edHed by
MALCOLM M. RENFREW University of ldaho MOSCOW, Idaho 83843
I)UP to the requirements of the nuclear
An Occupational Health and Safety Program for a Major University
reactor and the hrond radwactive materials Ilcenaes, a reaimably well-developed,staflrd.
C. E. Roessler. B. G. Dunavant. and T. R. Turk University of hrida, Gainesvill~326 I I
reoreanization of environmental health and safety programs ai the Univenity of Florida, (2) describe ihe reorganized program, and (3) shore some uf the cxprricnessnnd a r t w t b s from the first year of operatian
faculty, staff, and administrative employees (on and off campus!. 2R.Wlr students, over 8.000residents. and more than 700 huildiner at 93 locations (main camous and 92 offranlpua centen). \V!th 17 mlleges, it is meof the few universities in the country wrth ro many disciplines on one campus. Typical University environmental health and safety problems are shown below.
BACKGROUND
Pre-1974 Programs
Colleges and Universltles
Prior to 1974, there were a number of health and safety activities a t the University of Florida, hut they were scattered with little coordination. See Table 1.
INTRODUCTION In this article we want to do three things: (1) give the background leading up to a
Colleges and universities represent sizeable communities with wide range of environmental health and safety program needs. Academia is by no means exempt from physical hazards, various health hazards, fire prevention problems, or sanitation program needs. Unique to education institutions, however, is the responsibility for large numbers of students who do not fall under the employer-employee relationship unless they are also student employees or are supported hy assistantships. Colleges and universities have had a variety of programs to meet these problems. These range from essentially no program through those that are highly developed in selected areas (such as ionizing radiation control) to comprehensive programs involving a department with broad health and safety responsibilities. As might be expected, there hasheen considerahlireorgar&ation of many eampus safety programs since 1970.
University of Florida For an example, let us concentrate on a specific institutkn. The University of Florida has over 15,000
Presented to the American Industrial Hygiene Conference, June 5, 1975 in Minneaoolis. Minnesota. Printed with ~ermissian of the ~ k e r i c a nIndustrial ~ y g i e i Associe ation.
Table 1. Occupational Health and Safety Elements IPre-I9741 11
Office of Radiation Control and Radio-
-. 6) Pre-Employment Physicals and Injury 7)
T r e a t m e n t i n student Health Services college and Department Safety committ e e ~a n d Coordinators
Item 1) Toxic and Irritant Chemicals, Pesticides, Carcinogens 2) Ionizing Radiation
and equipped radiation control program had evolved since 1960. Day-to-day operations were carried out by an Office or Radiation Control and Radiological Services and policy was set by a presidentially appointed Radiation Control Committee. A separate Safety and Civil Defense Committee, appointed by the President, was charged with the development of University-wide policies on all matters relating t o safety, occupational health, fire prevention, and civil defense. A Safety Office in the Physical Plant Division was charged with serving the University on matters pertaining to occupational safety and health, fire prevention, and civil defense. However, this office was a number of steps removed from tap-level administration, was very limited in staff, had little field equipment, and had no laboratory eapahilities. I t is interestine to note that we diseavrrrd Kodiarion Con;;olnnd thrSnfety Office both iwling lob fume hood eriterrn wxhmt an" c o n s u l ~ r m nwnh cnch orher. 'l'ao other aspects included rrcordkrcping and prwe$sinr for Workmm's Cumprnsarion and-Insurance purposes centered in the Personnel Division, and pre-employment physicals and treatment of on-the-job injuries by the Student Health Service. Various colleges and departments had designated safety committees and safety coordinators on their own initiative, but this was not a University requirement and there was no mechanism far coordination or eommunieation between them. (Continued on page A80)
Location Medical, Pesticide and Other Research and Teaching Labs, Pest Control Division, Shops.
Nuclear Reactor, Accelerators, Neutron Generators, Subcritical Assemblies, Radioisotope Labs, Medieal Research Labs, X -and Y-Ray Sources. 3) Microwaves, Lasers, UV Research Labs, Food Service Light 4) Pathogens Medical and Biological Research Hospital 5 ) Animal-borne Disease Medical and Biological Research Animal Colonies, Veterinary Science, Animal Science 6 ) Electrical Hazards Labs.. Shoos. . . Housine.". Classrooms. Offices. Etc. 7) Mechanical HazardsLabs, Research Shops, Maintenance Shops e.g. Moving Belts and Parts 8) Stairways and Ladders Everywhere! 9) Fire Hazards, Labs, Stockrooms, Shops, Housing Flammable and Explosive Materials 10) Sanitation Housing, Dorms, Fraternities and Sororities, Food Service, Swimming Pools. Volume 54, Number 2,February 1977 / A77
Safety
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Events Leading to Reorganization A series of events culminated in the reorganization of health and safety activities a t the University. See Table 2.
Table 2.
Events Leadino to Reormnization
1) Initiation of Safety and C. D. Committee Review o f Program-Late 1972 2) Presidential Review of University Committee structure-~ariy 1973 3) Directive from chancellor t o University Preridentr---October 1973
Request from Vice President t o Safety and C. D. committee-Fall 1973 5 ) Recommendation from Safety and C. D. committee-~ebruary 1974 61 Official Announcement-Mav 1974 4)
Late in 1972, the Chairman of the Safety and Civil Defense Committee initiated an effort t o identify the health and safety problems on campus, define contradurd and legal obligations, catalog committees and safety representatives, and locate the talent and resources available. (We had a l o t of experts around, but they were involved in teaching, and research, solving everybody's problems hut our own.) About the same time, a t the Administration level, a review was being conducted of the University's entire structure of Presidentially
appointed committees. The resulting report, released in early 1973, suggested the efficiency might be served by eomhining the Radiation Control and Safety Offices and Committees. In October of the same year, the Chancellor of the State University System (who oversees the nine discrete State universities in Florida) directed the presidents of the State universities to take steps to implement occupational safety and health programs. A few weeks later, the University of Florida Vice-president for Administrative Affairs directed the Safety and Civil Defense Committee to prepare a recommendation for reorganizing the University's program to meet the Chancellor's directive as well as meeting legal and moral obligations. The Committee utilized the internal reviews it had already begun and communicated with a number of other universities. A major influence came from the Fourth Campus Radiation Safety Officers Conference entitled "The Campus RSO and OSHA", and held a t Temple University, Philadelphia, September 6-8,1973. The Committee completed its report and transmitted i t to the administration in Fehruary of 1974. Then, an May 24, 1974, the Vice President for Administrative Affairs issued a memorandum announcing the reorganized program.
ORGANIZATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA PROGRAM Committee Recommendations
The major features of the Committee's recommendations include: 1) Establish a new Division to serve as the central coordinating and technical services unit 2) Revise the committee structure to separate policy making from technical assistance to the above Division 3) Continue day-to-day responsibility in Divisions, Colleges, and Departments 4, Provide for ~ U Fof P consultive and ana. I)li
