8.0.1 Workplace Health & Safety Policies & Responsibilities

The responsibility for safety at Princeton University is discussed in the Roles and Responsibilities section of this policy. Both supervisors and workers play an important role in ensuring a safe and healthful workplace at Princeton University.

 

Individuals with specific safety questions or concerns are encouraged to raise them with their immediate supervisor or their department safety manager . Dealing with safety issues through the supervisory chain of command is the preferred method. However, when this approach is unsuccessful in resolving a safety issue, concerns may be raised by direct contact with an EHS staff member.

 

EHS staff will, on request, keep the name of a complainant confidential. However, in some instances, this constraint may prevent thorough investigation and resolution of a complaint.

 

Federal labor law prevents an employer from discriminating against an employee for engaging in certain "protected activities," such as filing of safety complaints with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Although employees have the legal right to file an OSHA complaint, they are encouraged to first exhaust all internal mechanisms for addressing safety issues, including supervisory staff, departmental safety managers and safety committees, EHS, or the University Environmental, Safety and Risk Management Committee (ESRM).

 

When serious safety concerns arise after normal University business hours, the Department of Public Safety should be contacted at 258-1000.

Princeton University, in accordance with the workers’ compensation law of the State of New Jersey, provides for employees who experience a work-related injury, illness, disability or death. The details of Princeton University’s Workers’ Compensation Policy, including notification and reporting requirements, are provided in the policy.

There are a large number of health and safety guides and training manuals and documents available from EHS. See the EHS website for a comprehensive listing. The guides and manuals with greatest applicability to the general University community are described below.

The Princeton University Health and Safety Guide is designed to:

The Princeton University Laboratory Safety Manual is a collection of resources for individuals working in research and teaching laboratories. It includes safe work procedures, chemical safety information, laboratory equipment safety information and links to other resources, both from Princeton and other organizations. It is a Web-based living document, with new items being added or revisions taking place at any time.

 

This manual supplements the Chemical Hygiene Plan developed by each University science and engineering department. The Chemical Hygiene Plan describes how the individual department manages laboratory safety. This manual also supplements, but does not replace, Laboratory Safety Training required for all laboratory workers.

The EHS staff works in a coordinated effort to address health and safety issues in four broad areas: workplace safety, chemical safety, radiation safety, and biosafety and sanitation.

(609) 258-5294

The Office of Employee Health provides services to promote, protect and restore the employee’s health within the context of a safe and healthy work environment. Contact employee health for matters related to work-related injuries and illnesses.

(609) 258-5035

The Department of Public Safety works around the clock to maintain a safe atmosphere and to serve as a resource for students, faculty, staff and visitors.

(609) 258-1000

The Office of Risk Management (ORM) is responsible for the management of the University's Property and Casualty Insurance Program and the financial support of various employee benefit plans and the Student Health Plan.

 

Contact ORM for questions regarding worker's compensation and long term disability claims.

(609) 258-3046