FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
Click on the area of interest, questions and answers in that subject area will appear
Asbestos
|
|
Chemical Hygiene |
|
|
|
Event Form |
Ergonomics |
|
|
Indoor Air Quality |
Injured on the Job |
|
Lab Safety |
|
|
New Employee Safety Orientation |
|
|
Unsafe Conditions |
CHAIN SAW SAFETY
Do I have to be certified to use a chain saw?
- New employees, requiring initial training, shall work under the close supervision of a designated person (usually the supervisor) until the employee demonstrates to the employer the ability to safely perform their new duties independently. The supervisor should certify the worker competency to perform duties with a chain saw.
Do I have to purchase my own personal protective equipment (PPE) for operating a chain saw?
- With the exception of footwear, the employer must provide PPE at no cost to the user.
return to top
CONFINED SPACE
What is confined space?
- A confined space is an area that meets all 3 of the following criteria:
- large enough to bodily enter
- has limited means of egress
- not designated for continuous human occupancy
What is a permit-required confined space?
- According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), a permit-required space is a confined space that also meets one of the following criteria:
- contains, or has the potential to contain, a hazardous atmosphere
- contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant
- has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section
- other recognized health or safety hazard
How do we address confined spaces at UAF?
- A large number of confined spaces have been identified at UAF and its geographically separated campuses to include boiler pits, utility vaults, utilidors, silos, sewage lift stations, etc. Only personnel trained and knowledgeable of related hazards may enter confined spaces. Prior to entry, each space must be assessed by a trained supervisor. This is used to determine specific procedures that must be followed for each entry.
Why take awareness training and not Permit Required Confined Space (PRCS) Entry training?
- Those workers not actually tasked to supervise, attend, or enter confined spaces do not require the more detailed and task-specific PRCS training. Conversely, workers who perform duties that may involve working near, or possibly encountering, confined spaces will benefit from this training as it details potential hazards and safety procedures to safely work around them.
Where can I get additional confined space information?
DRIVER TRAINING
If I have an accident while driving my personally owned vehicle on university business, will the university cover the claims costs?
- In the state of Alaska, vehicle owners are required by law to insure for liability. The University will cover liability claims arising out of motor vehicle accidents, occurring during the course and scope of employment, excess the employee's own personal insurance. Physical damage to personal vehicles is not covered by the University. To compensate employees for using their own vehicles for business activities, employees can apply for mileage reimbursement. The reimbursement amount covers the cost of insurance, maintenance, depreciation, fuel, etc.
If I have an accident in a rental car while on university travel status, will the university cover the claims costs?
- If you were authorized to rent the vehicle and the accident occurred during the course and scope of your employment, the university will cover the claims costs. However, if you were on a personal errand or were breaking the law, the university reserves the right to deny the claim or initiate actions against you to recover costs. Keep in mind that there is usually a $2,500.00 property damage deductible on claims. Is your department prepared to cover that potential? Employees and supervisors should carefully evaluate the need to rent vehicles. Often times, it is less expensive to use airport shuttles and taxis during travel. In addition, most accidents occur when employees are driving rented vehicles in unfamiliar territory. Therefore, as a matter of safety, employees should seriously consider using shuttles and taxis instead of rental vehicles whenever practical.
If I receive a traffic or parking citation while driving on university business, who pays the fine?
- You pay the fine. Receiving citations is not within the course and scope of your employment. However, if the citation is for a vehicle deficiency that was not obvious to you when the vehicle was assigned to you, the department claiming control of the vehicle is responsible for paying or mitigating the situation. In those cases, EHS&RM will provide assistance upon request (474-5413).
return to top
FALL PROTECTION
What is Fall Protection?
- Fall Protection is a system that is designed to protect personnel from the risk of falls when working at elevated heights at 6 feet or greater.
Who is responsible to provide Fall Protection to faculty, staff and/or students?
- Managers and Supervisors have primary responsibility for providing safe working conditions to include Fall Protection.
Are resources available to help me identify Fall Hazards and to determine effective Fall Protection measures?
- Yes! The office of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management can provide the following assistance:
- Fall Hazard Assessments
- Information on Fall Protection Systems
- Fall Protection Training for employees exposed to fall hazards.
Does someone working on a portable ladder need fall protection?
- Neither the ladder standard (29 CFR 1926, subpart X) nor the fall protection standard (29 CFR 1926, subpart M) requires fall protection for workers while working on portable ladders.
What is the trigger height for fall protection?
- The standard trigger height for fall protection is 6 feet above a lower surface for construction applications. General industry requires fall protection at 4 feet above a lower surface. UAF utilizes the 6 foot standard for all fall applications.
What is the difference in Fall Protection "Worker" and Fall Protection "Awareness" training?
