SECTION III:      BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL

                             HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAM

 

C)      HAZARD REPORTING AND CORRECTION

 

PURPOSE

 

To provide a systematic means whereby safety hazards can be reported and channeled to the proper personnel for appropriate response.

 

PROCEDURES

 

1.  Reporting a hazardous condition

 

Hazards can be noted and reported by any CCS employee.  Notation of an existing hazard may result from personal observation or from review of a completed Accident/Incident Report form or of a Building Self-Inspection Safety Survey. 

 

A.    A hazardous condition should first be verbally reported to the immediate supervisor.  

B.    Some hazardous conditions should be reported on a Building Improvement Request form (e.g., a hazard which involves a minor correction to a facility, such as an electrical outlet needing replacement; a loose piece of carpeting, etc.).

C.    Some hazardous conditions should be dealt with through established purchasing procedures (e.g., when the hazard involves equipment within the building, the supervisor might call in a maintenance vendor, working through his/her administrator and the CCS Business Office).

D.    The Hazardous Condition Report form is available through Environmental Health and Safety Committee members, campus supply, or by contacting the CCS Environmental Health and Safety Office (475-7041).  It should be completed:

 

·         when verbal reporting of a hazardous condition does not achieve correction of the hazard;

·         when it is not appropriate for correction via a Building Improvement Request or for repair by a maintenance vendor;

·         when correction of a hazard would have major facility and/or economic impact and requires input from numerous individuals to work through the issues involved.

 

The completed Hazardous Condition Report is to be routed as indicated on the form, for purposes of follow-up, and for notification of appropriate health and safety personnel and those supervisor(s) whose area(s) may be affected. 

 

Regardless of final disposition, all completed Hazardous Condition Report forms are to be routed through the appropriate Environmental Health and Safety Committee and the CCS Environmental Health and Safety Steering Committee.

 

2.  Hazard Evaluation and Disposition

 

The responsibility for evaluation and disposition of a reported hazardous condition is shared by many.  For instance, hazard evaluation and disposition might, as appropriate, involve any or all of these individuals:

 

·         supervisor of the affected area;

·         administrator of the affected area;

·         safety officer (SCC, SFCC, IEL, or District, as appropriate);

·         Environmental Health and Safety Committee;

·         CCS Environmental Health and Safety Professional.

 

A.    First-level responsibility - Supervisor:  The supervisor is expected to accomplish timely correction of minor hazardous conditions.  If the hazard correction involves the changing of an established procedure, the responsible supervisor will insure that all persons affected are informed of the change.  When correction of a hazardous condition would have major procedural, facility and/or economic impact, the supervisor is to notify their administrator and refer the hazard to the appropriate safety officer.

 

B.    Second-level responsibility - Safety Officer:  The safety officer will ensure that appropriate parties (e.g., administrator of the affected area, Environmental Health and Safety Committee, and the CCS Environmental Health and Safety Office) are involved in review, recommendations and the decision-making process regarding disposition of a hazardous condition which is of major significance.

 

            Corrective Actions (Following Evaluation)

 

Disposition and response to a reported hazard calls for “action" or "no action," with recommendations and/or explanation, as appropriate.  The Disposition section of the Hazardous Condition Report is to be completed by:

 

the supervisor,

the safety officer, or,

staff of the CCS Environmental Health and Safety Office.

 

Action Taken:

 

A.    Where it is determined that the reported hazard requires corrective action, orderly and efficient planning is essential, even when this will involve long-term planning for correction of a major hazard.

 

B.    When correction of a reported hazard is pending, the immediate supervisor or the safety officer, as appropriate, is responsible for implementation of temporary measures to mitigate the hazard and for monitoring progress of the hazard corrective action, to assure that delay is minimized and that completion of the corrective action occurs.

 

C.    While the individual who initiated the Hazardous Condition Report may have included recommendations for correction of the hazard, the authorized respondent may recommend implementation of an alternative solution instead.

 

D.    When it is determined that complete elimination of the hazard is not possible or economically feasible, other actions should be taken (e.g. guarding, use of protective equipment, warning signs, establishing safety procedures, etc.).

 

No Action Taken:

 

A.    There may be instances where a hazard is perceived to exist (e.g., by the individual who completed a Hazardous Condition Report) but where evaluation by the supervisor, the safety officer, and/or staff of the CCS Environmental Health and Safety Office, as appropriate, determines that corrective action is not required (e.g., the condition reported is not out of compliance with existing regulations; corrective action is not economically feasible in terms of the level of hazard and/or would be precedent setting in terms of other, similar settings within CCS jurisdiction; etc.).

 

B.    Where "no action" is taken, the appropriate respondent (supervisor, safety officer, or staff of the CCS Environmental Health and Safety Office) will document the reason(s) and communicate this information to the originator of the Hazardous Condition Report.