PVCC Safety Manual - Section 1

1.1      Piedmont Virginia Community College Safety & Health Policy Statement

A.     The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 requires employers to provide safe and healthy working conditions and for employees to have an important role in safety and health operations. The safety and health of employees and students is a primary consideration in the operation of PVCC and is an integral component of our mission in this community.

B.     Safety and health in our day to day operations are an important part of PVCC’s standard operating procedures. It is every employee’s responsibility to comply with the requirements in this safety manual and to perform their job in a manner that advances this commitment to employee safety and health.

C.     It is the intent of PVCC to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. To do this, we must constantly be aware of conditions that can produce injuries in all areas of the campus. No employee is expected or required to work at a job he or she knows is not safe or healthful. Cooperation in identifying and detecting hazards and, in turn, controlling them is a condition of employment at PVCC. If an employee identifies or detects a hazard, the employee shall immediately inform his or her supervisor of the hazard if the implementation of the required correction is beyond their ability or authority.

D.     The personal safety and health of each employee and student are of primary importance. The prevention of occupationally related and/or induced injuries and illnesses is of such consequence that it will be given precedence over any other consideration.

E.     PVCC shall maintain a safety and health program conforming to the best management practices of organizations of this type. To be successful, such a program must embody proper attitudes toward injury and illness prevention not only on the part of employees and students but also between each person and his or her co-workers. Only through such a cooperative effort can a safety program be established that serves the best interests of all of the stakeholders.

F.     Our objective is to have a safety and health program that will reduce the number of injuries and illnesses to an absolute minimum.

______________________________________________________

Frank Friedman
President, Piedmont Virginia Community College

1.2      Safety Policy

A.     Piedmont Virginia Community College shall not knowingly permit unsafe conditions to exist, nor will it permit employees or students to engage in unsafe acts.  Violations of safety rules and regulations shall result in disciplinary action in accordance with the procedures contained in the latest version of the “Standards of Conduct” Policy No. 1.60 of the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management Policies and Procedures Manual.

B.     PVCC believes that the safety of employees and physical property can best be ensured by a meaningful program. It is the purpose of this safety manual to define and publish the safety and health policies of the college. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of safety and health policies and procedures and Piedmont Virginia Community College has the right to withdraw, suspend, modify or amend these policies or procedures in whole or in part at any time and without notice.

  1. Employees:  Since the employee on the job is frequently more aware of unsafe conditions than anyone else, employees are encouraged to make recommendations, suggestions, and criticisms of unsafe conditions to their immediate supervisor so that they may be corrected.
     
  2. Faculty and staff are generally responsible for the working conditions within their departments and facilities and shall remain alert to dangerous and unsafe conditions, so that:
    Recommendations and corrective action can be taken.

       a. Disciplinary measures can be taken against those who habitually create or indulge in unsafe practices.

       b. Appropriate assessments can be made of new or changed situations that create inherent dangers.

       c. Follow up with employees’ recommendations to improve safety and health conditions in the workplace. 

C.     In accordance with the policies described herein, it is the responsibility of the safety committee to provide support to enhance the safety program at PVCC.  See Section 3 of this manual for a more detailed description of the safety committee’s responsibilities.

1.3      Loss Prevention & Control Policy

A.     Piedmont Virginia Community College shall maintain an effective loss prevention and control program to protect the safety and health of employees and students and for the conservation of property and facilities. The policies, procedures, and responsibilities are incorporated into this manual.

B.     PVCC shall provide the necessary resources and enforcement to ensure adherence to, and compliance with, this manual. It is the responsibility of all employees and students to work together to provide the necessary corrective actions to ensure an injury-free workplace and conservation of the property.

C.     It is the responsibility and duty of all employees and students to adhere to the policies, procedures, and programs incorporated in this manual. Employees and students shall immediately report any potential or real hazards which may cause personal injury or illness and/or property damage or loss. Employees and students are expected to observe all applicable safety requirements, to use the safety equipment provided, and to practice safe work practices and procedures at all times.

D.     It is the responsibility of the vice president for finance and administrative services, the facilities manager, and the chemical hygiene officer to administer this loss prevention and control program which shall include, without limitation, the following:

  1. Fire protection and emergency preparedness.
     
  2. Smoking regulations.
     
  3. Property and equipment maintenance.
     
  4. Safety and health training as described in the chemical hygiene manual, Section 7.
     
  5. Insurance company regulations.
     
  6. Hazardous material evaluation.
     
  7. Confined space policy.
     
  8. Loss prevention and inspection.
     
  9. Administration of the safety and health program, including chemical hygiene officer duties.
     
  10. Security.
     
  11. Hazard identification and evaluation.
     
  12. Chemical control programs.
     
  13. Compliance with state and federal regulations.

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