Environmental, Health and Safety
The Environmental, Health and Safety Department supports the University of Houston-Clear Lake in its mission of teaching, research, and community service. Our mission and role is to protect life, property, and the environment by creating a healthy, safe and responsible atmosphere for teaching, learning, research, and employment.
EHS identifies potential safety hazards and recommends corrective action to responsible departments, trains and educates, to eliminate unnecessary risks and help ensure the safety of the university community. We also act as a liaison with regulatory agencies to ensure compliance. In this capacity, we provide internal expert solutions to issues to assure that governing requirements and best practice standards are met.
About Us
Our Vision
Continually emphasize safety and environmental stewardship in a manner that promotes leadership from all students, faculty, and staff; empowering a sustaining employee and student-centered approach to eliminating or minimizing risks to a safe level, and permanently infusing safety into the organization culture.
Objectives:
- Coordinate a comprehensive and continuing accident prevention and health awareness effort that aligns with the university’s strategic vision.
- Demonstrate that safety is a core value of the institution through leadership articulation of importance, open and ongoing public dialogue, and recognition of leading by example.
- Deliver effective, comprehensive training and education to inform and raise awareness of hazards, legal obligations, and recognized standards to support the safety culture and management of this learning institution.
- Engage stakeholders in creating and promoting collaborative campus environmental, health and safety policies, plans, and procedures that comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, codes, and standards. Incorporate accepted best practices and corrective action solutions.
- Assist in identifying and assessing hazards on campus through audits, inspection, and testing.
- Continually build and promote a positive campus safety culture.
- Become a safety culture leader among peer institutions.
- Promote assessment, sharing lessons-learned and continuous improvement, respecting contributions from all levels of institutions of higher education.
Values:
Healthy and Humble – unassuming, conducive communication
Accommodating – helpful and adaptable
Widely known – visible in the organization
Knowledgeable – of hazards, requirements and best practices
Solution minded – ideas for corrective action, to protect people and the environment
Environmental Health & Safety Assistant Software
The Environmental Health & Safety Assistant (EHSA) is an extensive database tool to help manage Environmental Health & Safety requirements such as training, inspections, inventories, permits, provide access to chemical Safety Data Sheets (SDS) search hub, and more. Each user is granted access to the software by EHS, with the same campus computer credentials for login access, using the link below.
Emergency Management
Emergency Management involves preparing for natural and man-made emergencies, coordination and planning with university and community resources and agencies, performing drills and training, and business continuity.
Environmental Protection
Environmental protection is what we do by complying with applicable federal, state, and local rules and regulations to minimize and properly manage wastes, put controls in place to prevent spills, stormwater contamination, and air emissions.
Fire Safety
Planning for fires is no easy task. Buildings must be designed and maintained to strict fire codes so that people can exit safely in the event of a fire. This includes building materials that do not spread fire or smoke rapidly, water sprinklers and smoke alarms throughout the building, exit signs that light up in the event of a power outage, fire extinguishers, and testing and maintenance of all components at specified frequencies.
Food Permits
Whenever food is sold or distributed on campus, public food safety rules apply, and a temporary food permit must be obtained. Go to the Food Permits section of the Forms Page for more information, including Food Permits procedures, training links, and to apply online.
Incident Reporting
Incidents on campus, such as personal injury or property damage, must be reported in a timely manner (within 24 hours) to ensure appropriate evaluation and follow-up.
Go to the forms page to access these and for further information.
Laboratory Safety
There are a variety of work types in a laboratory setting, for both teaching and research. Being able to work safely is a necessity in any environment, and UHCL strives to keep students, faculty and staff safe in the labs with chemicals, biological materials, and laboratory equipment. Knowledge and preparation are key factors. Click below to go to the lab safety page for more information.
Occupational & General Safety
The safety and well-being of faculty, staff, and students is an utmost priority at UHCL. Here you can find information on general, occupational safety, construction safety, hazard communication, food safety, and more.
Incident Report Forms, Chemical Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and Permit Application Forms are also located within EHS web pages.
Industrial Hygiene & Occupational Health
If you have a question or concern regarding Indoor Air Quality, Asbestos or Mold on campus, please visit this page for more information.
Permit Applications
Permits are required for certain activities on campus, such as temporary food distribution, special events that utilize open flames, Hot Work activities that involve burning or welding, or tools that generate sparks.
Go to the forms page to access these and for further information.
Risk Management & Insurance
Risk Management includes identification of risks and liabilities to ensure compliance with applicable requirements, standards and best practices.
The insurance function of Risk Management is contained within Procurement and Payables' Contracts and Administration.