Department of Visual Arts Safety Policy
Maintaining a safe environment for students & staff
I. Policy
The Department of Visual Arts strives to maintain, insofar as it is reasonably within the control of the department to do so, an environment for faculty, staff, students, and the public that will not adversely affect their health and safety nor subject them to avoidable risks of accidental injury or illness.To accomplish this, the department has developed a Visual Arts Safety Policy (VASP) to help identify and eliminate unsafe conditions/practices, to control health hazards, and to comply fully with all applicable federal, state, local, and campus safety and health regulations.The VASP will be reviewed and updated every three years.
II. Authority
California State University, Fullerton’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program
III. Scope
The provisions of these regulations apply to all Visual Arts personnel, including but not limited to:faculty, staff, technicians, student assistants and students.
IV. Definitions
Cal/OSHA - California Occupational Safety and Health Administration is the State agency that protects workers from safety hazards through regulations, safety programs, inspections and consultative assistance.
V. Accountability
Dean, College of the Arts
It is the responsibility of the Dean to ensure the department is complying with the provisions set forth in this policy.
Specifically the Dean will:
- Ensure adequate resources are available to the department for safety training and education of employees
- Provide support for correction of hazardous conditions on the grounds of the department
- Develop the proper safety culture for the department and ensure that all operations under its control are conducted in compliance with applicable regulations and university policies
Department Chair
It is the responsibility of the Department Chair to develop department procedures to ensure effective compliance with the VASP and other university health and safety policies as they relate to operations under the control of the department.Specific areas include employee and student training, identification and correction of unsafe conditions, and recordkeeping.
Specifically the Chair will:
- Appoint a Department Safety Coordinator
- Ensure faculty, staff, and students receive the required training
- Assist employees in identifying, correcting, and eliminating hazards
- Review periodic safety inspections
Faculty and Staff
All faculty and staff shall ensure that safe conditions and practices are identified and followed within areas under their control, while members of the campus community are to cooperate fully with all aspects of the various campus health and safety programs.Specific areas include, but are not limited to:
- Labeling all chemical containers and hazardous materials
- Identifying potential hazards and report unsafe conditions
- Identifying materials considered particularly hazardous (asbestos, carcinogens, etc.)
- Reviewing periodic safety inspections
- Explaining to students the function and proper and safe use of equipment and machinery relevant to the courses in which they are enrolled
- Explaining to students the function, proper and safe use, and disposal methods of materials relevant to the courses in which they are enrolled
- Explaining the function and proper use of all personal protective equipment (PPE) to students
- Obtain in each class student written proof (signed document) attesting that the students have received information pertaining to the proper and safe use of equipment, machinery, materials and personal protective equipment related to that class
- Reporting employee and student injuries to the Department Chair and the Department of Environmental Health and Instructional Safety
Art Safety Committee
The Art Safety Committee shall function as a cooperative effort for information dissemination and to ensure that the art safety procedures are followed. Committee members should include a faculty member to serve as a Chairperson of the committee, the Department Safety Coordinator and other faculty members.
Department Safety Coordinator
Department Safety Coordinators (DSC) are appointed by the Department Chair and liaison with EH & IS.The duties of the DSC shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Conducting periodic safety inspections of the general classrooms and studio areas in the Visual Arts department
Reporting inspection findings to the Department Chair and a copy to EH & IS and responsible faculty for review - Making recommendations and initiate corrective actions regarding identified hazards or deficiencies
- Assisting EH & IS personnel during unscheduled inspections
- Attending established EH & IS safety training programs
- Ensuring that copies of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available in classrooms, workshops, and studios containing chemicals
- Ensuring that all chemical containers are labeled
- Performing monthly emergency eyewash/shower inspections
Students
Students are expected to adhere to safety practices presented by faculty, staff, graduate assistants, or other authorized personnel.They must also report workplace hazards that become known to them, to either their instructors, the Department Safety Coordinator, department personnel, or other responsible parties.
