Injury and Illness Prevention Program
Cal-OSHA requires every employer to have an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) in place (Title 8, section 3203). The University of California, Santa Cruz has implemented a template-driven IIPP program which should be customized by each unit to ensure a safe and healthful work environment for its employees. The IIPP for each organizational group is the umbrella under which all employee health and safety programs are implemented, and all employees must be covered by an IIPP plan, but the level of organization at which the plan is administered can be variable.
IIPP Goals
- Provide a safe and healthful workplace for employees
- Reduce risk of disease, illness, injury and harmful exposures to the campus community
- Reduce worker's compensation claims and costs
- Improve employee morale and efficiency
- Comply with regulatory mandates
Program Elements
- Assigns RESPONSIBILITIES for health and safety
- Establishes mechanisms for HAZARD IDENTIFICATION and HAZARD MITIGATION
- Requires WORKPLACE INSPECTIONS and ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
- Requires COMMUNICATION of health and safety information
- Reaffirms TRAINING and DOCUMENTATION mandates
As an employee you have a right to:
- A safe workplace free from recognized hazards
- Receive training on hazards associated with your job
- Know how to control hazards of your job
- Report workplace hazards without fear of reprisal
Roles & Responsibilities
Manager or Supervisor:
Managers and Supervisors are expected to provide Environmental Health and Safety leadership and guidance within their units. They should:
- Inform employees about specifics of the unit's IIPP
- Provide safety training consistent with employee job duties
- Enforce safety rules and regulations within your area of control
- Provide a means to identify workplace hazards
- Maintain all EH&S documentation
Employee:
All employees have a responsibility to maintain a safe and healthful work environment. As an employee you should:
- Follow safe work practices
- Be familiar with your local unit's IIPP
- Know the potential health and safety hazards of your job and how to protect yourself
- Know how to report unsafe conditions
- Report any work-related injury or illness to your supervisor
- Know what to do in an emergency
- Correct unsafe conditions within your authority
If you are unclear about your responsibilities, ask your supervisor.
Environmental Health & Safety
EH&S has responsibility for monitoring compliance with the University's Injury and Illness Prevention Programs to minimize or prevent occupational injuries and illnesses, and to protect the quality of the workplace and surrounding environment. EH&S advises the campus community of its responsibilities with respect to health and safety issues, recommends appropriate corrective actions and programs, implements new health and safety programs and is the liaison between UCSC and various external agencies and regulatory bodies.
Questions?
If you have questions about the health and safety of your work environment or about environmental, health and safety in general, please feel free to contact EH&S at 459-2553. We will be happy to assist you.
