Facilities Division Safety
The Facilities Division provides a variety of services directed to create and preserve the physical environment that advances the university. In order to achieve this end, the people within Facilities must complete each and every task with their personal safety and the safety of their co-workers at the front of every decision. A safe workforce is a productive workforce.
It is NC State University’s environmental health and safety policy that no job is so important and no service so urgent, that we cannot take the time to perform our work safely, and in an environmentally conscientious manner.
The Facilities Division’s safety mission is No One Gets Hurt: Go For Zero. The purpose is for all Facilities Division employees to make safety personal, be able to purposefully identify hazards and establish control methods to address these hazards.
Hazard Identification and Mitigation
Facilities Division employees use the following process prior to each job task:
- Identify Hazards
- Assess Hazards
- Establish Controls using the Hierarchy of Controls
- Monitor Effectiveness
If a hazard is not controlled, every individual employee is empowered and expected to PAUSE the activity until action is taken to control the hazard.
| Category | Hazard Examples | Control Examples |
| Slips, Trips, Falls | Fall from height Slippery surfaces Objects in a walkway Changes in elevation | Guardrail Fall protection Barricading slippery area Good housekeeping |
| Electrical | Exposed energized parts Damaged cords Power lines (over/under) Arc Flash | De-energize, test, Lock Out Tag Out Inspect cords (remove/repair) Maintain safe distances Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter |
| Pressure | Steam and Condensate Lines Hydraulic Equipment Residual Energy Compressed Gases and Lines | Preventative Maintenance Inspection Lock Out Tag Out Cable Check (whip check) |
| Mechanical | Rotating Equipment Pinch Points Missing Guards Component Failure | Installing Barriers Installing Guards Lock Out Tag Out Preventative Maintenance |
| Vehicle | Backing (obstructed view) Speed Restricted view Distractions | Cameras Back up alarms/spotters High Visibility lights / PPE No portable electronic device use |
| Temperature | Outdoor temperatures Ambient temperatures Hot Work (welding/torch/etc.) Hot | Cold surfaces | Heat illness prevention program Hot work permits Signs PPE |
| Chemical | Toxicity Flammability Reactivity Other hazards | Ventilation Proper use and storage Training PPE |
| Health | Silica, Asbestos, Lead Noise Biological Radiation Welding | Abatement (removal) Ventilation / vacuum Work Practice Barriers Personal Protective Equipment |
| Ergonomics | Excessive force Repetitive motion Awkward posture | Right tool for job Work / Rest cycles Mechanical vs manual Proper lifting |
| Struck By or Against | Falling objects Flying objects Limited space for work Excavation cave-in | Secure objects Barricades Install bump protection Cave-in protection |
Resources
- Facilities Division Safety Manual (SOPs)
- Facilities Division Safety Talks
- Mishap Reporting
- University Environmental Health and Safety
- Safety Training (requires unity ID)
- Safety Philosophy Poster ( English | Spanish ) and Digital Billboard ( English | Spanish)
- Hazard Identification and Mitigation Information Flyer ( English | Spanish )
Safety Action Committee
The fundamental purpose of the Committee is to get employees involved in safety. Employees are encouraged to:
- Meet in person with anyone on the committee
- Call or email anyone on the committee.
- Submit a question, comment, idea or concern
The Facilities Safety Action Committee is comprised of three Teams: Base Team, Steering Team and Director Team. The Base Team, which includes employee leaders and front-line supervisors, identifies safety improvement items through incident history analysis and employee engagement. The Steering Team, which consists of Facilities Division leadership, prioritizes and incorporates the Base Team’s ideas into operations. The Director Team, which consists of Facilities Division unit directors, endorses the operational changes. Ultimately, the teams give a voice to all Facilities employees. This ensures that the Facilities Division identifies and implements solutions that are the most effective.
