UAB Occupational Health
and Safety (OHS), Grant/Project Registration
The
Department of Occupational Health and Safety’s mission is to ensure a safe
workplace by working
toward compliance with applicable occupational/environmental rules and
regulations with minimum disruption to teaching, research, and medical care
delivery. To fulfill this charge, the Department
believes that partnerships must be developed with researchers, faculty, and
staff. These partnerships foster working
relationships which allow OHS to keep the UAB community aware of requirements
and to provide an audit trail of activities which demonstrates compliance to
the regulators.
The Department was organized to develop control
programs for seven areas: 1) occupational and environmental health and
safety, 2) radiological health and safety, 3) biological safety, 4) chemical
safety, 5) asbestos abatement, 6) hazardous waste management, and 7) education
and training. Its key functions include
the following: inspection in all university areas for fire and life safety issues;
issuance and control of radioactive materials licenses; development of control
programs for biological and chemical agents; safe disposal of biohazardous, radioactive, and chemical wastes; education
and training in health and safety; and establishment of procedures and
standards of safe work practices. Monitoring
records are maintained as required, building safety inspections,
incident/accident reports, radiation exposure levels, fire alarm tests, fire
exit drills, and certain occupational health records.
In an effort to minimize requirements and to make
sure fairness is upheld, the Department has established several committees that
set UAB policies regarding the acquisition, use, handling, and final disposal
of potentially hazardous materials. Currently,
there are four major health and safety committees including Radioactive and
Radiation Safety, Institutional Biosafety, Chemical
Safety, and General Safety. Policies are
set forth in the form of "safety manuals" and represent a summation
of regulatory requirements and agreement as to how these activities will be
conducted at UAB. All health safety
manuals are signed and endorsed by the President and in many cases are part of
the licensing application and agreement with the regulatory agency.
For more information about
the Department of Occupational Health and Safety, please click here.
Approved by: Randy Pewitt, MPH, Director of Education,
Training and General Safety
Date: October 18, 2007
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