Occupational Safety

The Occupational Safety program at VCU is designed to support employees’ and students' right to work in an environment free of recognized hazards that may cause illness or injury. We accomplish this by promoting Safety initiatives that support research, facilitate learning and encourage collaboration and compliance.

Hazard Communication

Personal Protective Equipment

Workplace Hazards

Building Inspections

Each university building is inspected at least once per calendar year. The Occupational Safety team enters all areas of a building to check for compliance with applicable codes and regulations, as applicable. Some codes referenced include Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) regulations, Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code, and NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code.

Building Inspections

Emergency Action Program (EAP)

The program aids departments and facilities in creating an EAP for their specific locations in case of an emergency and was created in accordance with OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910.38(a).

EAP

Emergency Eye Wash
Safety Showers

The program ensures that safety eyewashes and showers supply clean, potable water and are in proper working order and defines guidelines for inspection, testing and maintenance of emergency eyewash and shower equipment.

Emergency Eye Wash Safety Showers

Weekly Eyewash Log

Confined Space

The program protects employees who work in and around confined and permit-required confined spaces through effective implementation, recordkeeping, and sharing information with employees and contractors about documented locations and hazards in each permit space in compliance with OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.146. 

Confined Space Program

Permit Space Reclassification Form

Control of Hazardous Energy

The program (lockout/tagout) prevents injury to employees caused by the unexpected energization, start-up or release of stored energy. Sources of hazardous energy include radiation, electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal or other energy. It establishes the minimum performance requirements found in the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.147, "The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)."

Control Of Hazardous Energy

Absentee Lock/Tag Removal Form

Machine Guarding Program  

The program is designed to protect VCU employees from the hazards involved in moving machinery in a maintenance shop and production environment. Any part, function or process that may cause injury must be properly safeguarded. This program was developed to ensure compliance with OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910 212, 213, 215, 217, 219 and 243.

Machine Guarding Program

Electrical Safety Program

The program outlines the practices and procedures that protect VCU and contract employees from the hazards of electrical shock associated with live electrical equipment in accordance with OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910.303 and 331-335.

Electrical Safety Program

Hand & Power Tool Program 

The program ensures the safety of employees working with hand and portable powered tools and other hand-held equipment in accordance with the OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910.241-244.

Hand & Power Tool Program

Powered Industrial Trucks (PIT)

The program is designed to protect VCU employees who operate or maintain PITs, which can only be operated by trained and authorized operators, in compliance with OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.178. 

Powered Industrial Trucks

Ladder Safety

The program safeguards employees that work with portable ladders and is intended to prevent ladder-related incidents and promote compliance with the OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910.23(c) and 1910.30.

Ladder Safety

Asbestos

The program is overseen by VCU Facilities Management with SRM providing the following support services upon request.

Environmental Health and Safety

Employee Health Services

  • Employee exposure treatment, evaluation, referrals and health counseling
  • Medical surveillance exam if an employee will be involved in asbestos-related work, including referrals for chest x-rays
  • Workers' compensation injury claim evaluation

Contact Us

For assistance accessing information related to our workplace safety programs, please contact

Occupational Health & Safety Staff