers and supervisors have direct health and safety responsibilities for all activities under their control. Participation in the College's Injury & Illness Prevention Program is the most critical health & safety responsibility for all managers and supervisors (see Section 3). The following general responsibilities apply to any College activity under a manager's or supervisor's direct control:

• Ensuring that environment, health and safety obligations are carried out by everyone working in their operations
• Communicating to their employees, students and visitors that health and safety and environmental concern are top priorities of the College
• Analyzing work procedures to identify hazards and ensuring hazard control measures are implemented
• Ensuring safe operating procedures are in place and are observed
• Ensuring employees have proper personal protective equipment when required
• Encouraging prompt reporting of health and safety concerns or incidents without fear of reprisal
• Curtailing or stopping work which poses an imminent danger to health and safety
• Ensuring that self-assessment inspections are performed regularly
• Ensuring that their employees receive appropriate safety training

College managers and supervisors also have responsibilities in participating and complying with a variety of environment, health and safety programs depending on the scope of work being done under their supervision. These include:

• Injury and Illness Prevention Program (Section 3)
• Hazardous Communication Program (Section 4)
• Chemical Hygiene Plan for laboratory safety (Section 5)
• Chemical Inventory (information in Section 7)
• Hazardous Materials Disposal Programs (Section 6)
• Emergency Response Plan (Section 10)
• Air and wastewater quality programs (information in Sections 6,7)
• Special hazards programs:

• Radiation Safety, Non-Ionizing Radiation, Laser Safety, Bloodborne Pathogens
  (information in Section 7)

Principal Investigators

As managers and supervisors of research personnel and administrative staff, principal investigators have all the responsibilities of managers and supervisors as outlined above. However, principle investigators have the additional responsibility of acting as the Chemical Hygiene Officer for their laboratory operations. Chemical Hygiene Officers are responsible for ensuring safe laboratory activities and environments. Their specific responsibilities are further presented in Section 5 "The Chemical Hygiene Plan".

Non-Supervisory Staff, Students, Visitors and Guests

Every employee, student or other person authorized to conduct activities in the College is responsible for making an effort in maintaining a healthy and safe working and learning environment. Injury and illness prevention is a prime focus for all members of the College community. Responsibilities include:

• Complying with applicable environment, health and safety laws and regulations, University and College policy and accepted safe work practices.
• Observing environment, health and safety related signs, posters, warning signals and written directions.
• Being familiar with the College and Campus Emergency response plan.
• Learning about potential hazards associated with one's work; knowing where information on hazards is kept and using this information when needed.
• Following safe operating procedures and Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) information when applicable.
• Using personal protective equipment and engineering controls (e.g. fume hoods) as appropriate.
• Curtailing or stopping work and notifying a supervisor or instructor immediately whenever a imminent danger is perceived
• Reporting unsafe conditions to their supervisor or instructor.
• Warning others about defective equipment or other hazards.
• Participating in health and safety training.
• Participating in inspection and monitoring programs whenever applicable.

College of Chemistry Health and Safety Program (CCHASP)

The primary responsibility of the College of Chemistry Health and Safety Program is to assist College managers, supervisors and principal investigators in managing health and safety programs in their workplaces. CCHASP, under the direction of Michael Kumpf, works closely with the Office of Environment, Health & Safety in administering campus health and safety programs for the College of Chemistry. CCHASP is also responsible for designing and implementing a variety of health and safety programs and services specifically for the College. These include spent solvent and contaminated debris pick-up, the safety training program, overseeing laboratory and facility self-inspections and various responsibilities under the Injury and Illness Prevention Program.

College of Chemistry Safety Committee and Campus Safety Committees

The College of Chemistry facilities committee meets twice monthly and functions as the College’s Safety committee as described in the College Injury and Illness Prevention Program.

The UC Berkeley campus also has a variety of safety committees that have various environment, health & safety responsibilities. These campus committees have been established by the Chancellor's office. They include the: EH&S Policy Committee, Animal Care and Use Committee, Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, Committee on Laboratory and Environmental Biosafety, Diving Control Board, Hazardous Waste Management Committee, Laboratory Operations and Safety Committee, Laser Safety Committee, Radiation Safety Committee and Strawberry Creek Environmental Quality Committee.

Information on how to contact each committee is provided in the "Responsibilities Document" at the following website:

www.ehs.berkeley.edu/policy/responsib/respdoc.html

UC Berkeley, Office of Environment, Health and Safety

The UC Berkeley, Office of Environment, Health and Safety, or "Campus EH&S" is responsible for tracking developments in environmental and health and safety laws and regulations and determining requirements that apply to the UC Berkeley campus. Requirements are met through development of programs by Campus EH&S and relevant faculty committees for implementation by campus departments as well as through direct services, consultation, and compliance assistance. Campus EH&S can be reached at 3-3073 or at the following website:

www.ehs.berkeley.edu