Department of Environmental Health and Instructional Safety (EH & IS)
EH & IS provides consultation to Deans, Directors, Chairs, and Department Safety Coordinators regarding program compliance,consultation on issues of hazard identification and evaluation, procedures for correcting unsafe conditions, employee information and training programs, employee medical monitoring, and recordkeeping.Additionally EH & IS assists departments in the following:
Environmental compliance, chemical hygiene, emergency preparedness, fire safety, hazard communication, hazard identification, hazardous materials management, hazardous waste management, industrial hygiene, occupational safety, public health and sanitation, and safety education and training. EH & IS will provide correction assistance and university-wide funding where appropriate, necessary and available
VI. Hazard Reporting, Assessment and Control Procedures
All department personnel are responsible for immediately reporting hazards to the Department Chair, Department Safety Coordinator, and/or EH & IS.
Department Safety Coordinator Inspections
The Department Safety Coordinator completes annual general classroom inspections, and biannualinspections of the studio areas then forwards the findings to the Department Chair, area coordinators, and EH & IS for review. Corrective action and/or the elimination of hazards is the responsibility of the department.
EH & IS Inspections
Annual inspections will be conducted by EH & IS and reported in writing to the Department Chair, area coordinators, and Department Safety Coordinator. Inspection reports should be maintained for 3 years.
Hazard Reporting
Hazards within the department should be immediately reported to the Department Chair or the Department Safety Coordinator, and/or EH & IS. Department personnel may also report hazards by calling EH & IS or anonymously filing a Campus Safety Report
located on the EH & IS website.
VII. Hazard Communication
Hazard communication applies to all department personnel who are exposed or may be potentially exposed to hazards in their workplace.The purpose of hazard communication is to improve the detection, awareness, treatment, and prevention of occupational illness and disease and to support employees’ right-to-know.
Department Meetings
Department meetings are open to all department full-time faculty and guests.Safety information discussed at department meetings will be disseminated as necessary to other departmental personnel not present at the department meetings.
Art Safety Committee
The Art Safety Committee (ASC) shall function as a cooperative effort among department personnel for the dissemination of safety information, and to review and evaluate department safety concerns and deficiencies found and identified during inspections.This committee may offer suggestions to resolve safety issues, provide written reports as recommendation to the Department Chair and the appropriate area coordinators.
Emergency Notification Posters
Posters that indicate hazards, emergency contacts, personal protective equipment, and National Fire Protection Association ratings will be posted on doors where hazardous products and materials are found.This will be done to ensure that firefighters, employees, and students will have easy access to critical information should an emergency situation arise.
Material Safety Data Sheets
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) contain vital information about hazardous products or chemicals that may be present in the work area. MSDSs can be accessed through a link located on the front page of the EH & IS website.
Off-campus, the ChemWatch site is accessible through the CSUF Library website under “Databases A-Z”, “Material Safety Data Sheets (ChemWatch)”.
VIII. Emergency Procedures
Many different types of emergencies may occur in the department’s workshops, studios, classrooms, and grounds including fires, chemical spills, injuries, explosions, and others.For emergency assistance, dial 911 from any University telephone, or other telephonic device.Police personnel will respond and determine the need for additional assistance.
Chemical Spills
The best policy is to assume all chemicals must behandled as hazardous waste and can only be disposed of through the EH & IS Chemical WasteProgram. Strict sewer, air emissions and landfill regulations require that hazardous waste is not drain disposed, or disposed of in the normal trash. Contact EH & IS for help in classifying waste as hazardous or non-hazardous.
In the event of a chemical spill, call 911 from a campus phone or other telephonic device. University Police Dispatch will send a patrol unit to respond to the incident and will inform EH & IS personnel who are available for consultation and cleanup. Chemical spill response procedures can be found here.
Injury Reporting
In the event of an incident, accident, or injury involving either employees or students, the Department Chair shall file either an Employee Injury Report or a Student/Visitor Injury Report within 24-hours of the incident. The department shall distribute the original filled-out form to EH & IS and a copy to Risk Management, CP 320, and in the Visual Arts Department, VA-102. The injury reports are found on the EH & IS website.
