Safety
The Environmental Health and Safety Office takes a multidisciplinary approach to occupational safety to protect the welfare of people at work, and the wide variety of occupations on campus.
The Environmental Health and Safety Office takes a multidisciplinary approach to occupational safety to protect the welfare of people at work, and the wide variety of occupations on campus.
What is the 300-A Summary?
Form 300-A is the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, which has to be posted in the workplace annually. At the end of each calendar year, company executive must complete Form 300-A, certify that it is correct, and post it in the in the workplace where notices to workers are usually posted.
What is required to be recorded?
Employers must record all new cases of work-related fatalities, injuries, and illnesses if they involve: death, days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job, medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, or a significant injury or illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed health care professional.
Review the 2023 300-A Summary (PDF).
The Hot Work permitting system ensures that any individual involved in construction, repair, or maintenance work at Central Piedmont is aware of the hazards that can be presented during hot work activities, and has taken the correct control measures to minimize the risk. Hot Work is defined as cutting, welding, soldering, and brazing operations for construction/demolition maintenance/repair activities that involve the use of portable gas or arc welding equipment.
For more information, refer to the Hot Work Requirements guideline (PDF).
To submit a Hot Work Permit request, fill out the Hot Work Permit (PDF) form and email it to Environmental Health and Safety.
The purpose of the Lockout / Tagout Program is to prevent the release of hazardous energy during any maintenance or servicing of dangerous machinery, equipment or electrical circuits. The program describes measures that must be taken to ensure that the system has been properly shut off and is unable to be started up until any service or maintenance is completed. An unexpected start-up can cause a release of stored energy which could result in serious injuries to employees.
Prior to any maintenance or servicing on any equipment, machinery, or electrical circuits, review the Central Piedmont Lockout / Tagout Program (PDF) guide
For more information on this program, email Environmental Health and Safety.
Tent permits are required whenever there is a membrane structure that is greater than 400 sq. ft., a tent (with sides) that is greater than 800 sq. ft, or a tent (without sides) that is greater than 1800 sq. ft. This form ensures that the correct safety measures are taken prior to tent setup. Tent permit applications must be submitted at least 30 days, but no more than 180 days, prior to the event setup date.
For events requiring tent setups, fill out a Tent Permit Application form.
Note: If your tent/membrane structure falls into any of the previously stated categories, a permit application must be submitted to the North Carolina State Construction Office (NCSCO). This Central Piedmont form does not replace the official NCSCO permit process. The link to that application is located on the NC Department of Administration Tent Permit website.
A copy of the NCSCO permit must be submitted with this application. For more information on the tent permit process, email Environmental Health and Safety
The Central Piedmont Arts and Communication Plan states all policies, procedures, and responsibilities that serve to protect employees from the health hazards that are associated with arts studios, as well as the performing arts. The goal of this safety program is to minimize the risk of injury or illness to instructors by ensuring that they have the training information, support, and equipment needed to work safely with hazardous chemicals, hand tools, power tools, or other potentially dangerous equipment. This safety programs includes information on how to properly handle the hazards that are in various studios within the Arts & Communication Department.
To review the plan, refer to the Central Piedmont Arts and Communication Safety Program (PDF).
The Fire Drill Program applies to all Central Piedmont Community College campus buildings and outlines the procedures for conducting fire drills, evaluating their effectiveness, and addressing any deficiencies, all in compliance with the NC Fire Code, section 405 Emergency Evacuation Drills. This code requires quarterly drills for middle and early colleges (located on college campuses) and annual drills for all non-residential buildings. During fire alarms, occupants must evacuate immediately using stairs, proceed to designated rally points, and remain there until given the all-clear by Security. The program includes detailed procedures for scheduling and conducting drills, clear roles and responsibilities for EHS, Security, and ABM, and comprehensive communication templates to ensure organized and efficient drills, enhancing the safety and preparedness of our campus community.
To learn more, review the Fire Drill Program (PDF).
The Mobile Elevated Work Platform program applies to all Central Piedmont employees, including faculty and staff who operate an aerial, scissor, or personnel lift. Implementation of the Mobile Elevating Work Platform Program is mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) 29 CFR 1910.67 and ANSI A92 for elevating work platforms. The regulation applies to all personnel who use an aerial, scissor, or personnel lift.
To review the plan, refer to the Mobile Elevated Work Platform Program (PDF).
The Performing Arts and Events Operations Safety Program states all policies, procedures, and responsibilities that serve to protect employees from the health and safety hazards that are associated with performance facilities. The goal of this safety program is to minimize the risk of injury or illness to Performance Facilities managers and occupants by ensuring that they have the training information, support, and equipment needed to work safely with hand tools, power tools, ladders/scaffolding, rigging equipment, and other potentially dangerous equipment. This safety program includes information on how to properly hand the hazards that are in the performance facilities at Central Piedmont.
To review the plan, refer to the Central Piedmont Performance Facilities and Events Operations Safety Program (PDF).
Safe work practices are vital when an individual is exposed to electrical hazards. Is important to implement these work practices in order to prevent electric shock or other injuries from either direct or indirect electrical contact. This can occur when work is performed near or on equipment or circuits that may be energized.
