SUNY University-Wide Human Resources Manual
Orientation - Health and Safety

last updated: Thursday, July 1, 2004

It is the policy of SUNY to ensure a safe environment for all employees and to comply with federal and state laws enacted to ensure safe practices and standards.
New York State's Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act provides that the same safety and health standards that apply to workers in the private sector apply to employees in the public sector. SUNY complies with these safety and health standards by furnishing its employees with a job and workplace free from recognized hazards and by providing responsible and adequate protection to the lives and safety of its staff.
No one in the University is required to work under conditions that are manifestly dangerous. SUNY and its campuses encourage employees, students, and visitors to report observed hazards to the campus's Environmental Health and Safety Office or to University Police--it recognizes that safety is a shared concern!
Even with the full campus community involved in providing a safe environment, some obvious, but still hazardous conditions may exist, so always be sure:

• That appliances which protrude from walls and doors, such as pencil sharpeners, are not positioned where people may be injured by them;
• That wastebaskets, electric cords, telephone, and similar objects are not located where people may trip over them;
• That safety procedures for laboratories are understood and followed;
• That you hold on to the handrails when using stairs;
• That you remain at a safe distance from the elevator doors;
• That the drawers of filing cabinets and desks are kept closed when not in use;
• That the upper drawers of filing cabinets are not filled to capacity while lower drawers are empty, thereby creating the possibility of the cabinets tipping over; and
• That burning cigarettes or matches are not thrown into the wastebaskets.

Use common sense at all times. Report any hazardous conditions. Understand evacuation procedures. Know the campus procedures to follow for reporting emergencies.

NYS has a system for employees to report work-related injuries and work-related illnesses. The new system is called ARS, the Accident Reporting System. Call the ARS toll-free number, 1-888-800-0029 to report a work-related injury or illness 24 hours a day, every day. Supervisors, the Human Resources Office, and the campus's Environmental Health and Safety Officer must all also be notified in accordance with campus defined procedures.

"Right to Know"
The purpose of the New York State Right To Know Law and the Federal Hazard communication Standard (HCS) is to ensure that workers are informed about all toxic substances produced or used in the workplace and how to protect themselves from physical and health hazards. The rights afforded to employees by the State and Federal laws include the following:

• The right to notice and information regarding all hazardous chemicals present on the work site.
• The right to refuse to work with a substance if a request for information regarding that substance has not received a response.
• The right to review employee exposure records maintained by SUNY.
• The right to training.
• The right to recourse through the New York State Attorney General or the Department of Labor in the event an employee's rights have been violated.

The Hazard Communications Standard requires manufacturers and suppliers to provide a material safety data sheet (MSDS) for each chemical that is distributed. Employers are required to maintain a MSDS for each hazardous chemical present on the job site. The MSDS will provide all safety handling and hazard information for that particular substance.

The MSDS is an integral part of the Right-To-Know Program. Employees should refer to it before handling any chemical and whenever the need arises. The Hazard Communication Standard requires the development of a system for labeling of containers of hazardous materials. Each label must contain the following: the name of the chemical, the name and address of the manufacturer, and an appropriate hazard warning.

Under the New York State "Right to Know" Act, employees may request safety information on any toxic substance found or used in the workplace. Employees may refuse to work with a toxic substance if they have requested information and have not received a written reply within seventy-two hours, excluding weekends and holidays.

All new employees must be issued the College's policy and procedure regarding the Federal Hazard Communication Standard and the New York State Toxic Substances Act. Additionally, all employees are to receive periodic training and reminders about these standards.

Detailed information is available from the campus Environmental Health and Safety Officer.

Reference(s):

Implementation of Public Employee Safety and Health Act for State Occupied Workplaces
http://www.budget.state.ny.us/bprm/b/b600.html

NYS Department of Labor - Division of Safety and Health
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/business_ny/employer_responsibilities/safety_health.html

Hazard Communications "Right to Know" Training from the Governor's Office of Employee Relations (GOER)
http://www.goer.state.ny.us/Train/onlinelearning/hazcom/default.htm (old)
http://www.goer.state.ny.us/train/onlinelearning/HAZ/intro.html (new)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (U.S. Department of Labor)
http://www.osha.gov/

Safety at Work (NYS Employee Resource Information Center)
http://www.ric.goer.state.ny.us/ws_safety.shtml

Workplace Safety and Emergency (NYS Employee Resource Information Center)
http://www.ric.goer.state.ny.us/ws_procedures.shtml