Policies & Procedures

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance for the enforcement of safety rules and regulations in effect at Longwood University. These rules and regulations include: federal rules and regulations governing workplace safety (i.e. Occupational Health and Safety Administration and National Fire Code standards), state rules and regulations governing workplace safety (i.e. Virginia Occupational Health and Safety and State Fire Marshall standards), and Longwood University policies and procedures governing working place safety (i.e. Hazard Communications Program).

II. POLICY 

Longwood University expects all faculty and staff to abide by established workplace safety rules and regulations. Members of the Longwood community are expected to conduct themselves with due care at all times, and to abide by established workplace safety rules and regulations. It is the responsibility of all members of the Longwood community to enforce safety rules and regulations.

Violation of safety rules and regulations is a serious offense and may endanger the life of the violator and the lives of others. Employees and supervisors will be held accountable for violations and action may be taken in accordance with this policy and the Department of Human Resource Management's Policy 1.60, Standards of Conduct.

1. Employee Responsibilities:
   1. Employees of the University should report all violations of safety rules to the appropriate supervisor.
   2. Employees of the University must use assigned personal protective equipment and abide by all established workplace safety rules and regulations.
2. Supervisor Responsibilities:
   1. Supervisors should make immediate spot correction and make a determination whether further action is warranted utilizing the guidelines listed in this policy.
   2. Supervisors are responsible for establishing a safe work environment.
   3. Supervisors should establish safety rules for their individual work sites in accordance with established written safety programs.
   4. In the event of a citation issued by th e Environmental Health and Safety Officer, supervisors shall take action in accordance with the category of violation as stated in this policy.
3. Environmental Health and Safety Officer Responsibilities:
   1. Longwood's Environmental Health and Safety Officer (EHSO) will be empowered to issue written citations to employees observed violating workplace safety rules.
   2. These citations will be forwarded to the appropriate supervisor for action.
   3. Unsafe work environments may result in a written citation issued to the supervisor.
   4. The EHSO will have authority to conduct safety audits and issue recommendations or citations as appropriate.
   5. The EHSO will have authority to conduct unannounced spot inspections and issue citations as appropriate.
   6. The EHSO will be responsible for annual safety program review.
4. Violations will be categorized as:
   1. Other Than Serious Violation - A violation that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm. A penalty for an other-than-serious violation may be an oral warning up to a Group I written notice.
   2. Serious Violation: A violation where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and that the employee knew, or should have known, of the hazard. A penalty for a serious violation may be a Group II to Group III offense with, at a minimum, a written warning with suspension of one to 30 days.
   3. Willful Violation: A violation that the employee knowingly commits or commits with plain indifference to the law. The employee either knows that what he or she is doing constitutes a violation, or the supervisor is aware that a hazardous condition existed and made no reasonable effort to eliminate it. A penalty for a willful violation must be a Group III written warning and suspension of up to 30 days or dismissal. Two willful violations will result in dismissal.
   4. Repeated Violation: A violation of any standard, regulation, rule, or order after receiving disciplinary action for the same or similar violation. A penalty for a repeat violation must be the next step in the disciplinary process.

Approved by the Board of Visitors, September 13, 2003.