Safety Training Policy
Unit: Environmental Health and Safety
Contact: Juliette Commodore Botoklo
Title: Lab Safety Manager
Effective Date: 5/26/2023
Revision Date: 05/26/2023
Purpose
The purpose of The University of Alabama Safety Training Program and Policy is to provide employees and students with general knowledge and information necessary for the individual to recognize risks associated with their work or course and take necessary steps to reduce the risk to the lowest possible level while performing the job or action safely. Most often, safety training courses are developed in response to federal, state, and local regulations. Additionally, safety training is often required by accreditation agencies to meet institutional needs. Failure to successfully complete or participate in training exposes the individual to risk of injury and places the University in a state of non-compliance with various safety regulations.Policy
Employees, students, contractors, and some guests are required to complete safety training to fulfill regulatory requirements and to prove understanding of proper practices. A record of safety training for each employee is required to be kept on file by the employee, supervisor and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). Individuals are most often assigned safety training when they are involved in activities that are likely to cause personal injury; in response to federal, state, and local regulations; when accreditation standards require safety training; and when it is in the best interest of the individual and institution to provide education on matters related to hazard recognition and safety practices.Evaluations must be conducted to determine the need for required safety training. Most often these evaluations are conducted by the supervisor with the support and assistance of EHS. Training topics are selected based on the types of processes, materials used, activities and the potential for hazards during the activity/course work. Due to the nature of some work elements or course responsibilities, minimum safety training curricula may have already been established by EHS. Otherwise EHS will meet with supervision to evaluate the process, work element, or course work to determine the safety training courses which must be completed. EHS will identify general safety training requirements, provide or recommend a safety training mechanism(s) or method(s), and document safety training completions. Departments and supervision are responsible for ensuring employees successfully complete their safety training. Additionally, departments and supervision are responsible for arranging or providing training related to specific workplace or course tasks (example, forklifts, cranes, aerial lifts, instrument specific, etc.).
It is important to note that safety training is implemented in a two-phased approach. The first phase includes the generalized safety training provided and documented by EHS, while the second phase of the safety training includes the job-specific safety training normally offered on the jobsite and documented by the supervisor or manager. Employees, students, contractors, and guests under the scope of this policy are responsible for completing all required safety training (including without limitation, training outlined necessary by EHS and departmental/specific safety training). Employees, students, contractors, and guests under the provisions of this policy are also to notify their supervisor if a hazard is encountered for which the individual has not been trained.
Safety training is offered in a variety of methods such as instructor-led training, computer-based training, and direct peer-to-peer training. For a list of safety training topics, to discuss safety training needs/resources, or to discuss safety training methods, contact EHS at 205-348-5905. Some safety training courses are provided as initial training only, which indicates the employee receives safety training when they begin employment at the University, when they have been provided a new assignment, when new hazards have been introduced, or when a supervisor has been made aware of a new or previously unrecognized hazard. Some safety training topics may require refresher or recurring training. Additionally, there are also various levels of training required of employees, students, contractors, and guests under the provisions of the Safety Training Policy. Ultimately it is the responsibility of the individual assigned safety training to successfully complete all safety trainings in a timely manner. Individuals acting in immediate supervisory roles are responsible for ensuring all safety training has been successfully completed.
Recordkeeping
All individuals attending required instructor-led or peer-to-peer training provided by EHS will sign an attendance roster. The information on this attendance roster, as well as any learning measurement exercises associated with the training, will be maintained by EHS. Employees or departments can obtain individual training reports by contacting EHS. All safety training offered by supervisors shall be documented regardless of the method or style, and shall include the date of the training, time of the training, the trainer’s name, the location of the training, the training content/topic, the employee’s/student’s/contractor’s/guest’s name, their related mybama username, their UA approved email address, and their signature.References
- Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
- Training Requirements in OSHA Standards, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor