Rutgers has developed an Environmental Health and Safety Management System utilizing a multidisciplinary group of University faculty and staff.
Rutgers is committed to maintaining an Environmental Health And Safety Management System (EHSMS), which provides a framework for the University’s EHS program. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is promoting the development of management systems for colleges and universities as a systematic approach to ensure compliance and continuous improvement. The EPA pursued this approach after many higher education compliance inspections resulted in enforcement actions with large fines. These types of management systems have proven to be valuable for businesses and are now being developed at many colleges and universities.
The overall goal of this system is to integrate our EHS program into all University operations, with the following benefits:
- Reducing our environmental impacts
- Enhancing safety
- Improving compliance
The President has established (1) a council to advise the office on environmental, health and safety (EHS) issues and, (2) technical committees to advise and set policy for specific.
- Organizational Chart
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University President
Presidents Advisory Council on Health, Safety & Environmental Affairs
Biological Safety Committee
Radiation Safety Committee
Laboratory Safety Committee
Occupational Safety Committee
Environmental Affairs Committee
Sustainability Committee
- President’s Advisory Council on Health, Safety, and Environmental Affairs
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The President will designate members to the council which will include the chairperson from each of the technical committees. The council is charged with the following:
- Advise the President, senior administration, and others concerned on the state of the health, safety and environmental program;
- Submit an annual report on health, safety and environmental affairs; Promote and communicate health, safety and environmental stewardship throughout the University; Provide guidance and assistance to REHS and the technical committees as requested; and
- Assist in recommending environmental, health and safety goals for the University, including identifying resources necessary for obtaining such goals
- University Technical Committees
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The University Technical Committees will serve to satisfy regulatory requirements, recommend policies and procedures, and offer advice on health, safety and environmental issues. Each of these committees has been charged with the following:
- Recommend and adopt policies and procedures for their area of expertise;
- Audit and report on the quality of the programs under their purview;
- Communicate environmental, health and safety issues to the University community;
- Recommend environmental, health and safety goals and appropriate measures for the University;
- Advise the administration, the Director of REHS, and others concerned on the technical aspects of environmental, health and safety issues assigned to their committee; and
- Review and approve research activities and protocols as required by regulatory or institutional mandates.
Committee membership will include, whenever possible, members of the faculty and administrative staff representing all campuses at the University. The Committees shall meet as often as necessary to fulfill their obligations and carry out their charges.
The Department of Rutgers Environmental Health and Safety (REHS) is functionally part of the committee structure through its responsibility for implementing environmental, health and safety policy. It is also part of the structure through its participation in committee deliberations. The Director of REHS is the permanent secretary to the President’s Advisory Council for Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs; and he/she, or designated REHS staff member, is the secretary to each of the University Technical Committees. This permits continual communication between the council, committees and REHS on all environmental, health and safety matters.
REHS will continue developing the University’s EHSMS with support from these committees. We appreciate everyone’s support as we move forward with our EHSMS.
- Contact
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Please direct all questions to Maureen Modica or call (848) 445-2550
