Environmental, Health & Safety
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The Southwestern Community College District is committed to conducting campus activities in a manner that meets or exceeds all applicable environmental, health, and safety standards. It is the mission Environmental, Health and Safety to promote the highest level of safety and health for employees, students, visitors, and property.
Employees are encouraged to report unsafe conditions to their supervisor, manager, or the environmental, health, and safety coordinator.
Contact: James Lee, Environmental, Health & Safety Coordinator
Phone: 619-482-6589
Operating Hours: 7 AM- 3:30 PM Monday through Friday
After hours: Call Campus Police at 619-482-6380
HOW TO SUBMIT SERVICE NOW REQUEST:
1. Login into MySWC
2. Go to Campus Apps
3. Select the ServiceNow App
4. Under Facilities, Operations and Planning select General Maintenance Requests. Enter a detail description of your need, under Category select Health and Safety, and a work order will then be submitted to James Lee, Environmental, Health, and Safety Coordinator.
Link: Service NowErgonomics is an applied science that deals with designing and arranging things so that people can use them easily and safely. In the work environment that means that the workstation should adjust to you rather than you adjusting to the workstation. Ergonomics is a partnership between you and your desk setup. The first step is to set up your desk to meet your needs, then secondly train yourself to use proper posture mechanics to maintain a good ergonomic work standard.
How to submit a request for ergonomic support:
1. Login into MySWC
2. Go to Campus Apps
3. Select the ServiceNow app
4. Under Facilities, Operations and Planning select Ergonomics. Enter a detailed description of your need, under Category select Health and Safety, and a work order will then be submitted to the Environmental Health, and Safety Coordinator
NOTE: Ergonomic evaluations are not performed by the Environmental Health and Safety Department. ServiceNow requests for ergonomic evaluations are forwarded to a third party for scheduling. Ergonomic evaluations are performed by Keenan & Associates only when they have been provided contact details from Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator James Lee, or Workers’ Compensation Analyst, Human Resources Ruby Ayala.
Resource Links:
The term “hazardous waste” refers to any material designated as hazardous waste by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Hazardous waste may include but is not limited to undesired or outdated chemicals, spent chemical solutions, chemically contaminated debris or media, electronic devices, fluorescent lamps, and batteries. For a material to be classified as hazardous waste, it must first be “solid waste”. The EPA defines solid waste as garbage, refuse, sludge, industrial waste, or other discarded materials. Solid waste is a regulatory term that is very broad and includes both non-hazardous and hazardous waste but is not limited to wastes that are physically solid.
Right to Know
Workers have the right to know what hazards are present in the workplace and how to protect themselves. Many OSHA standards require various methods that employers must use to inform their employees, such as warning signs, color coding, signals, and training.
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Copies of SDS (previously known as Material Safety Data Sheet MSDS), or other hazard data for hazardous chemicals that employees may be exposed to, will be kept near where the chemicals are stored either in binders or electronically. The SDS will be available to all employees and students for review during each work shift/class, and copies may be obtained on request or by viewing them electronically.
OSHA regulations require an SDS to be revised within three months after a chemical manufacturer or employer becomes aware of significant new information concerning the hazards of a chemical.
HAZARD COMMUNICATION
Southwestern Community College District is committed to providing employees with a safe and healthy work environment. It is also committed to ensuring employees receive the proper training to protect themselves against hazardous substances found in the workplace. This is in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200.
Hazard Communication (HAZCOM) facilitates the Environmental Health and Safety Management system to ensure that all receptacles containing hazardous substances are clearly and properly labeled, that Safety Data Sheets (SDS), or other hazard data are available to all employees in their respective work areas, and employee training on hazardous substances is made available.
Hazards can be either physical hazard or health hazards:
Physical Hazard: Any chemical or substance that is a combustible liquid, compressed gas, explosive, flammable, organic peroxide, oxidizer, unstable (reactive), or water-reactive.
