Employee / Occupational Safety
Policies
All University activities shall be conducted using reasonable precautions to protect employees, students, the public and the environment so as to minimize dangers to life, safety and property. The University regards its responsibility for providing a healthful and safe working environment for its faculty, staff and students to be a high priority.
To provide reasonable assurance that the health and safety of all individuals on properties controlled or managed by the University are maintained:
- Safety standards will be adopted and/or developed for all applicable University activities, including the management of hazardous substances;
- Faculty, staff and students will be trained to recognize hazards regarding those standards and to employ safe work practices;
- Periodic audits will be conducted to determine compliance with the published standards including those contained in local, state and federal laws and regulations regarding health and safety. Appropriate correction will be prescribed where necessary and the response monitored to assure compliance;
- A set of possible emergency situations will be identified and appropriate emergency response procedures will be established.
- Injuries and accidents will be reported;
- A health insurance program will be provided and availability of employment-related health services will be assured.
In those cases where violations are detected and where a unit administrator does not respond as advised, EHS shall, at the Director’s discretion, appeal its recommendations through the appropriate Vice President, and if necessary, all the way to the President. Similarly, units which disagree with the counsel of EHS may also appeal those decisions to the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies. In cases where, in the judgment of the Director, there is a clear and present serious danger to the health and/or safety of an employee or to University property, the Director shall have the authority to issue cease and desist orders, which may be appealed after they have been obeyed, as indicated above.
Policies are designed to make individuals aware of any potential hazards, and of the precautions to be taken to protect their health and physical well-being.
UVa Safety Policies can be accessed here.
Proper lifting techniques protect Housing employees from sustaining back injuries.