Policy
Occupational safety focuses on the prevention of work-related accidents such as falls, cuts, back injuries, electrical shock, etc. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the federal agency charged with protecting workers through enforcement of safety and health regulations. Within the State of Illinois however, the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) is the agency responsible for enforcing occupational safety and health regulations pertaining to state and municipal institutions.
Illinois State University, as a state institution, is under state jurisdiction and, like other employers, maintains responsibility for the occupational safety and health of workers through the hierarchy of administrative heads. Each individual department head (as an official representative of the President) is charged with, and is held accountable for, the occupational safety and health of all employees in his or her department.
In order to assist departments with this task, the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) was established in an advisory capacity and is designated to assist departments in providing a safe and healthful working environment, while at the same time attaining compliance with IDOL regulations.
As a part of the OEHS, the Occupational Safety & Health Section is comprised of a comprehensive grouping of occupational safety programs. Some of these programs include:
- Hazard Communication (Right to Know)
- Lock-out/Tag-out (LOTO)
- Hearing Conservation
For further information on these programs or programs not otherwise included, please contact the OEHS or visit their Web site for specific information.