Occupational Safety

The Occupational Safety team works to prevent work-related incidents and injuries through program development and oversight and providing consultation and guidance in identifying and controlling hazards. The Occupational Safety team also serves the Emory community by:

  • Conducting risk assessments
  • Conducting investigations of employee incidents and near misses
  • Providing input into the design phase of renovation and new construction projects.

In addition to the programs on the menu below, the following guidance documents can be found under the Forms/Documents section on the EHSO main page.

  • Color Coding and Accident Prevention Signs and Tags
  • Compressed Air and Compressed Air Equipment
  • Compressed Gas Cylinders
  • Hand and Portable Power Tools
  • Overhead and Gantry Cranes
  • Sling Safety
  • Visual Arts Safety Manual
  • Welding, Cutting, Brazing Program

Each year, hundreds of people are injured or die as a result of entering permit-required confined spaces which contain unknown hazards. Most of these deaths could have been prevented if the entrants had been trained to recognize confined space hazards and had followed a plan for entry into confined spaces. The Confined Space Program provides requirements for Emory employees on safely working in confined spaces, such as tanks, manholes, and vaults.

Emory personnel and students are not permitted to enter confined spaces without proper training and authorization. Confined space entrants, attendants, and supervisors are required to receive initial training and refresher training annually.

Guidance

Electricity is all around us. It powers most of our technology, which makes it easy to overlook the potential electrical hazards present in the workplace. The purpose of the Electrical Safety program is to establish minimum standards to protect employees against electrical shock, burns, electrocution, and other electrical safety hazards as well as ensure compliance with regulatory requirements applicable to electrical systems. This program does not cover all requirements related to installation methods and procedures specifically learned through an apprenticeship program.

Guidance

Falls are one of the most common causes of serious work-related injuries. The purpose of the Walking Working Surfaces – Fall Protection Program is to establish requirements for employees working at elevations of 4ft and guarding floor and wall openings. Where employees are required to work within 6 feet of an unprotected edge, personal fall arrest systems must be utilized. Employees working from height are required to receive initial training and refresher training every three (3) years.

Guidance

Ladders are frequently used to perform a variety of tasks. Anyone who is expected to use a ladder must be able to recognize potential hazards and appropriately select, set up and use ladders. The Ladder Safety Program is applicable to all Emory employees who may be expected to use any ladder (including portable ladders, extension ladders and fixed or permanent ladders) during the course of their work. Emory requires all ladders to be inspected before each use and by the owner department's competent person according to the schedule stated in the Ladder Safety Program. All competent person inspections must be documented either on a ladder inspection tag affixed to the ladder or be maintained electronically. Employees who use ladders are required to receive initial training and refresher training once every three (3) years.

Guidance

Employees servicing or maintaining equipment are at risk of serious injury if the hazardous energy sources are not properly identified and controlled before working on the equipment. The Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Program provides guidance in the protecting employees from this hazard. The LOTO Program applies to all employees performing servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected energization or startup of the machines/equipment or the release of stored energy could cause injury to the employees. Lockout/Tagout training is required once every three (3) years.

Guidance

Employee exposure to unguarded or inadequately guarded machines is prevalent in many workplaces. Consequently, workers who operate and maintain machinery suffer from amputations, lacerations, crushing injuries, and abrasions each per year. The Machinery and Machine Guarding Program establishes minimum safety requirements for machinery and machine guarding at Emory and is intended to assure that equipment or machines are operated safely and meet the machine guarding requirements established by OSHA. Machine Guarding training is required once every three (3) years.

Guidance

A powered industrial truck is defined as any mobile power-propelled truck used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack or tier materials. Examples include forklifts, pallet jacks, low lift jacks, etc. Earth moving and road hauling trucks, golf carts, bucket trucks, and licensed automobiles are not included in the definition.

Any employee operating a powered industrial truck at Emory must first receive operator safety training and an evaluation of their operating skills.  Training must be repeated at least every three years.  Please contact EHSO if your department intends to purchase or rent a new powered industrial truck, as additional training may be needed.

Anyone operating a Powered Industrial Truck must be over the age of 18 and properly trained and certified to do so.

Guidance