Injury and Illness Prevention

Responsible Executive	Vice Chancellor-Research
Responsible Office	Office of Environmental Health and Safety
Contact	ehs@berkeley.edu, 510-642-3073

Issued	5/23/2016
Effective	1/31/2019
Revised
Supersedes
Next Review	1/31/2024

Policy Statement

The campus Injury and Illness Prevention Policy (IIPP) establishes the health and safety practices to be followed to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses. The University empowers and expects all employees to integrate health and safety considerations into their workplace decisions and activities. Managers and supervisors have particular responsibility for identifying and planning the controls for workplace hazards in the activities of their employees. In addition, they are responsible for allocating the resources needed to address these requirements. The goal — to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses ─ is best achieved through inclusive and collaborative efforts among all levels of the campus community.

The following Guiding Principles outline the fundamental values upon which this policy is based:

Everyone has a role in maintaining a healthful and safe workplace. Each individual has a key role in ensuring their own safety and for complying with departmental safety procedures, campus policy, and governmental regulations. Additional responsibilities for supervisors and others with special duties are described in the Responsibilities section of this policy.
Open two-way communication between management and employees on health and safety issues must be actively promoted.
Hazards are identified, evaluated, and corrected as a routine part of planning work and when warranted, through inspections.
Work-related injuries or illnesses are treated promptly, reported, and investigated.
Accountability is achieved by recognizing employees who follow safe and healthful work practices, and by retraining and corrective actions when necessary.
Managers and supervisors have particular responsibility for ensuring the safety of their employees, including providing appropriate safety training, procedures, and personal protective equipment.
The University’s IIPP and related programs are documented and are readily available to all employees.

The IIPP implements the Guiding Principles through procedures on how to: communicate about health and safety; identify and control workplace hazards; perform inspections and self- assessments; correct work-related hazards; treat, report and investigate work-related injuries, illnesses, and incidents; ensure compliance; provide safety training; and maintain record keeping.

Why We Have This Policy

We have this policy to ensure that University-related activities are carried out safely to protect the campus community and support the University’s mission in compliance with regulatory requirements.

Procedures

The IIPP procedures are available on the EH&S website, including links to other safety-related procedures. All employees are required to complete IIPP training when new to the University and when the policy changes. The training title is EHS 502 Workplace Safety Program. Other safety-related training may be required when an employee is assigned a new position or new job duties.

Consequences of Policy Violations

Employees who violate this policy are subject to standard progressive disciplinary action in accordance with applicable personnel policy and labor contracts.

In teaching and research activities (including field work) performed in academic settings, policy violations of an operational or administrative nature are subject to Enforcement of Safety Standards in Academic Environments (a UC Berkeley policy referenced below in the Related Documents and Policies section).

Responsibilities

Everyone:

Has some responsibility for their workplace health and safety. While this policy and its related procedures are mandatory for campus employees, this policy reflects recommended behavior for all members of the campus community, including non- employee students, volunteers, visitors, and the public.

All Employees:

Comply with applicable health and safety regulations, University policies, and accepted safe work practices. Successfully complete required safety training. Wherever unsafe conditions are encountered, notify affected employees and the appropriate supervisor, and determine whether work should proceed, based on established procedures. Inform management right away if you’re injured on the job or have a work-related illness.

Research Oversight Committees:

Review and authorize certain high-hazard research activities (lasers, radioactive materials, toxic gases, biological materials, etc.), enforce regulatory compliance and stop work if the committee determines that the work presents an unacceptable hazard to life, health, or property.

Office of Environment, Health & Safety:

Develop health and safety programs, guidance, and goals to assist the University in complying with laws, regulations, and safe practices. Provide technical assistance and training.

Director/Department Chairperson:

Promote a positive safety culture and allocate resources as needed to effectively address departmental safety issues; appoint and support a Department Safety Coordinator.

Principal Investigators/Managers/Supervisors:

Ensure that hazards are identified, evaluated, and controlled before activities are initiated and whenever an issue is raised; attend training on the health and safety hazards to which employees under their immediate direction and control may be exposed; ensure that employees have successfully completed documented safety training; evaluate and recognize or coach employees on their adherence to health and safety program requirements as part of their ongoing job performance management; enforce safety procedures, polices, and regulations through standard management practices up to and including progressive disciplinary action; stop work if they believe there is an imminent hazard to life, health, or property.

Department Safety Coordinator (DSC):

Communicate safety information and coordinate responses to employee health or safety related concerns; ensure that relevant Safety Committees and management are aware of any known safety-related issues within the department, and serve as the liaison to EH&S.

Contractors:

Contractors who work under a defined scope of work are bound by the health and safety requirements specified in their contract and their own IIPP.

Glossary

Hazard: Any situation or condition, identified or unidentified, that may cause injury, damage, or loss to people, property, University business, and/or the environment.
Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP): Safety program that outlines the responsibilities and procedures on how to: communicate about health and safety; identify and control workplace hazards; perform inspections and self-assessments; correct work-related hazards; treat, report and investigate work-related injuries, illnesses, and incidents; ensure compliance; provide safety training; and maintain record keeping.
Supervisor: An individual who supervises the work of an employee with the responsibility for quality and quantity of work. Supervisors participate in the selection, development, and evaluation of staff to ensure the efficient operation of the function and supervise and follow internal policies and procedures. The definition includes faculty who have these duties.
Principal Investigator (PI): An individual who has primary responsibility for the design, execution, and management of a research project, and who will be involved in the project in a significant manner.

Keyword Index

compliance, hazard, injury, injury and illness prevention program, management responsibility, safety.