Workplace Safety

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

Supervisors & Managers

This section provides resources and guidance for supervisors and managers.

Hot Work Permit

Anyone performing temporary hot work is required to have a valid Hot Work Permit for each day of work.

HEPA Air Cleaner

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2022

Air cleaning is one of several methods of reducing indoor air pollutants. Many factors need to be considered in determining whether the use of an air cleaner is appropriate in a particular setting. Review the following HEPA Air Cleaner Fact Sheet.

EH&S is available to provide technical information and guidance; however, the ultimate decision to purchase and use...

Extension Cords and Surge Protectors

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2004

Extension Cords and Surge Protectors Fact Sheet

Extension cords are very useful in many applications on campus and in the field, but they do have limitations. Misused and damaged extension cords (see photos 1-6 below) have caused painful injuries, fires, equipment damage, and regulatory citations and penalties. Take the time to choose the proper extension cord for the equipment being used.

Indoor Air Quality

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2013

Air Quality Odors Affecting Your Workplace - Fact Sheet

Mold Awareness and Guidance Program

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2024

Mold can be found everywhere, and can be detected both indoors and outdoors, year-round. Persistent warm and humid conditions promote mold growth. Outdoor mold can be found in shady, damp areas or places where leaves or other vegetation is decomposing. Indoor mold can be found where humidity levels are high (like basements and showers) and where moist organic material accumulates (e.g. dirty carpets). Spoiled, rotten food is also a typical source of mold growth. It is common for mold to grow on materials like fiberboard, gypsum board, and paper.

Exposure to damp and moldy...

Lock-Out Tag-Out Energy Isolation (LOTO)

2022

The UC Berkeley Lockout/Tagout Energy Isolation (LOTO) Program requires campus, field station personnel, and contractors to implement safe procedures when working on UCB equipment or utility systems with one or more energy sources. Because of the potential for injury from energy sources that operate equipment/utility systems, this program guides safe installation, set-up, adjustment, and maintenance work on equipment by isolating energy sources prior to commencing work. The program is required by Cal/OSHA safety regulations.

Energy Isolation Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Program

Overview

The UC Berkeley Lockout/Tagout Energy Isolation (LOTO) Program requires campus, field station personnel, and contractors to implement safe procedures when working on UCB equipment or utility systems with one or more energy sources. Because of the potential for injury from energy sources that operate equipment/utility systems, this program guides safe installation, set-up, adjustment, and maintenance work on equipment by isolating energy sources prior to commencing work. The program is...

Communication

Open two-way communication between management and employees on health and safety issues is essential to an injury-free, productive workplace. A variety of established communication systems to communicate safety issues to everyone are available:

General Self-Assessment Form

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2022

This self-assessment form should be used to document safety assessments in large office suites, areas with multiple cubicles, copy rooms, coffee rooms, and other common work areas. It should not be used for individual offices, nor for non-administrative areas such as shops, laboratories, and areas containing any hazardous materials.