Safety Committee Information

Background Information

UWM has established several safety and health committees. The purpose of these committees is to:

  • Foster and develop interest among employees and students regarding a wide range of ongoing safety initiatives designed to eliminate the potential for occupational health and injury exposures.
  • Convince employees and students, through awareness and training, that they are largely responsible for prevention of accidents and that their cooperation is needed to make the health and safety program successful.
  • Make health and safety activities an integral part of UWM's operating procedures rather than a separate function.
  • Provide an opportunity for open discussion of accidents/incidents and problems and a forum for discussion of potential solutions and preventative measures.
  • Expand the lines of communication between employees, administrators and students in an effort to keep each group fully informed regarding health and safety matters.

Physical Plant Services-Shops Safety Committee

Established: August 1994

Major Accomplishments:

  • Aerial Lift Training
  • Lockout/Tagout training for all electricians, plumbers, steamfitters and maintenance mechanics.
  • Confined space and emergency retrieval training.
  • Purchase of equipment for fall protection, lockout/tagout and confined space safety.
  • Steam pit ladder replacement program.
  • Extension cord safety program and equipment purchase.
  • Elimination of numerous unsafe conditions such as fall hazards, electrical hazards and asbestos hazards.

Current Initiatives:

The PPS Safety Committee shall continue its mission to provide a safe working environment for our employees, students, faculty, and the general public whom we serve. Current initiatives include:

  • Posting fall hazard warning signs and developing a fall protection program.
  • Confined space program review.
  • Respiratory Protection Program: On-going program including employee physicals and fit-testing. Fit-testing now being done using Portacount equipment.
  • Steam pit asbestos/wall repair project.

2006 Committee Members:

Chemistry Department Safety Committee

Established: 1992

Major Accomplishments:

"Chemistry Department Laboratories Cleanout." On January 18-19, 2000 the Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management assisted the Chemistry Department in disposal of outdated and unused laboratory chemicals. Over 40 carts of waste chemicals from various laboratories were delivered to the staging area, where the chemicals were sorted into appropriate categories for neutralization and/or proper disposal.

Current Initiatives:

To foster safe laboratory habits among staff and students, to investigate any accidents ocurring within the building with the goal of eliminating unsafe practices, to educate incoming students, in the safe laboratory techniques used in this department and nationwide. In addition, the committee is involved in such things as lab safety inventories.

Engineering and Applied Science Safety Committee

Established: 2000

Mission

The mission of the CEAS Safety Committee shall be to make the College a safe place to work and learn by focusing on the prevention of unsafe conditions. To accomplish this, the Safety Committee will:

  1. Conduct regular inspections of areas within the College that could possibly contain hazards, and
  2. Implement appropriate mechanisms to correct the hazards.

Major Accomplishments

  • Posting of Laboratory Emergency Signs
  • Laboratory Inspections and Cleanout

Current Initiatives

  • Complete paperwork for August lab audit
  • Undertaking a mercury survey and cleanout
  • Continuing to emphasize getting rid of surplus and hazardous items

Updated November 15, 2006 by SAK