Audits

This policy describes the internal environmental health and safety inspection and audit process, which is designed to ensure that the College effectively manages programs to protect the environment and the safety of the College community. This policy also describes the procedures for responding to inspections conducted by Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) regulatory agencies.

Definitions and Scope

Inspection refers to a physical walk-through of an area conducted by either the College or by a regulatory agency to determine compliance with regulations and/or College policies. Audit refers to a systematic evaluation initiated by the College of one or more EH&S programs based upon inspections, record reviews, and personal interviews. Corrective actions will be a specific set of activities coming out in an inspection or audit report that are necessary to correct a deficiency or finding.

Roles and Responsibilities

Each department is responsible for promptly and fully responding to EH&S inspection findings and implementation of corrective actions. The Environmental Health and Safety Officer (EH&S Officer) is responsible for regularly conducting EH&S inspections, monitoring follow-up on inspection findings including corrective actions, managing audits, and coordinating the College’s response to federal, state and regional EH&S regulatory inspections. The EH&S Officer is also responsible for responding to local agency inspections involving laboratories, hazardous materials and public health.

Agency Inspections

EH&S regulatory agencies can conduct both planned and unannounced inspections of College facilities and operations. When a planned inspection takes place, the EH&S Officer, escorts the agency inspector during an inspection on campus. The EH&S Officer also coordinates participation of College representatives at the inspection exit meeting. The EH&S Officer will regularly conducts inspections of buildings, laboratories, renovation and construction projects, mechanical rooms, classrooms, offices, and other campus areas. The scope and frequency of these inspections varies depending on the program. A written inspection report is provided to the appropriate personnel responsible for the area inspected. The inspection report lists corrective actions for each finding and agreed upon target completion date as well as operational suggestions.

Imminent Hazards

If an imminent hazard is identified during an inspection or audit, including chemical releases, employee hazard or an imminent danger of fire or explosion, the EH&S Officer is authorized to order the evacuation of a work area or a building. As soon as practical the EH&S Officer will notify the appropriate College personnel (i.e. Campus Police) of the evacuation or work stoppage and the actions needed prior to building/area being reoccupied.

Inspection and Audit Record Keeping

The EH&S Office will maintain records for all inspections and audits conducted by their office including corrective actions.