Workplace Safety

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

Equipment and Tool Safety

Providing resources and guidance for the safe use of tools by UC Berkeley personnel.

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

Changes to Notification of Potential Workplace Exposure to COVID-19

July 10, 2023
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety

UC Berkeley faculty and staff can now stay updated on potential COVID-19 exposures by accessing the UC Berkeley Potential Worksite Exposure Information Website. This will replace the previous practice of sending a COVID-19 potential workplace exposure CALmessage to all employees within one business day of a potential COVID-19 exposure in campus buildings.

Thank you for your continued commitment to the...

Working in Hot Weather: Reminders for Employees & Supervisors

June 29, 2023
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety

It’s summertime and warmer temperatures are returning. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the region starting Friday. Heat can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. It is important to take precautions and to be prepared for high heat conditions. Please share this information with supervisors and employees in your department that work outdoors or may be exposed to high temperatures indoors during their workday.

Outdoor work when temperature exceeds 80°F

Workers performing job duties outside...

Injury & Illness Reporting (IIR) Tool replaces the Employer’s First Report (EFR) system

May 31, 2023
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety

Effective today, May 31, 2023, UC Berkeley Managers and Supervisors will now report workplace-related injuries or illnesses online with RSS Injury and Illness Reporting. RSS Injury & Illness Reporting is an online solution that offers a simplified way to submit and monitor employee injury claims to help manage risks and reduce the likelihood of repeated injuries in the workplace. Injury & Illness Reporting (IIR) will replace our current Employer’s First Report (EFR) system.

There is also a new injury investigation module associated with the injury illness reporting system....

Work Related Injuries and Illnesses

This section provides resources and guidance about what you should do when somebody gets hurt at work.

Responding to an injury For serious or life threatening injuries:
On campus, call UCPD directly at 911 or (510) 642-3333 from a cell phone and then direct emergency responders to the scene. For small injuries that need immediate care:
During regular work hours: direct or take the injured person the Urgent Care Clinic at the...

Annual Shop Safety Self-inspections

April 11, 2023
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety

The annual shop safety self-inspection period is here! Each year, shops are asked to conduct self inspections to supplement EH&S inspections in order to promote safety awareness and safe work practices.

Complete a self-inspection online by Monday, May 1, 2023

Visit the EH...

Annual Materials Handling and Storage Self-inspections

April 5, 2023
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety

The annual self-inspection program for shipping/receiving and storage facilities is here! Each year, these facilities are asked to conduct self-inspections to supplement inspections conducted by EH&S in order to facilitate safety awareness and safe work practices.

Complete a self-inspection online by Wednesday, April 26, 2023.

...

Identifying Hazards and Applying Controls

Integrated Safety Management

Hazards are identified, evaluated and corrected as a routine part of planning work and when warranted, through inspections. The integrated safety management (ISM) approach can improve safety in almost every work situation. The following steps can be thought of as a continuous cycle or loop:

Shop Safety Inspection Program

Overview

EH&S safety specialists inspect campus shops annually. These inspections are designed to improve shop safety by identifying and correcting hazardous conditions, increasing awareness of safety concerns and promoting regulatory compliance. EH&S-led inspections will be conducted in October and November.

EH&S can also provide shops with inspection assistance or consultation on a full range of issues throughout the year. Contact EH&S at 510-642-3073 with any questions or concerns about the Shop Safety Inspection Program.

Responsibilities

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