- Worker training targets individuals required to work in hazardous situations where fall protection equipment, such as fall arrest or restraint devices are used. "Awareness" training is required when an individual might access a roof to visually inspect equipment/conditions without actually getting near an unprotected edge. So basically, awareness training allows workers to make informed decisions when working around areas with unprotected edge of 4 feet or more.
return to top
MACHINE SHOP SAFETY
What is a Machine Shop?
- A machine shop is an area where fixed or permanent machinery or equipment (woodworking, metal working, or similar) is used.
What is a guard?
- A guard is a device that provides some measure of protection from machine hazards. Guards may be fixed (isolating the user from the hazard), interlocking (shut off the machine or the power transmission system when the guard is displaced or removed), or self-adjusting.
How do we address machine shops at UAF?
What is an excavation?
- An excavation is any man-made cut, cavity, trench. or depression in the earth's surface formed by earth removal.
Do I need training to work near but not in an excavation?
- Yes. there are many hazards to persons in an excavation created by activities not performed in the excavation itself, such as operating heavy machinery near the opening or objects falling into the excavation.
Who is responsible for checking the excavation before entry?
- OSHA requires any excavation to be inspected prior to personnel entering to perform work. This inspection must be conducted by a competent person. This person must have received training to recognize excavation hazards and have the authority to correct those hazards.
Who do I contact for more information about excavations?
What is considered a portable ladder?
- "Portable ladder" means a ladder that can be readily moved or carried. This can include any step, single, straight, extension, platform, sectional, trestle, special purpose, job-made, trolley, or side rolling ladders.
Is training required for the use of portable ladders?
- Yes. Training should include: safety awareness, care & maintenance, applicable OSHA regulations, and proper use & inspection.
return to top
INSURANCE
Can the university name others as additional insured's?
No. The University is self-insured and we cannot name additional insured's on the commercial policy that we do not have. For additional information regarding insurance, contact Annette Chism at 474-6164.
return to top
RESPIRATORS
How do I know if I need a respirator?
Call 474-5413. Be prepared to answer questions such as, what material are you working with, how is it applied, and how long do you work with the material? It is also useful to have a Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) available.
When is respirator fit testing required?
Fit testing of all tight-fitting facepiece respirators is required prior to initial use, whenever a different respirator is used, and at least annually thereafter. An additional fit test is required whenever there are changes in the user's physical condition that could affect respirator fit (e.g. facial scarring, dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or an obvious change in body weight.) The employee must be fit tested with the same make, model, style, and size of respirator that will be used.
Can a respirator be used by more than one person? How often should it be cleaned and disinfected?
Disposable respirators cannot be disinfected, and are therefore assigned to only one person. Disposable respirators must be discarded if they are soiled, physically damaged, or reach the end of their service life. Replaceable filter respirators may be shared, but must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each use before being worn by a different person, using procedures in Appendix B-2 of 29 CFR 1910.134, or equally effective procedures recommended by the manufacturer.
Can I wear glasses while wearing my respirator?
Yes, but if an employee wears corrective glasses or goggles or other personal protective equipment, the employer must ensure that such equipment is worn in a manner that does not interfere with the seal of the facepiece to the face of the users. Kits are available from all respirator manufacturers that allow the mounting of prescription lenses inside full-face respirators.
Can I wear contact lenses with my respirator?
Yes, while OSHA believes that contact lenses do not pose additional hazards to the wearer, they warn that contact lenses are not eye protection devices. If eye hazards are present, appropriate eye protection must be worn instead of, or in conjunction with, contact lenses. Also, their use is not recommended in dust atmospheres while wearing a half-mask respirator.
I would like to wear a filtering facepiece device (dust mask.) Is there anything I should know?
First of all, you need to think about what you are using the device for. For instance, many people use a dust mask for painting, when most of these types of devices are only good for particulates (which will not protect you from potentially dangerous vapors in paint.) Also, you cannot be fit tested on a dust mask, so there is no way of determining the protection factor. Therefore, these masks are to be used for comfort purposes only. You should have any condition that you are unsure of evaluated by EHS&RM prior to work.
Is it okay to wear a beard with my respirator?
It is okay to have facial hair as long as it does not interfere with the respirator seal or valves. A mustache or goatee may be worn as long as all of the facial hair is contained within and does not affect the seal or respirator. Also, you should not have more than one day of growth of facial hair when wearing a respirator. Respirators that do not rely on a tight face seal, such as hoods or helmets, may be used by bearded individuals.
return to top
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES
How do I request a physical or vaccination?
Call 474-5413 to request authorization. It may be necessary to fill out a questionnaire prior to your appointment. Once we submit your authorization form, you will call and schedule an appointment with our contract health care provider.