For more information on proper use of electrical equipment, refer to the Central Piedmont Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices (PDF) guideline.
The content of this Electrical Safety-Related Work Practice guide is as required in OSHA Subpart S (electrical) 29 CFR l910.331 through 29 CFR l910.335.
The Central Piedmont Respiratory Protection Program establishes an approval process and procedures to ensure safe and responsible selection and use of respiratory protection. The use of a respiratory protection program ensures that all employees are properly protected from respiratory hazards such as harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gas, sprays, and other vapors or airborne particles.
This Respiratory Protection program applies to all Central Piedmont supervisors and associates who work in areas with exposure levels that require the use of a respirator or where an associate voluntarily uses a comfort type mask. This program and procedure is written in accordance with the requirements of the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard 29 CFR 1910.134 and guidelines presented by the ANSI and AIHA.
To review this program, refer to the Central Piedmont Respiratory Protection Program (PDF).
A gas cylinder is a pressure vessel for storage and containment of gasses at above atmospheric pressure. Central Piedmont has a variety of compressed gas types throughout the college campuses. They can be used in areas such as the arts, sciences, facilities services, food services, and much more.
Compressed gasses can present users with many different hazards such as explosion, fire hazards, oxygen displacement, toxic or corrosive effects as well as physical hazards such as cylinder rupture due to mishandling or poor storage. Due to this, it is important that compressed gas cylinders are handled only by trained individuals. They must also be stored, transported and used properly to prevent injury and accidents.
The use of compressed gas on campus should be in accordance with recommendations published by the Compressed Gas Association. For more Resources on Compressed gas, reference the following:
Review the Environmental Health and Safety Compressed Gas Fact Sheet (PDF), for more information.
In case of a fire emergency, contact College Security Services (6911) at the appropriate location immediately! Security will then contact the Fire Department or Fire Marshal's Office. Employees are not required to fight fires and should evacuate the building immediately in the event of a fire. Employees may use fire extinguishers to fight small fires only if they have been trained in the proper use of a fire extinguisher and are confident in their ability to cope with the hazards of a fire. In such cases, fire fighting efforts must be terminated when it becomes obvious that there is danger or harm from smoke, heat, or flames.
If a fire is discovered, activate the nearest fire alarm and contact Security immediately. From any campus phone, dial 6911. If the fire alarm does not work, or the building is not equipped with one, dial 911 and notify all occupants verbally of the emergency and the need to evacuate.
Evacuate via the nearest stairwell or street/grade level exit. Hazardous equipment or processes should be shut down before evacuating unless doing so presents a greater hazard. Remember to close all doors as leaving, if conditions permit. After you have left the building, go to the predesignated assembly point and remain there. Remain at least 300 feet away from the building. At the assembly point, supervisors should account for personnel and report any that are unaccounted for to Security and the Fire Department. During an emergency, students and visitors who may not be familiar with this plan must be informed of the requirement to evacuate. Special attention should also be given to persons with disabilities, especially those who are visitors or unfamiliar with the building.
Online training is available; in-person training is coordinated with the Fire Department and/or Fire Marshal's Office. Each department is responsible for ensuring its employees are trained in fire safety and fire extinguisher use. Additional training is necessary when an employee's required actions under the Emergency Evacuation Plan change, or when there are changes to the plan. Additional training assistance is available from Environmental Health and Safety.
The use of fire extinguishers must conform to the following guidelines which are specified by the OSHA standard (29 CFR1910.157):
Review Section 10 (page 21) of the Environmental Health & Safety Program (PDF) to better understand Forklift Safety Information. For more information, visit OSHA forklift safety.
All employees that drive forklifts at the college are required to complete forklift safety training prior to operating a forklift. Training includes discussion of steering, capacity, stability, refueling, controls, types of loads, ramps, surface conditions, hazardous locations, load manipulation, etc. Hands-on driving demonstrations and evaluation of each operator's performance will be included. This training is required prior to operating a forklift, to be repeated every three years, with annual evaluations.
Working on and around stairways and ladders is hazardous. Stairways and ladders are major sources of injuries and fatalities among construction workers for example, and many of the injuries are serious enough to require time off the job. OSHA rules apply to all stairways and ladders used in construction, alteration, repair, painting, decorating, and demolition of worksites covered by OSHA's construction safety and health standards.
Protect yourself with the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for the job. Each department is responsible for providing this equipment to each employee. All employees have the right and obligation to request proper personal protective equipment as well as the right and obligation to refuse to do a task, if proper safety equipment and training is not available or provided.
Personal protective equipment acts as a barrier between you and potentially hazardous chemicals, machines, tools, and processes. To be effective, personal protective equipment must be carefully selected to protect against each particular hazard you may face. When you use the right personal protective equipment and use it properly, you greatly reduce the risk of job-related injury and illness.
Slips, trips, and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents. They cause 15 percent of all accidental deaths, and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities. Always be aware of your surroundings: uneven sidewalks, wet floors, items out of place, etc.
Many employees drive personal vehicles and/or College vehicles on a daily basis. It is the belief of Environmental Health and Safety that many accidents can be prevented. Defensive Driving courses are taught periodically to increase awareness of driving hazards. Review the following driver safety tips.