Health Hazard: Any chemical or substance that is proven to have an adverse health effect on vital body organs and systems of any human exposed to it. This includes chemicals that are known as carcinogens, toxic agents, irritants, corrosives, and sensitizers.
Requests for Hazardous Waste Pickup
All containers must be properly labeled prior to pick up. Write the full chemical names on the label. All containers must be non-leaking and properly sealed prior to removal. If you have leaking and non-sealable containers, please contact the Environmental Health and Safety Office at ext. 6589 immediately.
Employees generating waste will enter the waste into Google Drive by clicking the link below.
Waste pickups are tentatively scheduled for approximately the last two weeks of each month listed below. The 10th day of each month listed below will be the last day to enter waste into Google Drive. After the 10th day of each month listed below the waste must be entered in the next available month.
- Fall: October and December
- Spring: January, March, and May
- Summer: July and August
Waste Characterizations
All waste streams are characterized and profiled through certified environmental testing laboratories or profiled through a certified TSD facility. This is typically done in conjunction with waste transport contractors.
All new/proposed products and waste streams must be approved by the Environmental Health and Safety Office. Typical wastes generated and quantities are:
D001: Ignitable Characteristics
* Spent aerosol cans and associated waste paint.* Small amounts of flammable chemicals generated in the science labs.
D002: Corrosive Characteristics
* Small amounts of corrosive chemicals generated in the science labs.D008: Lead
* Lead foils used in X-rays generated by the dental technician program.D011: Silver
* Silver thiosulfate generated by the visual arts department/photography developer.Bio-Haz/Medical Wastes
* Used Sharps, cadaver preservation fluids, organic bio-wastes generated by the science labs.* Expired pharmaceuticals generated by the EMT program.
Universal and Recyclable Wastes
* Used oil and anti-freeze.* Spent lamps and ballasts.
* Spent batteries.
* Punctured and drained steel aerosol cans.
Non-Haz Regulated Wastes
* Oil-contaminated sand/absorbent materialDO’S AND DON’TS FOR CHEMICAL WASTE DISPOSAL
DO’s
DO determine if your waste is hazardous: Is it an Ignitable, Corrosive, Reactive, Toxic, or a Listed waste?
DO select a chemical waste accumulation area that is out of the way of normal activities, easily identifiable and safely accessible.
DO label each waste container with “Hazardous Waste” and the specific names of the waste constituents.
DO store waste in compatible containers with an unbroken screw-top lid.
DO keep containers of waste closed except when waste is being added to them.
DO segregate halogenated and non-halogenated solvents.
DO store all chemical waste within secondary containment can be a lab tray or a dishpan. It just needs to hold the contents of the largest container in case of breakage or accident. Provide secondary containment for incompatible materials.
DO keep container exteriors free from contamination. Wipe down the container if necessary.
DO request a chemical waste pickup via ServiceNow.
DON’TS
DO NOT pour chemicals or solvents down the drain.
DO NOT evaporate chemical waste in a fume hood.
DO NOT abandon chemicals in the laboratory.
DO NOT mix various waste chemicals indiscriminately.
DO NOT throw chemicals into trash containers until you determine if the waste is non-hazardous.
DO NOT accumulate chemical waste for any extended period. A chemical waste disposal form should be completed when a container is 95% full. A container not yet full should not be held for more than 9 months.
Resources:
https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/deh/hazmat/hazwaste.html
Departments may contact Environmental Health and Safety at ext. 6589 for guidance in developing or reviewing job hazard analysis documents to ensure the safety of their employees. The Department of Environmental Health and Safety can assist you in identifying hazards, recommending control measures, and documenting the results of your investigation. For initial guidance on preparing JHAs for your department or work area, please refer to the JHA Form link below.
Safe Colleges
The environmental and health sections of the online training program may be accessed through Safe Colleges. District employees can login and take related coursework that their District Administrator has authorized