University Safety and Security Committee (USSC)

This committee focuses on the receipt, usage, storage, and disposal of chemicals along with the emerging issues of health and safety in the laboratory environment.  The laboratory work environment consists of those work units that are subject to the OSHA Laboratory Standard and laboratory EHS issues not pertaining to biological safety or radiation safety.  The Lab Safety Committee is responsible for reviewing safety and health policies and procedures, reviewing incidents involving work-related fatalities, injuries, illnesses or near misses related to laboratory and chemical safety, reviewing employee complaints regarding safety and health hazards, analyzing  work injury and illness statistical records related to laboratory and chemical safety, conducting inspections of laboratories and worksites utilizing chemicals at least annually and in response to complaints regarding safety or health hazards, reviewing training records related to laboratory and chemical safety, conducting meetings at least once every three months, and maintaining written minutes of such meetings.

The IBC is responsible for the oversight, administration, and review of UNC‐CH Lab policies and projects involving research with rDNA and hazardous biological materials that may pose safety, health, or environmental risks. To this end, the IBC assists and advises Principal Investigators and other researchers in meeting their responsibilities to ensure that the biological aspects of the research are conducted in a safe manner using established biosafety standards, principles and work authorization. Safe research includes worker safety, public health, agricultural and environmental protection, ethics, and compliance with applicable biosafety standards and UNC-CH policies.

This committee focuses on Occupational Health services for University personnel and the emerging issues of health and safety for employees working in the clinic environment. The clinic work environment is primarily characterized by activities involving patient contact and exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. The clinical work environment frequently has additional health and safety requirements imposed by accreditation organizations, such as the Joint Commission.

The mission of the Clinical Exposure Subcommittee is to identify and address clinical occupational hazards that undergraduate and professional students are exposed to as part of their clinical training. This subcommittee reports to the Occupational Health and Clinical Safety Committee.

This committee focuses on the emerging issues of health and safety for employees working in the office, support services, and industrial, maintenance/construction work environments. The support services work environment consists of activities that are conducted outside of the office environment, usually involve public contact and may involve hazardous materials. These environments can include the Department of Public Safety, Department of Environment, Health and Safety, Material Support, and Housekeeping. The industrial, maintenance and construction work environment consists of those work units whose primary activities are performed at various locations around campus and at fixed locations, using industrial-type machines and equipment. These units include Facilities Services, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC Shops, Grounds, Athletics, Finley Golf Course operations, and Electronics Office Service Center and some academic shops.

The Radiation Safety Committee is responsible for establishing policies governing the procurement, use, storage and disposal of radioactive materials and radiation-producing devices. The Committee includes individuals experienced in the use or application of radioactive materials and radiation devices and provides a peer review of these uses among researchers at the University. The Committee meets at least quarterly to review reports on the receipt and disposal of radioactive materials/radiation-producing devices, and to act on applications for authorization to use these sources. The Committee, along with its Chairman, is appointed by the Chancellor. It makes an annual report of activities to the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration.