Occupational Safety and Health
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that all employers must provide a workplace, "free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm." Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for ensuring university compliance with OSHA standards. We accomplish this goal by providing training and guidance, developing plans and performing inspections in most areas on campus.
Personal Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the last line of defense between the user and the hazard encountered in the workplace. PPE is used when no other type of control is feasible to protect the user. PPE includes respiratory protection, hearing protection, eye/face protection, hand protection among others. EHS performs job hazard analyses (JHAs) to determine the required PPE for each task. Each type is described in more detail below.
Respiratory Protection
Respiratory protection is used to protect the user from airborne contaminants like dusts, vapors, fumes and gases. EHS evaluates workplaces to determine if respiratory protection is necessary. Any employee that is required to use a respiratory protection must be enrolled in the Respiratory Protection Program. Details on enrollment can be found here. Voluntary use of respirators is allowed, but EHS must be notified to ensure that the user complies with all applicable regulations.
Hearing Protection
Protection of hearing is the most overlooked PPE because the effects of being exposed to excessive noise are not immediate. Regular exposure to noise over 85 decibels in the workplace requires enrollment in the Hearing Protection Program. Details on enrollment can be found here.
Eye/Face Protection
Whenever there is the possibility of flying debris or chemical splashes, eye or face protection is required. All eye/face protection must be ANSI Z87 compliant, thus normal prescription glasses do not qualify as eye/face protection. EHS determines whether or not eye/face protection is required in the job hazard analysis.
Hand Protection
Hand protection is the most widely varied type of PPE. The type of hand protection used must be for the hazard that is present. If chemicals are being used, then the gloves material must be protective against the chemicals being used. EHS can assist in determining if the type of gloves that you have available is protective for your job task.
Other PPE
Other PPE includes head protection, foot protection, fall protection, electrical protective clothing, lab coats, protective suits alon with other more specialized PPE. Since these types of PPE are less commonly used at the university, training and information for those types of PPE is provided upon request.
Hazard Communication
The Hazard Communication Program is designed to ensure that University of ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½
employees are protected from harm resulting from exposure to hazardous chemicals during
routine operations and
reasonable foreseeable emergencies. Provisions of the program include requirements
to inform members of the campus community of the dangers associated with hazardous
chemicals used by the university and helping prevent injury or illness due to exposure
from these chemicals. Information on chemical hazards can be found on chemical labels
and safety data sheets. Employees should be thoroughly apprised of the chemicals used
in the workplace and safety data sheets for a chemical should be reviewed prior to
the chemical being used.
For more information about Hazard Communication, see the University of ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ Hazard Communication Program.
Electrical Safety
Electrical safety is an area of safety that affects everyone on campus. Irresponsible use of electricity can lead to burns, shocks, explosions and even death. The purpose of the electrical safety program is to help people identify electrical hazards and avoid them. Basic principlies of electrical safety include:
- Extension cords should only be used for temporarily. They are not to be used in lieu of hard-wiring.
- Power strips must be plugged directly into a building outlet. Avoid daisy-chaining powerstrips (plugging one power strip into another power strip).
- Inspect all electrical cords on equipment before use for fraying. Frayed extension cords and equipment with frayed cords shall be removed from service.
- Remove all metal jewelry, rings, and watches before working on electrical equipment.
- Avoid the use of electricity in wet environments.
- Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI’s) when working outside, near wet areas or when using extension cords.
- Work on electrical equipment should be done by qualified professionals only and in accordance with the university's hazardous energy control program (lockout/tagout).
If maintenance is performed on electrical equipment, the procedures outlined in the university Control of Hazardous Energy Program must be followed. For more information, the program can be found here: Control of Hazardous Energy Program.
Confined Space
According to OSHA, a confined space is a space that is "large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work, has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (e.g., tanks, tankers, silos, storage bins, vaults and pits) and is not designed for continuous employee occupancy". Certain confined spaces present hazards that require special circumstances for entry. These are called permit-required confined spaces.
A permit-required confined space a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics:
• Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere;
• Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant
• Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated
by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller
cross-section;
• Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.
Do not enter a permit-required confined space without a permit. The permit can be found here: Confined Space Permit
For more information, view the Confined Space Entry Program
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is simply defined as the study of a worker's efficiency in the work environment. Ergonomics helps us understand how a worker interacts with his/her work area. If it is easy to perform tasks in a person's work environment, they will be more efficient and less prone to injury. While ergonomics is important everywhere, there areas where it is most commonly applied is:
- Office environments
- Where frequent lifting is required
- Any repetitive task
Ergonomics training is not required for any employee; however, if an employee wishes to take EHS's online egonomics course, contact EHS at ehs@memphis.edu to be given access to the course.