Safety Training Policy

Purpose

The purpose of the University of Dayton Safety Training policy is to provide faculty, staff, students, volunteers, and visitors with the knowledge and tools necessary to reduce injury and illness, and to reduce the risks associated with their duties or activities.  Safety training programs are developed in response to federal, state, and local regulations, accreditation agency requirements, and institutional needs.

Scope

The University of Dayton (University) is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all members of the campus community.  This safety training policy is designed to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses for all faculty, staff, students, volunteers, and visitors.  A primary means to achieve this goal is through safety training.

Policy History

Effective Date:  January 25, 2016

Approval:  June 7, 2024

Policy History: 

• Approved in original form:  January 25, 2016
• Approved as amended:  June 7, 2024

Maintenance of Policy:  Assistant Vice President for Compliance and Environmental Health & Safety, Division of Audit, Risk, and Compliance

Policy

It is the policy of the University that all faculty, staff, students, volunteers, and visitors who perform work at or for the University, receive appropriate training necessary to protect their health and perform work in a safe and environmentally sound manner.  This training must include information regarding job hazards, possible health effects, and required work practices an procedures. 

I.     ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.   Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) are responsible for:

• Assistin in identifying safety training needs.
• Assisting in communicating the requirements to departments/divisions, supervisors, and managers.
• Monitoring compliance with safety training requirements.
• Providing information for compliance to the safety committees, administration, and departments.
• Providing training materials, guidance documents, manuals, and programs to comply with safety requirements.
• Assisting supervisors and managers on how to identify and provide training for specific workplace hazards.
• Maintaining the enterprise online safety training database and platform.

2.  Departments/Divisions are responsible for:

• Working with representatives of EHS, supervisors and managers are to identify the training needs for their employees in the enterprise online safety training database and platform where needed.
• Verifying that all employees (including student employees) receive the appropriate safety training within established time frames.
• Verifying that all training records are transmitted to EHS as appropriate.

3.  Supervisors are responsible for:

• Conducting and documenting the safety training needs assessment or reviewing and approving the assessment if conducted by others. This can be done through the enterprise online safety training database and platform where needed. 
• Being trained and knowledgeable in the safety and health hazards to which employees, students, and visitors, i.e., visiting faculty, volunteers, etc. under their direction may be exposed.
• Communicating with employees, students, and visitors about health and safety matters.
• Providing site-specific or project-specific training for employees, students, and visitors to include the specific hazards present in their workplace.
• Requesting assistance with specialized training where needed.
• Verifying that all employees, students and visiting faculty under their supervision have completed all safety training requirements and receive refresher training as necessary. Students who are employed by the University or take part in academic or research programs/activities are required to receive safety training when applicable to their duties or activities.
• Providing EHS the needs assessment and completed training documentation upon request.
• Enforcing the disciplinary action system for employees failing to comply with safety training requirements.  If one or more documented reminders of incomplete training are not completed within the prescribed time frame, a written notice to the employee is required.  If the required training has not been completed within a reasonable timeframe, an escalation of notice will go the Department Chair/Division Head, Dean, or Vice President.  This system shall be utilized to promote positive health and safety practices.

4.  Contractors are responsible for:

• Maintaining their own safety training policy and programs and understanding the University specific workplace hazards prior to any contracted work and ensuring all necessary training is completed based on University workplace hazards they will be exposed to. 

5.  Faculty, staff, students, and visitors are responsible for:

• Participating in any assigned safety training programs provided by EHS and their supervisors. Employees, students, and visitors must know the general safety and health rules of the specific site hazards and the safe work practices needed to help control exposure, and the individual’s role in all types of emergency situations.  They must also be responsible for complying with all University safety policies and procedures.

II.     SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAM ELEMENTS

The Safety Training Program elements include both general and site-specific training.  At a minimum, the following elements should be included in the training sessions:

• A review of the workplace-specific written safety policies.
• Specific training on the hazards associated with the materials and equipment used by the employee.
• Specific training on how employees are to protect themselves against the hazards in the workplace.
• Recognition and assessment of health and safety risks.
• Regulations applicable to their work.
• Basic information on the location of manuals, safety devices, and personal protective equipment.
• Basic procedures to follow in the event of emergencies, especially fires, chemical spills, and medical emergencies.

Site Specific hazards shall be identified in a training needs assessment.

Before any worker is granted unescorted access to any areas on campus, they shall successfully complete all required safety training.  Faculty are responsible for student safety training prior to any academically-related activity that has a potential for a safety concern i.e., laboratory work, field trip, internship, field study, etc.

III.     DOCUMENTATION

For training performed by EHS or through the enterprise management online safety training database and platform, training will be documented at the time training is taken and documentation will be maintained by EHS.  Supervisors conducting site-specific training shall maintain records and make available to EHS upon request.

1.  Training records shall include at minimum:

• The name of the individual trained;
• Name of the individual(s) providing the training for instructor-led training;
• Date of the training;
• Brief description of the training topics covered;
• Copies of any written communications.

Reference Documents

1. Environmental Health and Safety Policy