Environmental Health & Safety

The EHS office works with the staff and faculty of Cal Poly Humboldt to provide a safe and healthful workplace. EHS develops and implements various programs in order to minimize the risk of occupationally related injury or illness. This is accomplished through integrated steps of hazard identification, evaluation, and control, employee training and incident/accident investigation. In addition, EHS is a resource for information and technical guidance on occupational safety and environmental health information, work practices, regulations, etc. Please feel free to contact us regarding any safety questions.

Environmental Health

The environmental health function of EHS oversees a wide spectrum of programs focused on the protection of the local environment.  Programs include hazardous waste management, medical waste management, Hazmat business plan chemical inventory, emergency response to hazardous materials releases and compliance oversight of storm and waste water programs.

Training classes are provided for employees and, at a minimum, include hazardous and medical waste management, bloodborne pathogens control, hazard communication, best chemical inventory management practices, emergency response to chemical releases and general lab safety.

The division also acts as the liaison with various regulatory agencies to insure campus wide compliance with federal, state and local environmental health regulations.  To promote compliance, EHS conducts routine inspections and notifies departments of required corrections.

Safety

The Safety program focuses on the identification, evaluation, and control of hazards in the work place. It is inherently broad in its scope covering items such as work area safety surveys, accident/incident investigations, electrical safety, indoor air quality, ergonomics, hand and power tool safety, personal protective equipment, injury prevention plans, construction safety, chemical and noise exposure assessments, radiation safety, respiratory protection, back/lifting safety, safety training and numerous other related topics. EHS identifies the applicable regulatory requirements, develops compliance programs to meet the requirements, and then provides consultative direction and technical support to departments to implement the safety programs pertinent to their department.

Who to contact