Safety on Site (SOS) - Frequently Asked Questions
The importance of SOS is emphasized by:
- Cal/OSHA - California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 3203, Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) states that every employer shall establish, implement and maintain an effective IIPP.
- The University of California Presidential Policy on Management of Health, Safety and the Environment
- SOS effectively integrating safety into each campus work unit, leading to a decrease in frequency and costs of workplace injuries.
Employees need to:
- Complete all EHS required safety training based on your Safety Training Self-Assessment available at: www.uclc.uci.edu.
- Know who the designated Safety Representative (SR) is for your work unit.
- Ask questions of your SR, supervisor or faculty when concerned about an unknown or hazardous situation or substance.
- Participate in all work unit specific training recommended by your designated SR.
- Report all unsafe conditions, practices or equipment to either your supervisor, SR, or to campus EHS.
Managers and supervisors including principal investigators need to:
- Recognize the need to integrate safety into your organization.
- Arrange your organization into manageable work units.
- Designate a SOS Representative (SR) for each work unit.
- Contact EHS for assistance if necessary at 949-824-6200 or safety@uci.edu.
SOS work units include at least one of the following persons:
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A SOS work unit:
- Holds periodic staff meetings.
- Includes people who work closely on a regular basis.
- Has unique training needs in order to safely and successfully perform unit specific procedures.
- The determination of who is in which work unit is very flexible. Typically, a work unit would include between 5 and 25 individuals.
Some examples of possible work units:
- Plumbing superintendent and the plumbing staff
- Building maintenance supervisor and building maintenance
- Principal investigator and the lab staff
- Management Services Officer/Health Sciences Administrator and the department support staff
- Manager and their staff.
For assistance in determining your work unit, please contact your academic School Coordinator. For non-academic areas, please contact EHS at 949-824-6200 or safety@uci.edu.
The supervisor or Principal Investigator identifies the Safety Representative (SR) for the work unit. The SR has the following qualifications:
- Competency in office/administrative work activities or area of research
- Ability to communicate safety procedures
- Completion of the appropriate EHS Safety Fundamentals training:
- Safety Fundamentals, for UCI employees who do not work in a laboratory environment, or
- Laboratory Safety Fundamentals, for UCI employees who do work in a laboratory environment
- For SRs in laboratories, a background in chemical, biological, and/or radiological safety issues
Work unit Safety Representatives (SR) are responsible for the following:
- Ensure that you and your work unit complete all EHS required safety training based on the Safety Training Self-Assessment available at www.uclc.uci.edu.
- Complete the Hazard Identification Checklist appropriate for your work unit at least every year, or whenever your work environment changes significantly.
- Ensure that identified hazards are addressed and corrected.
- Conduct work unit specific training for work unit members, for new employees or whenever your work environment changes significantly.
- Develop Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as necessary.
- Maintain written records for work unit specific training.
Yes. The work unit may be asked to provide documentation of the following accomplishments:
- Completed Hazard Identification Checklist
- Records of work unit specific training
Need Assistance?
EHS Office
949-824-6200
safety@uci.edu