POLICY
Duquesne University places highest emphasis
on protecting the environment and the health
and safety of all persons who work in or visit
our facilities. Therefore, Duquesne University
requires all employees, students, and visitors
to strictly adhere to public safety, occupational
safety and good laboratory practices and procedures
as established by University procedures and
required by laws and regulations.
Occupational and environmental incidents can
be prevented. University employees and students
are expected to be committed to this premise
and are responsible for their safety within
the campus.
UNIVERSITY SAFETY COMMITTEE
The President has established a University Environmental
Health and Safety Committee that will direct,
oversee, and coordinate all safety efforts on
campus, including Public Safety, Environmental
Health and Safety, Emergency Planning and Risk
Management. Further, the Committee is charged
with developing, maintaining, and disseminating
University-wide educational environmental health
and safety programs with an aim of continuously
improving all aspects of environmental health
and safety performance on campus.
The Chairperson of the Committee shall be the
Vice President for Management and Business.
He shall direct and coordinate the Committee’s
efforts in preventing personal injury and financial
loss due to accidents. The Chairperson shall
work in close coordination with the Provost
and Academic Vice President for Academic Affairs
and routinely report on the status of environmental
health and safety on campus on an annual basis
or as otherwise required.
The members of the University Environmental
Health and Safety Committee shall include the
directors or representatives of Public Safety,
Environmental Health and Safety, Facilities
Management, Risk Management, Public Affairs,
the Vice President for Student Life, the Associate
Academic Vice President for Research, and the
General Counsel. The Committee shall meet at
least twice a year.
RESPONSIBILITIES
A. PUBLIC SAFETY
The Department of Public Safety
is charged with the responsibility for security,
law enforcement and crime prevention on campus.
It cooperates fully with Local and State law
enforcement agencies. University police officers
are vested with the powers, authority, and responsibilities
of police officers of the Commonwealth. Public
Safety is the initial first responder to any
emergency occurring on campus.
B. CAMPUS SAFETY
The Environmental Health and
Safety Department, in conjunction with the Facilities
Management Department, ensures that all aspects
of construction, maintenance and management
of facilities and utilities on campus are in
compliance with governing Federal, State and
Local regulations regarding environmental, safety
and health issues. This includes maintenance
and routine testing of fire alarm systems across
campus, the development and implementation of
University policies and procedures, and the
training of pertinent employees. A Safety Committee
shall coordinate safety efforts on campus. The
Committee shall include representatives from
Public Safety, Laboratory Environmental Health
and Safety, Facilities Management, Residence
Life, Risk Management, Support Services, and
faculty. The chair of the Committee will be
elected by its members for a one-year term.
C. LABORATORY SAFETY
The Department of Environmental
Health and Safety directs and coordinates all
safety aspects in University laboratories. It
facilitates compliance with the University Chemical
Hygiene Plan and hazardous waste, medical waste,
chemical safety, laboratory safety, and radiation
safety laws and regulations. Responsibility
for strict adherence to established safety procedures
rest with the faculty who carry responsibility
for students, employees and visitors in their
research and teaching laboratories and the chair
persons, department heads, directors and deans
who are responsible for facilitating the implementation
of chemical hygiene and safety practices in
their units. A Laboratory Environmental Health
and Safety Committee shall advise the department
and promote safety in the laboratory workplace.
The Committee shall include faculty and staff
representatives from University units engaged
in biological, chemical, physics, pharmaceutical,
and medical laboratory teaching and research
work and those involved in activities using
radioactive materials. The Committee will be
chaired by the University Environmental Health
and Safety Officer.
D. RISK MANAGEMENT
The Department of Environmental
Health and Safety has the responsibility of
identifying, evaluating, minimizing and managing
loss exposures by the University. This includes
the establishment and management of emergency
and evacuation plans on campus.
E. STUDENT LIFE
The Division of Student Life,
through its offices of Residence Life, Student
Activities, and various support departments,
has the responsibility of providing safe campus
housing and athletic facilities, safe extra-curricular
activities, and services to assist students
with maintaining a healthy mental and spiritual
well-being.
