Workplace Safety

The campuswide Workplace Safety Program serves as the university’s central program for creating a safe and healthful work environment. 

Respiratory Protection

EH&S evaluates workplaces for possible airborne hazards and recommends ways to reduce these hazards when found. When appropriate, EH&S will fit campus workers with respirators and provide annual training on their proper use. This program is administered in cooperation with University Health Services. UHS evaluates a person's ability to safely wear a respirator prior to a respirator being issued. For more information contact EH&S at ehs@berkeley.edu.

Do not...

Rooftop Safety Plan

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2026

This plan is a source of information for workers that will perform invasive or non-invasive work on roofs of UC Berkeley buildings. These are general guidelines to help you work safely in and around vent systems on the roof.

Heat Illness Prevention and Response

Heat Illness Prevention and Response

Work in hot environments can have direct effects on human health including, heat exhaustion, heat stoke, and can lead to reduced labor productivityAll university employees who work outdoors or in environments with elevated indoor temperatures may be at risk for heat illness– the group of medical conditions caused by the body’s inability to cope with heat.

Heat exposure can...

Forklift and Industrial Work Truck Safety

This program guides all aspects of the Forklift and Industrial Lift Truck Safety Program for the University of California at Berkeley. As mandated by Cal/OSHA and other regulatory compliance codes, this program guides compliance with, and application of, all legal requirements for UC Berkeley departments, field stations and work / research operations that use these types of equipment.

Departments that own, lease, rent and/or otherwise operate forklifts and other types of industrial lift trucks must:

Select and then purchase, lease or rent appropriate equipment for...

2026 Non-Structural Earthquake Seismic Bracing, Q-Brace, Safety Program

2026

The Non-Structural Earthquake Seismic Bracing, Q-Brace, Safety Program provides guidance on the seismic safety requirements for furnishings and equipment in buildings across the University of California, Berkeley.

Non-Structural Seismic Bracing

Overview

When an earthquake shakes unrestrained objects, they can slide, swing, overturn, or strike people or other objects. File cabinets, freestanding bookshelves, office equipment, and items stored on shelves or racks can all cause serious injuries by their movement during an earthquake.

Most injuries that occur during earthquakes are caused by the movement of the building’s contents, not by the movement of the building itself.

The...

Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Program

2026

According to the American Heart Association’s 2022 update on cardiovascular health, instances of out-of-hospital Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) continue to rise in the United States coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and communities of color. The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) strives to increase survivability for those suffering from SCA by spreading awareness and broadening public access to Automated External Defibrillator (AED) devices on campus. These devices are intended to provide a lifesaving bridge during the...

Needles and Sharps: Safe Handling, Injury Response and Disposal

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2020

A sharp is any device with corners, edges, or projections capable of cutting or piercing. Sharps include,
but are not limited to, the following:

Needles Needles with syringes and attached tubing Blades (razors, scalpels and X-acto®) Glass pasteur pipettes Broken glass, glass slides, and coverslips

Emergency Ventilation Shut-Off Controls

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2008

Fact Sheet: Emergency Ventilation Shut-Off Controls

Accident Investigation

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2020

Supervisors, Department Safety Coordinators (DSCs), and safety committee members: Do you know how to conduct a thorough investigation after an accident occurs in your department? Are you aware that serious injuries require the immediate notification of the Office of Environment, Health & Safety
(EH&S)? Investigation of accidents is not only required by law, it can also help prevent future accidents. Follow the steps outlined below to comply with the law, improve procedures and conditions, and create a safer work environment.