Environmental Health and Safety

Mission Statement

To protect the health, safety and well-being of the students, faculty, staff and campus visitors of WSU Vancouver, and the environmental integrity of the campus and surroundings. This is accomplished through designing appropriate policies, procedures, and training programs; monitoring and revising them as needed, staying updated as to changes in the field, and enlisting all campus community members as safety team members.

Goals

  1. Minimize health issues arising out of environmental, chemical, physical or occupational exposure
  2. Continually improve programs and information designed to safeguard WSU Vancouver community members from harm
  3. Participate as an active safety committee member to raise issues, monitor compliance and help resolve health and safety concerns
  4. Minimize hazards to persons, buildings and the environment by appropriately using, storing and disposing of potentially hazardous substances
  5. Effectively liaison with appropriate state, regional, county, city, and other authorities to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations

Stormwater Management

Public Notice (August 4, 2011)

In accordance with the requirements of the Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit, the WSU Vancouver Office of Environmental Health & Safety is soliciting comments on its written Stormwater Management Program. Interested parties may review the program below. If you would like to submit a comment on the program, you may do so by emailing van.ehs@wsu.edu.

Washington State University Vancouver's Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) strives to reduce discharges of non-point source pollutants to stormwater to the maximum extent practicable (MEP) and protect its' water quality through permit-specified Best Management Practices (BMP's).

Accident Prevention Program

Washington State University Vancouver is committed to establishing and maintaining a safe and healthful work environment free from recognized hazards. The commitment involves the development, implementation and review of an Accident Prevention Program, as part of the university's overall occupational injury and illness prevention efforts.

The purpose of this program is to prevent undesired events that could lead to injuries and illnesses by identifying, evaluating, controlling and eliminating potential hazards. The program emphasizes incorporating safety and health measures into each task so safety and health and task performance become integrated.

A safe and healthy work environment is accomplished through the cooperative efforts of management and employees in developing and implementing this Accident Prevention Program. Management and employees are responsible for following the Accident Prevention Program, WSU's Safety Policies and Procedures and memoranda from university safety and health units, which includes, Environmental Health and Safety, Radiation Safety Office, Dept. of Risk Management, Public Safety, and University Health and Safety Committees.

WSU Vancouver Accident Prevention Program (.doc)

Required employee safety training

Employee safety training is required by WAC 296-800-14020 and SPPM 2.18 Safety Training:

  • On the first day of work for new and rehired employees,
  • When job duties and responsibilities change, and
  • Every two years

New employees are required to receive a safety orientation and be informed of safety hazards and information, and emergency procedures at WSU Vancouver. The Safety Orientation Training file may be used for this purpose. It is intended to facilitate a conversation about the unique risks in each employee’s work area. The Safety Orientation Checklist is used to assist and document the orientation or retraining (circle “Retraining” on the form). Send a copy of the completed form to Human Resources, van.hr.frontdesk@wsu.edu, and keep the original in departmental files.