Section: Responsibility for Safety                                          

Date: November 25, 1996

Replaces: March 30, 1995

FACULTY, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AND STUDENTS
Faculty, employees, volunteers, and students should be aware of all safety procedures for their particular area in addition to those in this manual which apply. They should report accidents, injuries, or unsafe conditions either to the supervisor or the appropriate university office. It is hoped that all faculty, employees, volunteers, and students will maintain a positive attitude toward safety at all times.

SUPERVISORS
Supervisors play a major role in providing a safe environment for students, patients, visitors, and employees. Refer to the separate policy statement at the end of this section.

PATIENTS AND VISITORS
Patients and visitors are responsible for following all posted safety regulations and the directives of authorized personnel in matters which pertain to safety.

CHAIRMAN OF ACADEMIC UNITS/DIRECTORS OF NON-ACADEMIC UNITS
Each chairman/director is responsible for the safe operation of their unit. The chairman/director is to appoint a safety committee consisting of a cross section of the unit (faculty, technical and non-technical staff, and students) which shall develop safety rules, including special procedures and precautions for any and all laboratories. Included in the responsibility is assessing the need for personal protective equipment and providing the equipment where required.

FACULTY AND STAFF LIABILITY
Recent court decisions have established that the faculty and staff of an institution may be personally and legally liable for the accidents of students and employees under their supervision, if the accident results from their negligence, or if the accident causes personal injury or property loss. Liability may also arise from the failure of a superior to adequately supervise a subordinate or failure to establish and implement proper rules of conduct for the unit.

All personnel should be aware of the fact that they may be liable not only for their own acts or failure to act, but in many cases may be personally responsible for the acts or failure to act of others under their supervision.

Employees who are injured at work as a result of failure to use safety equipment or otherwise fail to comply with safety policies and procedures, may not be eligible for workers' compensation. In addition, classified and HCP employees violating the University's safety policies/procedures may be disciplined under the State's Standards of Conduct, which could result in suspension or termination from employment. Associated Physician staff are subject to MCVAP policies and will be subject to discipline for failure to comply with safety guidelines.

Section: Responsibility for Safety                                          

Date: November 25, 1996

Replaces: March 30, 1995

University Safety Committees⁽¹⁾

1.      UNIVERSITY SAFETY LIAISON COMMITTEE

         This committee is composed of university faculty and staff who have expertise in safety.          The committee is responsible for developing policies and guidelines relating to safety for          the entire institution. The committee is composed of the Director of the Office of          Environmental Health and Safety (Chair), Director Physical Plant Division, Director of          Campus Police, Director of Employee Health, the MCVH Safety Coordinator and          others deemed appropriate by the Chair. The committee is responsible for developing          policies and university safety guidelines. Annually the committee receives nominations for          the "University Safety Awareness Award." Those individuals or departments making an          outstanding contribution to the safety of the university and academic medical center are          recognized.

2.      ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER SAFETY COMMITTEE

         This committee is responsible for the initiation and implementation of safety policies          within MCVH and MCVAP departments. It shall ensure compliance with all federal,          state, JCAHO, and local safety ordinances. The committee is composed of university,          hospital and MCVAP personnel. To contact the committee call MCVH Safety and          Security at 828-6595 or OEHS at 828-3647.

3.      RADIATION SAFETY COMMITTEE

         Various members of the university community serve on this committee. The committee          reviews and approves all research and clinical, human and non-human uses of          radionuclides and radiation producing devices.

4.      INSTITUTIONAL BIOSAFETY COMMITTEE

         This committee has been established to review control practices for handling          biohazardous agents, carcinogens, infectious agents, and recombinant DNA. The          committee also serves in an advisory capacity to the University Office of Environmental          Health & Safety. The committee is composed of individuals from different university          departments and units.

5.      INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARDS

         (Committee on the Conduct of Human Research) This committee is composed of          faculty members and three non-VCU affiliated individuals. It is responsible for          protecting the safety and rights of persons involved as subjects in research at the          university.

