Annual Report 2002-2003
Annual Report FY 2002 - 2003
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:
§ 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.
§ 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
- RM/EHS designs and conducts monthly safety training sessions for Facilities Division personnel based on their job duties. This training has resulted in greater safety conscience in work performance, thus reducing potential personal injury. The new “You Make the Call” training segments have dramatically increased their awareness and ability to identify potential safety hazards on campus, which they either reported to this office or took corrective action themselves.
- This office identified twenty slip, trip and fall hazards on campus. These were corrected with the help of Facilities Division and Public Safety before injuries resulted. A recent nationwide survey identified “slip, trip and fall” injuries as being responsible for the majority of Worker’s Compensation claims in 2002.
- The newsletter “Due Diligence”, the “Consumer Product Safety Recall Alert” emails distributed by this office to the campus community have received very positive feedback and have resulted in more people requesting our advice and assistance on various issues. This proactive behavior facilitates two-way communication on campus and reduces potential loss claims to the University. Through research, training and vigilance, this office was able to reduce universal waste cost by over 14%. Devoted more than 200 work hours toward federal and state environmental compliance.
IV. General Statement of Department Condition:
- 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.
- 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.
- The new Environmental Safety Coordinator has received considerable training throughout the year and as a result has greatly contributed to the success of this Office and renewed our commitment to provide the best services possible.
V. Departmental Achievements:
- Established a thirteen-member University Safety Committee composed of individuals from Chemistry, Biology, Geosciences, Art, Student Activities, Residence Life, Facilities, Public Safety, Athletics, and the Performing Arts.
- Administered all aspects of the new Select Agent program required under the Public Security and Bio-terrorism Preparedness and Response Act.
- Successfully completed closure on three major indoor-air quality investigations in Health Services, Education Center and Parker Hall.
- Investigated, identified and corrected several outdoor environmental projects on campus which reduced liability and eliminated potential monetary fines from the Environmental Protection Agency concerning the Clean Water Act, Toxic Substances Control Act and the Resource Conservation and Recover Act.
- Updated the EPA required Spill Prevention & Countermeasures Plan for the University.
- Investigated a building complaint involving headaches from several employees, which resulted in a building evacuation due to high levels of carbon monoxide gas readings. The cause was quickly traced to improper combustion from a boiler system, which was incorrectly installed by the contractor.
- Served as a point-of-contact and accompanied the City of Carrollton Fire Department on fire safety building inspections of all buildings in support of their pre-emergency planning.
- Generated and followed through on over 90 work orders toward Facility environmental compliance and safety enhancement.
- Developed and installed 191 uniquely-designed Fire Evacuation Plans in 16 University Buildings.
- Inspected all Residence Halls for fire safety and life-safety concerns.
- Investigated and processed 34 insurance claims for auto/property damage and general liability claims.
- Performed respiratory protection training and fit testing for three professors in the Art Department, one Library employee, two RM/EHS employees, two Facilities employees and two Public Safety Officers.
- Submitted and tracked 21 worker’s compensation claims and 38 reports of injury for Facilities Division.
- Conducted asbestos sampling in six buildings, submitting over 127 samples for analysis. Coordinated and managed four asbestos abatement projects.
- Performed various microbial contamination surveys in three campus buildings to identify contaminates, and investigated potential sources. Resolved and closed all cases.
- Designed and presented 21 safety training classes to 602 Facilities and Warehouse personnel throughout the year.
- Designed and presented specialized training to a team of nine AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps volunteers.
VI. Staff Productivity:
Assistant Director
- Secretary of the UWG Homeland Security Committee.
- Active member of the BOR Environmental Safety Advisory Council.
- Active member of the Georgia Higher Education Network for Environmental Health & Safety (GHENEHS).
- Delivered GHENEHS presentation concerning the effectiveness of combining the departments of Risk Management & Environmental Health & Safety at Colleges and Universities.
- Active member of the USG Bio-safety Committee.
- Attended required refresher courses for Asbestos certifications.
EHS Coordinator
- Chair of the University Safety Committee.
- Attended classes in Environmental Audits; EPA’s Storm Water Permits and Pollution Prevention Plans; Environmental, Health & Safety Laws and Regulations; Asbestos Awareness; Asbestos in Building: Inspection & Assessment; AHERA Maintenance Worker; Hazardous Waste Management; Hazardous Materials Handling Certification for DOT; College & University Housing Fire Safety; Campus Planning & Facilities Budget, Purchasing and Human Resource training; and FWSP workshop.
Both Personnel
- Attended OSHA 10-hour Industry training.
- Attended three-day Georgia Department of Administrative Services Customer Conference in Savannah.
- Attended 85% of all UWG pre-construction meetings, reviewed contractor safety manuals and provided over-site guidance.
VII. Student Achievements:
- N/A
VIII. Other Awards, Distinctions and Achievements:
Assistant Director
- Certified Hazardous Materials Manager
- Certified Environmental Training
- Certified EPA/AHERA/ASHARA Asbestos in Buildings Inspector
EHS Coordinator
- Certified Asbestos Maintenance Worker
- Certified EPA/AHERA/ASHARA Asbestos in Buildings Inspector