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Regulatory Compliance

Last updated April 26, 2007 4:53 PM

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) are some of the federal and state agencies that regulate hazardous materials, worker safety, and environmental protection. The regulations these agencies promulgate would fill several bookshelves. The detailed regulations are available online.

Local agencies that regulate the university include the building and fire inspectors that enforce National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Building Codes (BOCA).

These above agencies evaluate our programs from time to time. Consequences of non-compliance are costly and give our university adverse publicity. 

Below is a general listing of the main regulations and their associated regulatory agencies that require compliance from colleges and universities. 

Biological Safety

There are levels of control that are appropriate for safe work with microorganisms that present occupation risks ranging from no risk, to risk of life-threatening disease. Those organisms that pose risks to the public are controlled by the standards and associated agencies listed below:

  • Select Agents and Toxins (Patriot Act)
  • Infectious agents containment (Center for Disease Control)
  • Recombinant DNA research (National Institute of Health)
  • Blood borne pathogens (OSHA)

Chemical and Laboratory Safety

Evaluating the risks of handling chemicals so their hazards are minimized is the first step in the safe handling of dangerous materials. Information on their characteristics and toxicity, using proper personal protective clothing, and ensuring functioning engineering controls to lessen employee exposures are required under the Federal laws listed below:

  • Particularly Hazardous chemical safety procedures (OSHA)
  • Hazard communication (OSHA)
  • Safety equipment (hood) evaluation (OSHA)
  • Exposure control of air contaminates (OSHA)
  • Compressed gasses (OSHA)
  • Hazardous material (OSHA)
  • Methylene Chloride
  • Benzene
  • Arsenic
  • Vinyl Chloride
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)

Environmental Programs

Hazardous materials are used in many departments on a college campus. The final disposal of used or unwanted hazardous materials so as to make the smallest impact on our environment requires a great deal of attention and is a high priority on our campus. The disposal of these materials is regulated by the following agencies:

  • Asbestos management (OSHA & EPA - Clean Air Act)
  • Oil management (EPA - Clean Water Act)
  • Hazardous waste disposal: (EPA, NRC, & OSHA) Radioactive, chemical, and biological
  • Spill and emergency response. (EPA - Clean Water Act)
  • Ozone depleting compounds (EPA - Clean Air Act)
  • Sewer disposal (EPA - Clean Water Act)

Fire Safety

Fire protection is provided to this campus through a unified program that coordinates all detection, evacuation, and suppression systems. Facilities Management Services are tasked with compliance with these codes and regulations for new and existing construction. However, building occupants should never exceed the building codes requirements for hazardous or combustible materials.

  • Fire suppression equipment (NFPA)
  • Smoke detection warning systems (NFPA)
  • Evacuation plans (OSHA & NFPA)
  • Building Code compliance (BOCA)

 

Radiation Safety (NRC & PADEP)

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission grants permission to investigators for these radioactive and x-ray producing machines. This is accomplished though a license agreement. All possession of radioactive materials and x-ray producing machinery must comply with the university’s license. Exposure to all ionizing radiation must be kept as low as possible.

  • Restrictions on ordering and use of radioactive materials
  • Documenting all exposure to radioactive material with badges, called dosimetry.
  • X-ray machines

 

Work-Place Safety (OSHA)

The Occupational Safety and Health Association regulates and address a number of issues affecting employee safety and well-being in the office, laboratory, and machine shops.

  • Laboratory safety
  • Information on the hazards of chemical use and listing of inventories
  • Construction safety
  • Ladder safety
  • Scaffolding
  • Lock-out Tag-out
  • Welding
  • Asbestos
  • Confined Space
  • Fall Protection
  • Emergency preparedness & response
  • Noise Exposure

Shipping and Mailing

The United States Post Office and the Department of Transportation regulate the shipment of hazardous materials over interstate highways , rail, and by the air.

  • US post office
  • Ground transportation
  • Air transportation

This list of regulations is not complete, but an overview of the most common regulations colleges and universities need to comply with. If you have any comments or concerns about the process you’re are supervising, call Environmental Health & Safety at 8-8182.