Transcript 2001 CSHEMA Emerging Issues Roundtable

The University of Texas
Environmental Health & Safety Academy
Origins and Objectives
Robert Emery, DrPH, CHP, CIH, CSP, RBP, CHMM, CPP, ARM
Vice President for
Safety, Health, Environment & risk Management
Associate Professor of Occupational Health
Colleges and Universities as
Worksettings
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Very unique places of work due to the potential for
simultaneous exposures to all four hazards types
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And a diverse “population at risk”
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Physical
Chemical
Radiological
Biological
Students, faculty, staff, visitors, “others”
No one trained on how universities work
Also unique due to existence in US in culturally distinct
settings – HBCU/MI’s
The Public Health Significance of
Safety and the Workplace
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In 2007 there were:
– 5,657 workplace fatalities
 That’s 15 people per day that left for work and didn’t come
home
– 4,002,700 recordable workplace injuries or illnesses
 That’s a workplace injury or illness being recorded every 10
seconds
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Fires, which are only one of many property “perils", resulting in
$14,639,000,000 in direct property loss
Sources bls.gov, nfpa.org
Course Origins:
Key Research Question
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Does a difference in health and safety program
staffing exist between minority and nonminority universities?
If so, what predicts the difference?
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Minority status?
OSHA regulatory status?
Institution size?
Research Findings
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Assumption of unique exposure risk validated
Staffing differences noted: 1.14 vs. 3.12 FTE
Institution size found to be only reliable predictor
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Not minority status
Not OSHA status
Need for generalist training identified
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1 person addressing a variety of potential hazards
Emery, R.J., Delclos, G.L., Cooper, S. P., Hardy, R.,
"Evaluating the Relative Status of Health and Safety
Programs for Minority Academic and Research
Institutions", American Industrial Hygiene Association
Journal, 59(12): 882-888, 1998.
Fulfilling the Need
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Pilot Comprehensive Hazardous Waste
Management course developed with seed
support from SWCOEH and UTHSC-H
Held in New Orleans in September 1998
Attendees from 4 regional states
Feedback very positive!
Fulfilling the Need
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Feedback from pilot used to support grant
request from NIOSH to create 40 hour
Comprehensive EH&S for Educational
Institutions generalist course
Funding awarded, including
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Tuition assistance for targeted schools
Graduate research assistant to help with electronic
networking feature
First Edition
Held in October 1999,
28 participants from 10 states and Puerto
Rico
First Edition
23 different schools : 11 “underserved”, 13 “small”
12 course instructors, all practicing professionals,
included EPA, OSHA representatives
Subsequent Editions
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Hundreds of individuals trained to date
Worldwide representation – all the way to
Singapore. All regions of the country –
extending from Alaska to Florida, and Puerto
Rico!
Course reviews continue to be very positive
Content continually tweaked based on
feedback
Course Content
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Course overview
How universities work
50 questions
Risk management and
insurance
Fire and life safety
Physical safety
Ergonomics
OSHA perspective
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Chemical safety
Underexposed
Radiation safety
Biological safety
Occupational health
programs
Environmental programs
Hazardous waste
management
Course Content
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EPA perspective
Emergency response
Security for safety
professionals
Measures and metrics
that matter
Communicating through
the mass media
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Professional
development
Avoiding common
violations
Course Materials/Resources
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Copies of all powerpoint slides
List of key references for each hazard area and useful
contact information
Answers to the famous 50 questions
Materials from regulatory agencies
Contact information for future professional networking
Instructors
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Faculty from The University of Texas Health
Science Center at Houston School of Public
Health
Staff from UTHSC-H and other UT Component
EH&S Departments
Local practicing professionals
Representatives from regulatory agencies
Feedback to Date
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Course evaluations
continue to be
overwhelmingly
positive
Generalist approach
greatly appreciated
(special topics lite)!
Cost-effectiveness
greatly appreciated
as well!
Feedback to Date
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Noted attractive
features include
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Comprehensive
hazardous waste
management
Effective
communications
Metrics and data
displays
Regulatory
perspective
Common violation
data
Getting Started
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Participant introductions
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Name
Institution
Role within institution
Institution size
Challenges currently facing of existing program
What you hope to get from this course