Risk Management and Employee Safety and                   UPPS No. 04.05.01

Health Program                                                                     Issue No. 4 

Effective Date:  03/30/2007
Review: June 1 E4Y

Attachments I, II

 

 

01.       POLICY STATEMENTS

 

01.01 It is the policy of Texas State to minimize harm to the physical, human, fiscal, and environmental resources of the University, and to minimize the total costs of risk to the University. The university’s Risk Management and Employee Safety and Health Program are detailed in the Texas State Safety Manual and various UPPSs.

 

01.02  Texas State adopts, as appropriate, the Texas State Office of Risk Management (SORM), Risk Management guidelines for Texas State agencies, as the Risk Management and Employee Safety and Health Program. The complete document is available for review in the Risk Management and Safety Office (RMSO).

 

01.03  The State Office of Risk Management's guidelines for Texas state agencies provides the direction and basis for developing and implementing a comprehensive risk management program for the University. The program, as adopted and implemented, should reduce property, liability, and workers' compensation losses. The guidelines consist of:

                       

Volume I         Risk Management Administration

Volume II        Property Conservation Exposures

Volume III        Workers' Compensation Exposures

Volume IV      Liability Exposures

 

The SORM Risk Management Guidelines are available on their web site at http://www.sorm.state.tx.us/

 

01.04  The Risk Management and Safety Office has primary responsibility and authority for promulgating policies and procedures, to assure that the university complies with federal and state guidelines, as well as best-practices, related to risk management and occupational safety and health requirements.

 

02.       REFERENCES

 

02.01  State and national standards applicable to the University Risk Management and Employee Safety and Health Program include: 

 

a.   Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910, General Industry

 

b.   The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards (latest revision)

 

c.   Regulations and standards promulgated by applicable state agencies which include, but are not limited to: State Office of Risk Management (SORM), Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS), Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

 

02.02  The Texas State Safety Manual provides guidelines and procedures for the Risk Management and Employee Safety and Health Program of the University. A hard copy of the Safety Manual is available for reference in the RMSO; it is also available on the RMSO home page at http://www.vpfss.txstate.edu/riskmgt/index.htm. Changes to the Risk Management and Employee Safety and Health Program will be published through updates to the Safety Manual.

 

For immediate dissemination of a safety requirement, the Risk Management and Safety Office will publish by memorandum, through the Vice President for Finance and Support Services, the safety and health requirement when applicable.

 

02.03  Refer to the following UPPSs which address major areas of the University Risk Management and Employee Safety and Health Program:

 

                        04.04.32         Texas State Wellness Program

                        04.04.43         Workers’ Compensation Injuries, Illnesses, and Claims

                        04.05.02         Smoking Policy

                        04.05.03         Fire Safety Program

                        04.05.04         Fire Alarms, Fire Drills, and Facilities Evacuation

                        04.05.05         Hazard Communication Program

                        04.05.06         Hazardous Materials and Waste Management

                        04.05.07         Radiation Safety

            04.05.08         Laser Safety

                        05.04.03         Emergency Operations

                       

03.       RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

 

03.01  Director, Risk Management and Safety

 

The Director has primary responsibility for administration of and compliance with the Risk Management and Employee Safety and Health Program. This includes, but is not limited to:

 

a.   inspecting university workplaces for occupational safety hazards and risks;

 

b.   recommending preventive and corrective action; 

 

c.   establishing and coordinating risk management and occupational safety training programs;

 

d.   reviewing and acquiring adequate property insurance coverage;

 

e.   serving as the official university contact with the SORM and other state agencies regarding risk management and occupational safety and health; and

 

f.    preparing mandated reports and analytical data related to the risk management program.

 

03.02  Department Heads and Account Managers

 

These positions have responsibility for assuring that their respective areas comply with the SORM guidelines and university policies related to risk management and occupational safety and health. Attachment I provides a listing of key risk management positions and areas of responsibility, as outlined in the SORM risk management guidelines.

 

03.03  Supervisor and Employee

 

Individuals in university management or supervisor positions and all university employees, including regular as well as temporary, part-time, and student workers, are affected by and must become familiar with the Risk Management and Employee Safety and Health Program. All university personnel should report actual and potential occupational safety hazards to the Director, Risk Management and Safety.

 

03.04  University Safety Committee

 

The University Safety Committee is charged to recommend and coordinate the Risk Management and Employee Safety and Health Program for faculty, staff, and students. The Safety Committee will forward its recommendations concerning safety procedures on the job, building safety, and use of hazardous materials and equipment to the Vice President for Finance and Support Services

 

04.       APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF DIVISION AND DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS

 

04.01  Additional Duty Safety Officers (ADSO) are appointed in appropriate departments and divisions to assist the administrators in those areas in complying with the Risk Management and Employee Safety and Health Program. Each department’s ADSO serves as a point of contact to the Risk Management and Safety Office. Department heads will appoint an ADSO for their department or area for each fiscal year and will notify RMSO of their appointee.  Refer to UPPS No. 04.04.43, "Workers' Compensation Injuries, Illnesses, and Claims", for additional ADSO duties associated with such claims.  

 

04.02  Attachment II lists the areas in which appointment of an ADSO is required. Departments not listed may also appoint an ADSO to assist in maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. Additional appointments must be coordinated with the Risk Management and Safety Office.

                       

04.03  The appointed division or department ADSO will receive program guidance and assistance from the Risk Management and Safety Office. ADSOs should attend an ADSO orientation conducted periodically by the SORM.

 

05.       REVIEWERS OF THIS UPPS

 

05.01  Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:

 

Position                                                          Date

                                               

Director, Risk Management & Safety         June 1 E4Y

 

06.       CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

 

This UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

 

 Director, Risk Management and Safety; senior reviewer of this UPPS

 

Vice President for Finance and Support Services

 

 University President