General Policies
University Policy Number 1407
Subject: Safety
Responsible Parties: Assistant Vice President of Safety; Director of Laboratory Safety, Director of Facilities Management, Deans, Directors and Department Heads.
Procedures: As outlined in the Safety Office Plans and Laboratory Safety Manuals.
Related University Policies: University Policy 1116 “Communicable Diseases;” University Policy 1401 Use of 15-Passenger Vans;” University Policy 1404 “Reporting of Crimes, Accidents, Fires & Other Emergencies;” University Policy 1406 “Laboratory Safety Compliance;” University Policy 4004 “Occupational Health Program for Animal Care and Use Personnel.”
I. SCOPE
This policy applies to all faculty, staff, students, contractors and visitors
to any George Mason University facility or sponsored event.
II. POLICY STATEMENT
George Mason University is responsible for maintaining a reasonably safe
and healthy environment for its faculty, staff, students, visitors and
surrounding community members. It is the University leadership’s
intent to reduce and keep injuries and illnesses to an absolute minimum.
University operations must be conducted in compliance with applicable
occupational health, safety and environmental protection laws and in adherence
with accepted health and safety work practices. To that end, various policies,
plans and manuals have been prepared and published to provide guidance.
The University recognizes that individuals may come into contact with
hazardous substances, operations or conditions on our campuses in the
course of normal activities. While every reasonable effort will be made
to mitigate harmful exposure to these substances or operations on our
campuses, nothing can substitute for individual awareness. All safety
hazards, accidents, and violations of the rules and regulations should
be reported to supervisory personnel or directly to the Safety Office.
III. DEFINITIONS
Employee means a person who works for the University
full-time or part-time and is paid through the University’s payroll
system.
Faculty means an employee who is appointed as
a member of the instructional, research, or administrative faculty, including
visiting faculty and post-doctoral fellows.
Staff means an employee who is not a member
of the faculty or a student.
Student means a person who is officially enrolled
in a course or program of study offered by the University.
Visitor means any person that is not an employee,
faculty, staff, or student but is participating in laboratory activities
in facilities owned or under the control of Mason.
IV. RESPONSIBILITIES
Policy Administrator: The Assistant Vice President of Safety is responsible for administering this policy and for continual review of effectiveness of the University’s various safety programs and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Deans, Directors and Department Heads: These senior mangers are responsible for establishing and maintaining programs in their areas which provide a safe and healthy working and living environment.
Managers: Management at every level is responsible for supporting and enforcing all aspects of the safety program. All management decisions relating to safety shall be coordinated through the Safety Office.
Faculty, Staff, Other Employees, Students and Visitors. Every individual living on, working on, or visiting our campuses is responsible for knowing and complying with applicable safety rules and regulations.
V. EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPROVAL
The policies herein are effective January 17, 2007. This policy shall
be reviewed and revised, if necessary, annually to become effective at
the beginning of the University's fiscal year, unless otherwise noted.
Approved:
_______________________
Maurice W. Scherrens
Senior Vice President
________________________
Peter N. Stearns
Provost
Date approved: January 26, 2007