IX. Safety Training
General Campus Safety Training
State law and University regulations require that every employee attend General Safety Training during the first year of employment with the University to ensure that all employees are informed and trained on the hazards in the workplace, safety procedures, and understand and comply with all applicable safety requirements. Training will consist of emergency procedures, hazard reporting and hazard communication. The training is available during scheduled General Safety Training classes. EH & IS is responsible for training and recordkeeping for this training class. Department Chairs are responsible for ensuring that all department personnel attend the training.
Specialized Equipment Training
Students will be authorized to use machinery, equipment, and engage in technical processes once they have been properly trained and supervised to do so safely and responsibly. Students who have not received such training and supervision will not be allowed to use any piece of equipment, machinery, or engage in any techniques or processes that are hazardous or create a danger to themselves, other persons, the equipment, or the facilities. Training on high hazard equipment and processes such as table saws, kilns, welding, soldering, etc. will be conducted by a qualified Visual Arts instructor, technician, or designated delegate. The department is responsible for the training and recordkeeping on individual pieces of equipment specific to certain workshops, studios, and classrooms; records will be kept in the Visual Arts Department Office, VA 102. EH & IS is available for consultation and assistance.
Student Safety and Training
All students are given a copy of safety procedures the first day of their class or for late-adding students at their initial attendance in the course. The Student Safety Procedures must be read and signed before the student is allowed to begin work in certain workshops, studios, and classrooms. Instructors are provided an annotated Student Safety Procedures with a suggested script to read to the students. All documents are signed by the instructor and kept for three years in the Visual Arts Department Office, VA 102.
X. Personal Protective Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is not only required by regulation, but is also good safety practice. PPE should be provided or made available to faculty and staff when the process requires such equipment; students should acquire their own PPE when the process requires such equipment, unless the university provides the PPE to the students. PPE may include gloves, eye and face protection, protective clothing, foot protection and possibly respiratory protection. Workshop/studio instructors, Department Safety Coordinators, and/or EH & IS will determine a need for such equipment, monitor its effectiveness, train the students/employees, and monitor and enforce the proper use of such equipment.
Employees and students who are required to wear PPE must be trained in the following:
- When PPE is necessary
- What type of PPE is necessary
- How to don, remove, adjust and wear PPE
XI. Employee Medical Monitoring Program
Medical monitoring of employees is available to those exposed to hazardous conditions or their health could be affected. The department will work with EH & IS in identifying those employees who are required by federal and state regulations to receive medical monitoring to ensure that their health and safety is not affected by their work environment. EH & IS will maintain the medical monitoring records.
XII. Recordkeeping
Record |
Responsible for Maintaining |
Maintain Records For |
|---|---|---|
|
Employee Training Records |
EH & IS |
3 Years |
|
Student Training Records |
Department |
3 Years |
|
Art Safety Updates |
EH & IS |
3 Years |
|
Specialized Equipment Training |
Department |
1 Year |
|
Medical Monitoring Records |
EH & IS |
Full employment term plus 30 years |
|
Reported Hazards |
Department and/or EH & IS |
Correction plus 1 year |
|
Inspection Records |
Department and/or EH & IS |
3 years |
|
Employee Injury Reports/ Investigation Reports |
Risk Management (original) ; Department (may keep a copy) |
5 years beyond the calendar year of the injury |
|
Student Injury Records |
EH & IS (original) Department (copy) |
3 years |
XIII. Chemical Hazardous Waste Disposal Procedures
Hazardous waste includes a broad range of materials. They may be in the form of liquid, solid, sludge, and include materials such as photographic development chemicals, solvents, unused cleaning products or discarded batteries and fluorescent tubes. Such waste requires special handling by employees and students to reduce adverse effects to human health and the environment.
For further information, please visit the Risk Management & Environmental Health and Safety website.
