Environmental Health & Safety

Plans and Manuals

Plans and manuals outline how regulatory requirements are met and what state requirements exist for participation in certain programs. They also describe in detail the services provided by EHS as well as other applicable university departments.

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Accident and Incident Plan

The Accident and Incident Plan is intended for use by all parties working at, attending, or visiting George Mason University. This Plan provides guidance on how to report and respond to an incident or accident that occurs on or to university property or to university employees while conducting university business. All regulations and guidelines related to Environmental Health and Safety, Risk Management, University Police, and Workers’ Compensation have been used as guidance in developing this document.

Art Safety Manual

The purpose of this manual is to provide guidance to personnel who are involved in art programs at George Mason University. The manual offers technical support for regulatory compliance as well as information on required training and periodic inspections of health and safety practices. The Art Safety Manual can also be used as a training tool for students. This manual is to be used in conjunction with other guidance provided by the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHS) such as the Fire Safety Plan, Electrical Safety Guide, and Hand and Power Tool Safety Guide, as well as the Center for Visual and Performing Arts and departmental-specific guidance and procedures.

Biological Safety Manual

This manual was developed to provide guidance on the safe handling of biological materials, safety practices to minimize the risk of exposure to potentially infectious materials, and procedures for
proper acquisition, use, storage, transfer, and disposal of biological materials. For laboratories operating at Biosafety Level (BSL) 3, an additional laboratory-specific operations and procedures manual is provided (e.g., Biomedical Research Laboratory Biosafety Plan). The recommendations and requirements provided in this manual are based on guidance from regulatory agencies and current professional standards. The Biological Safety Manual is intended for use with the Laboratory Safety Manual, which provides guidance relevant to all instructional and research laboratories at George Mason University. This manual supersedes all other documents regarding biological safety at George Mason University.

Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan

This plan complies with 29 Code of Federal Regulations part 1910.1030, Bloodborne Pathogens and is part of George Mason University’s Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Program (ECP). The ECP applies to George Mason University personnel whose job duties include the risk of reasonably anticipated occupational exposure to human blood and/or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) and details universal precautions, training, safety controls, vaccination procedures, and recordkeeping requirements.

Confined Space Plan

This Confined Space Plan defines the structure of George Mason University’s confined space Plan and describes specific procedures that must be followed to satisfy federal and Virginia Commonwealth safety requirements, and protect employees from injury. Components of the program include identification and inventory of permit required confined spaces, training, confined space entry permits, provisions for notifying contractors, air sampling, and emergency response procedure.

Fall Protection Plan

The fall protection procedures outlined in this document are designed to prevent fall hazards from elevated work locations. George Mason University’s Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHS) provides or will make available this plan to all employees, supervisors, and contractors who conduct activities subject to fall protection regulations. This plan prescribes the duty to provide fall protection, sets criteria and practices for fall protection, and outlines required training and recordkeeping.

Hazard Communication Plan

This plan describes specific policies and procedures designed to satisfy federal and state safety requirements. The components and information required and contained within this document are consistent with the provisions of the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Office (VOSH), the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), and the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Those key components include a written hazard communication program, hazard classification, safety data sheets (SDS), employee information and training, container labeling, and other forms of warning.

Laboratory Safety Manual

George Mason University is required under U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 29, part 1910.1450 to provide a chemical hygiene plan that establishes minimum safety standards for working with chemicals in the laboratory and outlines procedures that minimize both the risk of chemical exposure to laboratory personnel and the risk of chemical releases into the environment. This Laboratory Safety Manual serves as the chemical hygiene plan for George Mason University and provides guidance on the safe handling of hazardous substances, general laboratory safety practices, and procedures for proper acquisition, use, storage, transfer, and disposal of chemicals.

Lockout / Tagout Plan

This document defines the structure of George Mason University’s Lockout/Tagout Program and describes specific procedures and activities designed to satisfy federal and Commonwealth of Virginia safety requirements and protect employees from injury. The components and information required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration lockout/tagout standards and additional Virginia Occupational Safety and Health lockout/tagout regulations are contained within this document and include a written plan, control procedures, periodic inspections, and training.

Medical Surveillance Plan

George Mason University is required by US Code of Federal Regulation 29 and Virginia Administrative Code (16 VAC 25-90) to ensure that employees exposed to health hazards at work are included in a medical surveillance program. This program is supplemented with a robust air and noise monitoring program to help establish exposure levels while performing job tasks. The Medical Surveillance Plan outlines George Mason University’s Medical Surveillance Program and describes specific policies and procedures designed to satisfy federal and state safety and health requirements.

Radiation Safety Manual

The Radiation Safety manual is currently in development. Check back soon! Visit the radiation safety webpage here for more information, or contact EHS for any questions regarding radiation safety.

Respiratory Protection Plan

This Respiratory Protection Plan has been developed to protect George Mason University employees from exposure to harmful air contaminants and complies with 29 CFR 1910.134. While implementing control measures to further reduce occupation exposure may be required to wear a respirator when it is necessary to protect the health of the employee. Employees who are required to wear a respirator will be enrolled in the Respiratory Protection Program. As outlined in this Respiratory Protection Plan, program elements includes: training, medical evaluation, respirator fit testing, program evaluation, and recordkeeping.

Supplemental Laboratory Safety Plan

The Supplemental Laboratory Safety Plan is a supplement to the Laboratory Safety Manual and Biological Safety Manual that provides laboratory-specific information for responding to health and safety issues and laboratory emergencies. The plan, which must be completed for all laboratories, must list the types of hazards present in the laboratory and outline laboratory-specific engineering and administrative controls, personal protective equipment (PPE), operational procedures (e.g., decontamination, waste handling), and procedures for spill or exposure response. The Supplemental Laboratory Safety Plan must be kept in the Safety Records and Resources binder located within the laboratory where it is readily available to laboratory personnel and must be routinely reviewed and updated to reflect current laboratory activities. A copy should also be on file with EHS. Laboratory personnel must be trained on the contents of this plan and must verify receipt of training by signing the Laboratory Training Signature Sheet, also located within the Safety Records and Resources binder.