8.000 Safety and Security

Title: University Safety

Purpose: To indicate the scope and nature of the University's responsibility and commitment to provide a safe employee working environment, safe student living and study environment, and safe environment for campus visitors.

Policy:

Under the laws of Oregon, certain federal regulations and ordinances of the City of Eugene, the University of Oregon is responsible "...to assure as far as possible safe and healthful working conditions..." (ORS 654.003). The University also interprets this statute to include responsibility for assuring safe and healthful living and studying conditions for its students and safe environment for campus visitors.

To monitor its safety and health responsibilities, the University has established Department of Campus Operations, which is responsible for the oversight of the University's total safety and health environment. As needed, the University establishes advisory committees to review and make recommendations on general safety matters or special areas of safety or health concerns. The charges of such committees are described in Section 1.000 of University Policy statements.

Safety is the responsibility of all employees. The University expects its employees to cooperate fully and as promptly as possible to all applicable regulations issued under state, federal and local authorities, to correct defects of deficiencies in its environment. The University expects all employees to report accidents, unsafe working conditions or hazards of any nature first to their immediate supervisor who shall report the situation to the appropriate person for action.

If after reporting to the supervisor that a specific task or assignment may jeopardize personal health or safety, and correction is not made, the employee may refuse to perform such activity without penalty until the appropriate health or safety representative has reviewed the situation and made a finding. Any employee has the right to report any unsafe or hazardous condition directly to a safety representative.

All administrators, deans, department heads, directors, officers of administration are directly accountable for the safety and health of the total environment for which they are responsible. That includes all students, visitors, staff, and the environment and University property for which they have oversight.

One criterion for evaluation of administrative personnel shall be their administration of safety procedures, including prompt and appropriate reporting of safety hazards, implementation of safety corrective actions, cooperation with and responsiveness to safety and environment health professionals. The University is committed to providing appropriate safety and environmental training for all employees.

Date: 10/11/00

Revised and approved by President's Staff