Facilities, Safety and Physical Plant Health & Safety

Role of the Department of Environmental, Health and Safety

SUNY Oneonta is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all persons associated with the University, including students, faculty, staff, visitors and the local community.

The Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) department provides leadership for the University health and safety programs, by developing EHS programming unique to each area on campus, implementing lean methodologies, performing various inspections/audits and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs).

Safety is a shared responsibility. Department heads, principal investigators, faculty members, and supervisors are directly responsible for ensuring full compliance with local, State (PESH, DEC) and Federal regulations and the University’s safety policies and procedures.

The Environmental, Health and Safety department has the authority to prohibit, stop, or otherwise limit potential environmental or occupational harm to individuals, community, or the environment.

Mission Statement

The Environmental, Health, and Safety department supports the University’s core value and mission by proactively recognizing and controlling health and safety hazards, ensuring regulatory compliance, engaging all stakeholders, and minimizing future potential liabilities.

Education

One of the ways the EHS department meets its mission is by providing managers, supervisors, and workers with:

• Knowledge and skills needed to do their work safely and avoid creating hazards that could place themselves or others at risk.
• Awareness and understanding of workplace hazards and how to identify, report, and control them.

Additional training may be needed depending on the roles assigned to workers. Supervisors may need specific training to ensure that they can fulfill their roles in providing leadership, direction, and resources for the safety and health program. Workers assigned specific roles in the program (e.g., incident investigation team members) may need training to ensure their full participation in those functions.

Environmental Compliance

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Hazardous Chemical Waste

Environmental Health & Safety ensures SUNY Oneonta dispose hazardous waste in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulations (cradle to grave). This includes correctly identifying waste, storing waste properly, performing required weekly inspections, and making sure that all storage time limits are met. Our resources can help you label and ship waste materials.

• Regulations for Hazardous Waste Generated at Academic Laboratories
• Managing Laboratory Hazardous Waste - An Introduction to the Academic Laboratories Rule Subpart K
• Department of Environmental Conservation - Hazardous Waste Guidance

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Oil Storage and Tank Management (SPCC)

The goal of this regulation is to prevent oil from reaching navigable waters and adjoining shorelines, and to contain discharges of oil. The regulation requires SUNY Oneonta to develop and implement Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans and establish procedures, methods, and equipment requirements. Any spill or release of oil at SUNY Oneonta must be reported to EHS immediately and handled in accordance with the University’s Oil Spill Response Plan.

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Stormwater management

Stormwater Management is the process of controlling the stormwater runoff that comes primarily from impervious surfaces like parking lots, driveways, and rooftops. Stormwater systems are not treated at the waste treatment facility. This water flows directly to the streams and rivers. EH&S manages runoff to reduce or eliminate pollution discharge. How to reduce pollution in stormwater runoff.

• Dispose of water properly.
• Place litter in proper containers.
• Never dump materials into a storm drain.
• Check vehicles for leaking fluids.

EPA Facility Stormwater Management

Stormwater Management Practices at EPA Facilities

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Universal waste

This program establishes the process for SUNY Oneonta to:

• Comply with all federal, state, and local regulations to minimize and dispose of universal waste;
• Ensure the protection of human health and the environment;
• Ensure safe use, minimization, storage, and disposal of universal waste generated on campus.

The following hazardous wastes can be managed under the universal waste rules:

• Batteries
• Pesticides
• Mercury-containing equipment
• Lamps

Universal wastes are hazardous for at least one constituent; some have multiple hazardous constituents. Hazards can include toxic metals (mercury or lead), corrosive liquids (battery acid), hazardous or toxic compounds, or ignitable compressed gases. If a waste is not a hazardous waste, it cannot be a universal waste.

Frequent Questions About Universal Waste

Training

The Environmental Health and Safety Department provides extensive training to the campus community.

Contact the EHS department to schedule trainings for any of the following topics:

Laboratory Safety

• Biosafety -SUNY Oneonta follows prudent biosafety procedures and standard microbiological practices, which serves to minimize the spread of contamination generated through lab processes and to protect both personnel and the environment. Guidelines for Biosafety in Teaching Laboratories.
• Chemical safety - Environmental health and safety have developed lean methodologies with the lab community to ensure compliance with the relevant Federal, State and Local regulations.
• General lab safety - Good lab practices are an integral part of conducting research safely. We promote safe work practices in labs across departments.

Occupational Safety

Seasonal Safety:

Heating Safety

With the onset of winter temperatures, some of our work spaces may start to feel a little chilly. If this is the case please submit a work request to MOC prior to bringing in a space heater from home, MOC will attempt to increase the heat in your space through the building managements system. Space heaters are prohibited on campus by the Building Temperature Policy, because their use comes with increased risk of fire, and may damage campus electrical infrastructure, however, some exceptions can be made. For more details, please see the SUNY Oneonta "Building Temperature Policy" for full text. In the mean time, Browse the EHS Collection of Heating Safety documents. Stay Safe!

Please Contact: Osamede Evbuomwan at (607) 436-2021 or osamede.evbuomwan@oneonta.edu with questions or concerns.

For a list of available training modules, procedures and policies, visit our Environmental Health and Safety page.

About Mold

Excerpts from the EPA's "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings (Tables 1 and 2)

NIOSH Dampness and Mold (including assessment tools)