Welcome

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety is an advisory and service oriented division that guides the campus community in activities that promote health, safety, environmental stewardship and campus sustainability.

We are committed to assisting faculty and staff in obtaining the necessary information, assistance, and approvals to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations governing academia and the conduct of research.

This website serves as a resource for EHS information relevant to the needs of  UAHunstville faculty and staff.   Our office offers training courses and technical consultations for issues pertaining to industrial hygiene, occupational safety and  regulatory compliance.  The OEHS is a division of the Facilities and Operations department.

UAHuntsville Environmental Health & Safety Management Structure

UAHuntsville is committed to ensuring safe practices are utilized in all activities and that a safe and healtful environment is provided to the UAHuntsville community.  Regulatory compliance is essential to the commitment.

Ensuring safe and environmentally sound work practices and conditions are provided and maintained is the responsibility of each person on campus. Colleges, departments, centers, or other units may develop internal policies and procedures to accomplish this goal, but they must be at least as stringent as federal regulations.  It is essential that all supervisory personnel understand and accept the responsibility for those under their direction and entering their designated workspaces. 

Employees, students, and visitors to the university must assume primary responsibility for their own safety.  Employees are responsible for complying with applicable environmental health and safety precautions and regulations.  Each employee must  take the necessary steps to ensure their individual safety and the safety and environmental compliance of the area in which they work.  Supervisors have the authority to enforce this in their areas.

To ensure that the safety and environmental needs of the University are met, specialized committees have been implemented and charged with providing leadership and policy guidance on matters pertaining to environmental health and safety compliance and regulatory developments.

Environmental Health and Safety Committee

The University Environmental Health and Safety Committee (EHS Committee) is appointed by the President .  This committee meets biannually and advises the President and is responsible for coordinating policy development in all aspects of maintenance of environmentally sound and occupationally safe campus environments and by doing so, ensures campus-wide compliance with applicable federal and state environmental health and safety requirements.  The University Environmental Health & Safety Committee accomplishes this through interaction with the committees listed below:

Laboratory Safety Committee

The role of the Laboratory Safety Committee is to assess and review potential hazards related to the handling, use, and management of hazardous chemicals, materials, and operations on UAH properties.  The committee accomplishes this through quarterly meetings in which safety audit results are discussed.  The committee ensures that safety deficiencies are amended in a timely manner.  Laboratory injury reports are reviewed at quarterly meetings, and recommendations for the prevention of similar accidents are discussed and approved.  Committee recommendations are submitted to the OEHS and to the  Environmental Health and Safety Committee.  The Provost appoints the members of the Laboratory Safety Committee.  The members are faculty and staff from areas of teaching and research that most often utilize hazardous materials, chemicals, and/or conduct hazardous operations.  Membership is reassigned every third year.

Radiation Safety Committee

The Radiation Safety Committee is responsible for insuring University compliance with all state and federal regulations pertaining to the use of ionizing radiation sources.  The Radiation Safety Committee meets quarterly  and as required. Reporting is through the University EHS Committee. Contact Research Administration for more information pertaining to radiation safety.