Safety Policies and Procedures Manual
Chapter 2: General Workplace Safety

Accident Prevention Responsibility

SPPM 2.10

For more information contact:
   Environmental Health and Safety
   509-335-3041


Accident Prevention Program

The University’s Accident Prevention Program is intended to reduce work hazards, promote the well-being of WSU personnel, and result in low occupational accident rates. The provisions of the University’s Accident Prevention Program are included in the various sections of SPPM Chapter 2.

Responsibilities

Each University staff or faculty member is responsible for following University safety regulations as documented in this and other sections of the Safety Policies And Procedures Manual, as well as memoranda from the following:

  • Environmental Health and Safety
  • Radiation Safety Office
  • Risk Management Services
  • Public Safety Department
  • University Health and Safety Committee

Specified categories of University employees are responsible for the following.

Executive Officers, Principal Administrative Officers

Executive and principal administrative officers:

  • Ensure that each reporting unit establishes a unit-specific accident prevention program. (Each unit may contact Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) for an accident prevention program template.)
  • Ensure that each reporting unit implements the University’s overall Accident Prevention Program (SPPM Chapter 2) and the unit’s own accident prevention program.

Note: See the Faculty Manual for definitions of executive and principal administrative officers.

Department Chairs, Directors, Superintendents

Department chairs, directors, and superintendents:

  • Ensure that at least one administrative representative participates in safety committee meetings, accident investigations, and facility inspections. (See SPPM 2.12 for more about safety committees.)
  • Prepare a written accident prevention program which describes how the unit intends to meet the provisions of the University’s Accident Prevention Program as set forth in SPPM Chapter 2. (EH&S provides an accident prevention program template.)
  • Route a copy of the unit’s written accident prevention program to EH&S.
  • Ensure that the workplace is free of recognized hazards that have caused or are likely to cause serious injury or death.
  • Provide appropriate safety devices and safeguards.
  • Ensure that safe methods and techniques are adopted.
  • Make every reasonable effort to protect the life and safety of employees.

Supervisors

The safety and health of employees is a primary responsibility of each supervisor. As such, supervisors:

  • Implement the unit’s accident prevention program.
  • Ensure that all applicable health and safety rules, regulations, policies, and procedures are understood and observed, e.g., use of protective equipment and safe work methods.
  • Follow up on accidents and accident trends via investigations and/or correction of hazards; establish prevention measures.
  • Actively follow the progress of injured workers. Encourage recovery and return to work as soon as medically feasible (see SPPM 2.32).
  • Prevent employees under the influence of intoxicating beverages or narcotics from remaining in the workplace.

Employees

  • Review, understand, and follow the unit’s accident prevention program.
  • Review and understand applicable safety and health rules prior to beginning job tasks.
  • Observe federal, state, and University safety and health rules and apply the principles of accident prevention to day-to-day duties.
  • Report promptly any job-related injury, illness or property damage to the supervisor, and seek medical treatment promptly.
  • Report hazards and unsafe practices to the supervisor, safety committee representative and/or Environmental Health and Safety as appropriate. (Use the Hazard Notification form. See SPPM 2.52.)
  • Are not to interfere with another employee’s use of any safety device or safeguard.
  • Are not to interfere with or modify safe methods and techniques adopted for the workplace.
  • Are not to use intoxicating beverages or narcotics in or around the workplace or enter the workplace while under the influence of intoxicating beverages or narcotics.

Note: This does not apply to persons using prescription drugs as directed by a physician, as long as such usage does not endanger the employee or other persons.

_______________________
Revisions:  Reviewed July 2008; Oct. 2002 (Rev. 46); Feb. 1987 (Rev. 3).