Safety Committees

Policy 303.3

Introduction

1.1 Safety and Health Committees are valuable tools that are required by state law to be utilized in all state agencies and institutions to promote safety and healthy work environments for all state employees. Each state agency in North Carolina is required to establish a safety and health committee comprised of a mix of management and non-management personnel in order to address safety and health issues with the most efficient use of resource and expertise. Therefore, to comply with these requirements, Appalachian State University has established the Occupational Safety and Health Committee (the “Committee”).

Scope

2.1 This policy applies to all University employees.

Definitions

EHS&EM

shall mean the University’s Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management.

University

shall mean Appalachian State University.

Policy and Procedure Statements

Appalachian State University Safety & Health Committee

4.1.1 The purpose of the ASU Safety & Health Committee is to encourage involvement of all faculty, staff and students both at the non-management and management level in the ongoing responsibility of providing a safe work and learning environment. Members of the University are encouraged to report safety concerns to the University Safety & Health Committee. To the extent feasible, the personal identity of those reporting violations to members of this committee will remain confidential. NCGS 126-85, Article 14 provides specific protection from retaliation for any state employee who reports or is about to report any activity described under GS 12-84: (a) It is the Policy of this State that State employees shall be encouraged to report verbally or in writing to their supervisor, department head, or other appropriate authority, evidence of activity by a State agency or State employee constituting:

1. A violation of State or federal law, rule or regulation;
2. Fraud;
3. Misappropriation of State resources;
4. Substantial and specific danger to the public health and safety; or
5. Gross mismanagement,
   1. gross waste of monies, or gross abuse of authority.
   2. Further, it is the policy of this State that State employees be free of intimidation or harassment when reporting to public bodies about matters of public concern, including offering testimony to or testifying before appropriate legislative panels.

4.1.2 Contact a member of the Safety & Health Committee or the Occupational Safety and Health Office at 262-4007 if you have questions. Refer to the following web site for a current listing of committee members: https://appsafety.appstate.edu/occupational-safety-health-committee.