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EHS Performance Highlights

Biological Safety

  • Trained 1,080 researchers in basic principles of conducting research at BSL-2, such as proper technique and waste handling and trained 168 researchers in enhanced BSL-2 procedures.
  • Certified 481 campus biological safety cabinets ensuring safety of product, personnel and environmental protection.
  • Reviewed and approved 543 Laboratory Safety Plans’ Schedule F (Biological Hazards).
  • Reviewed and approved 315 Laboratory Safety Plans’ Schedule G (Recombinant or Synthetic DNA).

Chemical and Laboratory Safety

  • Trained 1,919 new laboratory employees on Laboratory Environment through online self-study.
  • Reviewed 775 new and/or updated laboratory safety plans and reviewed deficiencies with principal investigators and safety supervisors, ensuring compliance with the University’s Chemical Hygiene Plan.
  • Inspected 1,250 chemical fume hoods and submitted 50 Facilities Services repair requests for fume hoods.
  • Uploaded 417 chemical inventories into online system and reviewed 380 annual inventory updates as part of Chemical Hygiene Plan compliance.
  • Trained 6,430 employees on Sub-part K Hazardous Waste Management new rules through online training.
  • Provided 611 collaborative laboratory inspections.

Environmental Affairs

  • Trained 1,919 employees on Managing Laboratory Generated Hazardous Waste through orientation safety online training.
  • Conducted 11,355 waste pickups of 61,241 kg of hazardous waste and 101,236 kg of non-hazardous solid waste from University generators.
  • Shipped 103,310 kg of waste from the UNC-CH TSDF to an offsite vendor TSDF for treatment and disposal.
  • Aided with controlled substances drug disposal on campus which included 20 visits by DHHS Drug Control Unit for 28 lab visits/inspections.

Fire Safety & Emergency Response

  • Provided fire safety coverage to seven home football games, 15 home men’s basketball games.
  • Inspected 6,732 campus fire extinguishers.
  • Investigated and documented 267 false fire alarms during calendar year 2018.
  • Installed 14 emergency key boxes (“Knox Boxes”) on the UNC campus and worked with Facilities Services to include at least six additional Knox Boxes on capital construction projects during 2019
  • Performed over 289 fire drills for UNC buildings

Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

  • Trained 564 Maintenance, Housekeeping, and Design and Construction Services employees in asbestos awareness through online and in-class training.
  • Coordinated mobile hearing tests for 235 employees enrolled in the Hearing Conservation Program, saving $5.7K for the tested departments.
  • Trained 386 employees enrolled in the Hearing Conservation Program on Occupational Noise Safety through in-class and online training
  • Trained 271 employees from Facilities Services, Energy Services and UNC-CH Police on confined space via in-class and online training.

Radiation Safety

  • Administered radiation safety training courses to 2,106 persons and non-ionizing radiation safety training to 606 persons.
  • 439 radiation safety laboratory inspections were conducted.
  • Inspected and tested 278 X-ray tubes
  • Services were provided to the hospital and patients for 219 radiation-related procedures
  • Hosted six Nuclear Medicine Technology students for two-week rotations through radiation safety as part of the NMT didactic program.

University Employee Occupational Health Clinic

  • Provided occupational health medical services for 3,900 employees.
  • Fit-tested and provided consultative services for 528 individuals under the University’s Respiratory Protection program.
  • Trained/Number of Employees:
    • Respiratory Protection: 1,091
    • EHS Office, Clinic, IMAC, SS, Student Affairs: 4,168
    • Joint Commission: 4,233
    • Clinical Tuberculosis Infection Control: 6,444
    • Clinical Bloodborne Pathogens: 6,540
    • Ergonomic Self-Evaluations: 48.
  • Processed and managed 51 workers’ compensation claims with medical treatment, return to work, hearings/mediations and monthly expenditures.
  • Conducted on-site inspections of 229 Hazards Management Plan (HMP) for numerous campus units and entered HMPs for work unit in the online HMP system.
  • Investigated 80 incidents on campus for falls, equipment, PPE, materials handling, strains and stuck in/between objects.

Risk Management

  • Renewed automobile liability and other optional physical damage coverage for 1,343 vehicles which includes self-propelled mobile equipment.
  • Renewed Property Insurance coverage which includes $5,569,082,493 in building value and $1,212,885,894 content values. Total Insured Value: $6,781,968,387.
  • Settled or managed various property claims:
    • Property Damage caused by third party: 2
    • Damage caused by Vehicle: 18
    • Vandalism: 7
    • Fire: 7
    • Water Damage: 4
    • Theft: 6
    • Student Blanket Professional Liability: 2
    • Employee Dishonesty: 1
    • Wind: 4
    • Sprinkler: 1
    • Inland Marine Property Damage: 3
    • Cyber: 1
    • Power Surge: 1
    • Transformer: 1
  • Renewed Professional Liability for 14 Schools and individuals