Occupational Safety
The Occupational Safety program at VCU is designed to support employees’ and students' right to work in an environment free of recognized hazards that may cause illness or injury. We accomplish this by promoting Safety initiatives that support research, facilitate learning and encourage collaboration and compliance.
Hazard Communication
Personal Protective Equipment
Workplace Hazards
Automated External Defibrillator Program
Safety and Risk Management administers the university’s Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program and approves the purchase and placement of all new AEDs, coordinates regular inspections and servicing of devices, as well as ensures the removal and replacement of any AED that is out of service, under manufacturer’s recall, or more than nine years old.
Departments interested in purchasing a new AED or relocating an existing device can submit a request to SRM by email to srm@vcu.edu. All requests should include:
- Department Name
- Building & Floor
- Physical Address
- Department Contact(s)
Departments are responsible for the cost to purchase a new AED and wall-mounted cabinet, as well as the cost of regularly scheduled inspections and maintenance.
Building Inspections
Each university building is inspected at least once per calendar year. The Occupational Safety team enters all areas of a building to check for compliance with applicable codes and regulations, as applicable. Some codes referenced include Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) regulations, Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code, and NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code.
Emergency Action Program (EAP)
The program aids departments and facilities in creating an EAP for their specific locations in case of an emergency and was created in accordance with OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910.38(a).
Emergency Eye Wash
Safety Showers
The program ensures that safety eyewashes and showers supply clean, potable water and are in proper working order and defines guidelines for inspection, testing and maintenance of emergency eyewash and shower equipment.
Confined Space
The program protects employees who work in and around confined and permit-required confined spaces through effective implementation, recordkeeping, and sharing information with employees and contractors about documented locations and hazards in each permit space in compliance with OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.146.
Control of Hazardous Energy
The program (lockout/tagout) prevents injury to employees caused by the unexpected energization, start-up or release of stored energy. Sources of hazardous energy include radiation, electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal or other energy. It establishes the minimum performance requirements found in the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.147, "The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)."
Machine Guarding Program
The program is designed to protect VCU employees from the hazards involved in moving machinery in a maintenance shop and production environment. Any part, function or process that may cause injury must be properly safeguarded. This program was developed to ensure compliance with OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910 212, 213, 215, 217, 219 and 243.
Electrical Safety Program
The program outlines the practices and procedures that protect VCU and contract employees from the hazards of electrical shock associated with live electrical equipment in accordance with OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910.303 and 331-335.
Hand & Power Tool Program
The program ensures the safety of employees working with hand and portable powered tools and other hand-held equipment in accordance with the OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910.241-244.
Powered Industrial Trucks (PIT)
The program is designed to protect VCU employees who operate or maintain PITs, which can only be operated by trained and authorized operators, in compliance with OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.178.
Ladder Safety
The program safeguards employees that work with portable ladders and is intended to prevent ladder-related incidents and promote compliance with the OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910.23(c) and 1910.30.
Asbestos
The program is overseen by VCU Facilities Management with SRM providing the following support services upon request.
Environmental Health and Safety
- Respiratory protection training
- Respiratory fit testing
- Respirator medical clearance
Employee Health Services
- Employee exposure treatment, evaluation, referrals and health counseling
- Medical surveillance exam if an employee will be involved in asbestos-related work, including referrals for chest x-rays
- Workers' compensation injury claim evaluation
Contact Us
For assistance accessing information related to our workplace safety programs, please contact