Where are my records kept and who has access to them?
Your medical records are kept with the current health care contractor. UAF is only given the minimum amount of documentation needed to qualify you for your job. For instance, if you received a medical exam at Alaska Occupation Health to wear a respirator, they would keep the medical information you discussed with them. They will only send UAF the form that says you are qualified to wear a respirator. If there are limitations to that qualification, they will also tell us what those limitations are. If we discontinued using that health care provider, your records would be forwarded to the new contractor.
The records that are given to UAF are kept in a secured storage area by an authorized person (typically the person who approved your exam.) Facilities Services records are kept at the Personnel/Payroll office. Animal Care Workers exams are kept at the Office of Research Integrity. All other exams are kept at the EHS&RM offices.
After termination, records are kept for 30 years in a separate storage area (by the same department that kept them initially.) The records are secured and marked "Confidential."
What is HIPAA, and how does it affect me?
HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. It is designed to protect your medical records and personal health information. Also, HIPAA:
- Gives patients more control over their health information
- Sets boundaries on the use and release of health records
- Establishes appropriate safeguards that health care providers and others must achieve to protect the privacy of health information.
- Holds violators accountable, with civil and criminal penalties that can be imposed if they violate patient's privacy rights
- Strikes a balance when public responsibility supports disclosure of some forms of data - for example, to protect public health.
Information above taken from Health and Human Services web site on HIPAA.
For patients HIPAA:
- Means being able to make informed choices when seeking care and reimbursement for care based on how personal health information may be used.
- Enables patients to find out how their information may be used, and about certain disclosures of their information that may have been made.
- Generally limits the release of information to the minimum reasonably needed for the purpose of the disclosure.
- Empowers individuals to control certain uses and disclosures of their health information.
To learn more about HIPAA
return to top
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
How do I dispose of hazardous materials? (EHS&RM Policy 601 Sec. II.C.1)
- Utilize the UAF Hazardous Materials Transfer Request Forms, which are available upon request from the EHS&RM, Hazmat Section, 474-5617.
- Complete the generator designated portion of the UAF "Non-Radioactive Hazardous Materials Transfer Request Form."
- Fill out and affix required hazardous materials label on containers and promptly place in approved hazardous materials collection areas.
- Send the white and yellow copies of the three-part UAF Hazardous Material Transfer Request Form to the EHS&RM, Hazmat Section.
- Retain the pink copy of the request form for department records.
- Upon receipt of the UAF Hazardous Materials Transfer Request Form, the EHS&RM, Hazmat Section will arrange for pick-up and transfer of all the materials listed on the form to an approved hazardous materials accumulation site. The hazardous materials are removed from collection areas by EHS&RM, Hazmat Section personnel.
Where do I go for assistance to ship hazardous materials? (EHS&RM Policy 601, Sec. II.B)
- Utilize the Hazardous Materials Shipment Request Form.
- Complete the questionnaire and submit to your Lab Safety Manager. In the event that your department does not employ an individual that is trained and certified to prepare hazardous materials shipments, please fax the request form to EHS&RM at 474-5489.
- Reminder: "All persons who package, handle, offer for transport, transport or receive hazardous materials shipments must attend and complete the Hazardous Materials Transportation training sessions." (49 CFR 171.2)
Who do I contact for spills in laboratories? (EHS&RM Policy 601 Sec. IV)
- Any leaks or spills must be promptly reported to the UAF Fire Department Dispatch Center (911 or 474-7721). The caller should try to provide a detailed description of the spill, including the name and approximate quantity of the chemical(s) involved.
- Advise if the chemical is flammable or whether threat of fire or asphyxiation is imminent. The UAF Fire Department is responsible for notifying the Safety Officer/Hazardous Materials Coordinator or Hazardous Materials Response Team as deemed necessary.
- General rules and precautions include:
- Call 911 or 474-7221, communicate as much information as possible. Do not put yourself or others at risk to gain additional information if the material or associated hazards are unknown.
- Notify responsible parties.
- If the chemical nature of the spill is unknown, treat the spill as you would a highly toxic hazardous material, take all safety precautions and evacuate the area.
- After reporting the spill, complete the UAF Spill Reporting Form, provide a copy to your supervisor and fax copies to the UAF Dispatch Center (474-7377) and UAF EHS&RM (474-5489).
Who do I contact to pick up chemical waste?
- Contact EHS&RM, Hazmat Section at: fysafety@uaf.edu, or by phone at 474-5487, or by fax at 474-5489.
How do I dispose of non-infectious biological waste?
- Contact EHS&RM, Hazmat Section at: fysafety@uaf.edu, or by phone at 474-5487, or by fax at 474-5489.
return to top
Page last update on
10/15/07
by A.Chism