         ^{(1) For information about the university safety committees, contact Environmental Health and Safety at 828-6347.}

Section: Responsibility for Safety                                          

Date: November 25, 1996

Replaces: March 30, 1995



VCU, MCVH and MCVAP SAFETY SUPPORT SERVICES

l.      OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY (OEHS)

        The OEHS is responsible for a number of areas of safety including the following:         radioactive materials and radiation producing equipment; infectious agents; mutagenic,         oncogenic, and teratogenic agents; recombinant DNA; areas related to the handling of         biohazards, fire and occupational safety. This office provides a number of services         relating to environmental safety including consultation, training and inspections.

2.     PHYSICAL PLANT DIVISION

        The Physical Plant Division is responsible for maintaining VCU buildings and facilities.         This office is also responsible for providing preventative maintenance and architectural         planning.

3.     MCVH PLANT OPERATIONS

        MCVH Plant Operations is responsible for maintaining MCVH buildings and facilities.         This office is also responsible for providing preventative maintenance.

4.      VCU CAMPUS POLICE

         The VCU Campus Police are responsible for answering police calls, patrolling both campuses providing crime prevention assistance, and investigating crimes. The security division provides guard service for various buildings and escort service during the evening hours.

5.      MCVH SAFETY AND SECURITY

         The MCVH Department of Safety and Security is responsible for maintaining a comprehensive safety program that assures a safe and secure environment for patients, visitors and staff. The department provides security surveys, patient information  assistance and escort service during the evening hours.

6.     MCVH/MCVAP RISK MANAGEMENT OFFICE

        The MCVH/MCVAP Risk Management Office is responsible for providing risk management services to include development of systems to provide risk assessment, risk control, and claims management. This department is also instrumental in maintaining regulatory compliance with all federal, state and local regulations.

7.      EMPLOYEE HEALTH SERVICE

         The Employee Health Service screens new employees to detect active infectious diseases, establishes baseline data for infectious disease control, and provides medical surveillance of employees working with potentially significant biohazardous, chemical carcinogens, and toxins. The Employee Health Service also provides evaluation and treatment of occupational injuries and illnesses.

Section: Responsibility for Safety                                          

Date: November 25, 1996

Replaces: March 30, 1995

SAFETY POLICY - SUPERVISOR'S RESPONSIBILITIESRS

By definition, anyone who has responsibility to direct, power to control, or authority to hire, transfer, suspend, layoff, recall, promote, assign, reward, discipline, and respond to grievances or to effectively recommend such actions is considered a supervisor (Performance Evaluation Handbook for Supervisors). All individuals who are employed in a supervisory capacity of Virginia Commonwealth University are responsible for:

l.      Being thoroughly familiar with and practicing the safety policies and procedures related to         their area.

2.     Identifying the need for and developing procedures designed to enhance safe working         practices and reduce the incidence of employee injuries.

3.     Insuring that all available safety equipment is utilized.

4.     Enforcing safety policies and procedures for their area either by counseling employees         who fail to follow safety procedures and/or by taking disciplinary actions as set forth in         "Standards of Conduct".

5.     Maintaining a supply of Workers Compensation Accident Reports (P-100) and         Physician Selection Forms (P-101). (MCVAP employee injuries should be reported on         MCVAP "First Report of Injury" and "Physician Selection " forms available from to the         MCVAP Human Resource Office 342-7617.)

        Completing the supervisor's section on all workers' compensation claims filed by their         employees.

        Ensuring workers' compensation claims are delivered to Employee Health Service within         24 hours of the accident.

        Investigating the causes of all work-related accidents.

        Determining ways to prevent future accidents.

        Notifying the Worker' Compensation Office at 8-1533 of any suspected fraudulent         claims. ( MCVAP staff should report such suspected fraud to MCVAP Department of         Human Resources at 342-1382.)

        Accommodating employees who have medical restrictions as a result of an occupational         injury/illness.

6.     Insuring employees are made aware of safety policies and procedures and any changes         which effect them.

7.     Conducting periodic inspections of the work area to identify hazardous conditions.

8.     Reporting dangerous or potentially dangerous situations to administrative personnel for         corrective actions.

9.     Measuring the extent the employee follows established safety practices or correcting the         employee's unsafe work practices on the job (covered in Section C. Performance         Factors, Performance Planning & Evaluation form).

OEHS