The University of Iowa

Campus Safety Committee

Campus Safety Committee Charter

The Campus Safety Committee (CSC) was created to foster a safe environment for faculty, staff, student employees, and volunteers in the work setting through review, assessment, continuous quality improvement and enhanced communication and promotion of occupational health and safety across campus. The Committee will assess the effectiveness of occupational safety and health programs by utilizing data gathering tools, and may conduct reviews as it develops and implements quality improvement initiatives to systematically improve and enhance safety and health University-wide.

Compliance Policy for Workplace Hazards

The Committee's responsibilities are to:

  • Review current campus workplace safety programs and their effectiveness.
  • Foster coordination and communication of and between safety programs across campus.
  • Recommend priorities and strategies to promote workplace safety on campus.
  • Assist in the development, revision, implementation and maintenance of workplace safety programs on campus.
  • Serve as an advisory body to and work in collaboration with the University’s Environmental Health & Safety Office on policies, procedures and assessment measures to promote safety and health at UI.

Members of the Campus Safety Committee are:

  • Marcus Seaton, Human Resources, co-chair
  • Haley Sinn, Environmental Health & Safety, co-chair
  • Brent Anderson, Facilities Management
  • Ben Anzelc, Visual Arts
  • Josey Bathke, Risk Management Office
  • Tony Dlouhy, Athletics Facilities
  • Open, State Hygienic Laboratory
  • Bruce McAvoy, Public Safety Department
  • Norma Miller, UIHC Safety and Security
  • Chris Newville, Division of Student Life
  • Steve Paulsen, Environmental Health & Safety
  • Caleb Recker, Recreation Services
  • Barb Schuessler, University Employee Health Clinic
  • Doug Vance, UIHC Safety and Security

The following is a partial list of items the Committee has accomplished:

  • Data – The current data management systems related to workplace safety and health were assessed. Specific University department needs were identified and a determination was made regarding what an ideal state would be, noting that issues such as accuracy, duplication of effort and integration would need to be taken into consideration. Multiple meetings were held with various groups to discuss their reporting needs. A new functionality was created and the daily integration of data into the HR system is now in effect.  Also, as a result, a report was developed called HPO/OSHA that is Org specific and is based on the access granted, with EHS having access to all Org injury/accident information. 
  • Approved new UI Safety Policy – The group also felt it was important to have a safety policy or statement of commitment, signed by the UI President.  An existing Environmental Policy was revised to include language reflecting the UI’s commitment to health and safety. The revised policy is now included in the Policy Manual, in Part V, Chapter 43, entitled Safety, Health, and Environment Policy
  • Injury Incident Investigations - A best practice post-incident injury investigation process guide, standardized form, and ICON training course to use for incident investigations have been created.  When a first report of injury (FROI) is completed, an email is sent to the supervisor and HR rep.  The email now includes a link to the incident form for the supervisor to complete. 
  • Job Safety Analysis (JSA) - JSA is a systematic procedure that breaks each job/task into key training sequences, identifies safety elements of each job/task step, and coaches the employee on how to avoid potential safety hazards.  The group created a JSA form and frequently asked questions, a SharePoint Library to store completed forms, and an ICON training course explaining how the whole JSA process works.  Please see the JSA webpage for additional information.
  • Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) - Program improvements were made to our LOTO Procedures including the following: 
    • Created an updated LOTO Procedure Template to be used across campus
    • Created an ICON training course that explains how complete a LOTO Procedure
    • Created a SharePoint page to store all completed procedures for the campus
      • Links can be added to maintenance work order systems that will pull up the specific LOTO procedure for that piece of equipment based on the equipment asset numbers