Safety & Security Policies

Health and Safety: Safety Inspections

GENERAL 

To ensure the safety of students, staff and faculty periodic safety inspections will be made. These inspections will include offices, shop areas, performance spaces, control rooms and student work areas. The purpose of the inspections is to ascertain if there are conditions that might cause an injury. These conditions include but are not limited to:

  • Non-structural items which could move or tip over in an earthquake. 
  • Non-structural items blocking ingress or egress to an area. 
  • Equipment that is unsafe due to location, wiring, manner in which item is used, and safety protection features not being installed or not working properly. 
  • Flammable and other hazardous materials improperly used, stored or disposed of. 
  • Improper use of tools, ladders and other equipment including not wearing protective gear when appropriate. 
  • Fire extinguishers and first aid kits not available where appropriate. 
  • Material Safety Data Sheets not in file or posted where required.

RESPONSIBILITY 

  • Schools/Library Each Dean will designate two staff and/or faculty members as the persons to perform the safety inspections for that particular area. (It is recommended that one of both the designated people be members of the Institute Safety and Disaster Preparedness Committee.) A member of the Safety and Disaster Committee (who is not a member of that school/library) along with the department’s designated person will perform the inspections.
  • A member of the Safety and Disaster Preparedness Committee along with the department head will perform the safety inspections for the administrative department/area. The Safety and Disaster Preparedness Committee will designate the person(s) to do this.
  • Housing The Director of Housing and the Housing staff will conduct periodic inspections within the housing buildings.

FREQUENCY 

  • Shops, performance spaces, control rooms, and student work areas will have a safety inspection each semester. 
  • Offices will have a safety inspection annually.
  • If the frequency of accidents in an area increases inspections will be scheduled more frequently.

REPORT 

A written report to the Safety and Disaster Preparedness Committee will be made following each inspection.

This report should include: 

  • Date of inspection
  • Persons conducting the inspection
  • Rooms/areas inspected
  • List of any safety concerns by room/area

These reports will be reviewed by the Safety and Disaster Preparedness Committee at their regular meetings. Depending upon the seriousness of the safety condition the chair of the Safety and Disaster Preparedness Committee, in conjunction with the Institute's Safety Coordinator, and the school/department with jurisdiction over the particular area containing the safety concern, may take action to resolve the condition prior to the next Safety and Disaster Preparedness Committee meeting.

Policy Category:
Safety & Security