Facilities Safety Program

The Utah State University Facilities Department is committed to the safety and health of its employees. Facilities Safety is a resource for all Facilities Departments in creating, supporting, and maintaining a safe working environment. Safety and Health Policy 337

The Safety Committee

The Safety Committees includes the Safety Manager and one member of each Facilities shop. The Safety Committee focuses on communicating safety procedures and program elements to USU Facilities employees. Member’s duties include:

Safety Committee members are responsible for scheduling required safety trainings for their individual crews.

Safety committee members ensure crew members complete two tools per month. These tools focus on improving safe behaviors, fixing unsafe job conditions, and improving safety culture.
Every shop has a monthly safety meeting covering topics selected by the safety committee. The safety committee member is responsible for facilitating the shop safety discussion.
Facilities employees are encouraged to make safety suggestions, which are evaluated by the Safety Committee and, if appropriate, incorporated into the safety policies of the department.
Safety Committee members take the lead in developing written procedures that focus on performing job tasks correctly and safety.

Accident Reporting and The Return-to-Work Program

Accidents and near misses are reported to supervisors and the safety manager as soon as possible using the Injury Report.

Facilities is determined to return injured employees to their original jobs as soon as medically possible. The injured employee may have to perform transitional job tasks as a part of the process of returning to the original job. The return to work program is established to help injured employees and Facilities work together to accomplish this goal. See Accident Reporting and Return to Work Program.

Hazardous Waste Disposal

Hazardous waste is defined as any substance or chemical that can cause harm to people, plants, or animals. Examples include: paint, lubricants, flammables, batteries, cleaning chemicals, solvents, etc. Hazardous waste should never be thrown away in the normal trash and must be disposed of according to local laws. To dispose of waste properly, please submit a hazardous waste pickup request to the EHS office.

The Safety Incentive Program

Facilities has a Safety Incentive Program. The program rewards employees and crews who are proactive in their safety approach. To earn the quarterly award crews must completely fulfill their safety tasks:

Individually attend at least 1 of the following Safety office trainings per month
1. Monthly safety training
2. Area specific training
As a crew, complete one of the following tools 2 times a month:
1. Safety Area Checklist
2. No Name No Blame Observation
3. Safety Minute Meeting
4. Report accidents to the Safety Office and fill out an Injury Report
As a crew, create one of following written documents every 3 months (quarter):
1. Job safety analysis
2. Bloodborne pathogen exposure control plan
3. Hazard communication plan
4. Lockout Tag out procedures
5. Shop safety rules, written safety plans, or posters
6. Any other significant safety project approved by the safety office

Safety Program

The Safety Committee
Accident Reporting and The Return-to-Work Program
Hazardous Waste Disposal
The Safety Incentive Program
Safety Videos & Training Links
Document Links