Health, Safety and Security

INTRODUCTION

The Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Protocol and Responsibilities play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals within our academic institution. Our EHS process commences two weeks before the regular semester begins. This preparation involves training new faculty and lab staff to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to respond effectively to emergencies and ensure a safe learning and working environment.

Infrastructure and Academic Blocks

(a) Hazard Protocol: The university’s infrastructure and different blocks were assessed from different hazard points of view e.g. earthquakes, flood, fire, etc., and the shortcomings were identified. These shortcomings were improved and are still being improved, and this is an ongoing process. The University Health & Safety and Security Committee (UHSSC) is responsible for this task.

(b) Environment Protocol: Clean environment is ensured in the whole campus. The Deputy Director Admin is responsible for this task. Whereas, Directorate of Sustainability (DSE) is responsible for protecting environment from pollution at the whole campus.

Training Programs

(a) Representatives from different departments of the university are selected and trained at the university level for different hazards like responding during a fire event, earthquake, etc. The convener of the University Health & Safety and Security Committee (UHSSC) is responsible for this task.

(b) Security guards and floor attendants are trained for different hazards like fire fighting etc. at the university level on rotation basis. The university’s security in-charge is responsible for this task.

(c) Training for new faculty, lab staff, and student volunteers is conducted which equips them with the knowledge and skills required to handle emergencies, including the evacuation of their respective floors. The Head of Department (HoD) nominates the departmental EHS coordination which is responsible for this task.

Evacuation Guidance: The trained personnel are responsible for guiding occupants during emergencies, helping them to evacuate safely, and directing them to the designated assembly points. For open areas, security guards have the responsibility to guide and handle the situation. For floors, labs, and classes, the floor attendants, lab staff, and student volunteers are responsible. This procedure is adopted in regular semesters. In summer and semester breaks, floor attendants and lab staff are responsible.

Lab Specific EHS Activities

It is essential to provide specific EHS training to lab instructors, lab technicians, and students. These individuals have the responsibility of ensuring the safety of lab activities. The Head of Department (HoD) nominates the departmental EHS coordination which is responsible for this task.

Emergency Response: In case of any emergency within the lab, these trained personnel will provide guidance and assist in the proper evacuation of the labs and the surrounding areas.

Equipment Specific EHS Activities

Vendor Training: Vendors are responsible for training our lab staff on the safe use of equipment. Payment to vendors is only issued after they have adequately trained our staff.

Training Responsibility: Following vendor training, lab staff members are responsible for training students on the proper use of equipment, and ensuring safety standards are maintained.

Well-being Center

Psychology Department Support: Our university houses a well-being center within the psychology department, which assists in addressing health and safety-related issues. This center provides support to individuals facing psychological or emotional challenges related to health and safety. The HoD of the psychology department has the responsibility for this task.

Emergency Services

Collaboration with Emergency Services: In addition to internal training, the Volunteer in Services (VIS) office collaborates with external emergency services, such as 15 and 1122, to provide training to the university’s EHS representatives as nominated by the UHSSC convener, selected faculty and staff, and students.

Emergency Medical Facilities

(a) In-house dispensary: In case of any medical emergency to the occupants, a first aid kit is placed at appropriate locations and the lab staff is trained on a rotation basis to handle the situation. If the situation is a little severe, the in-house dispensary is utilized. Departmental EHS coordination has the responsibility for this task.

(b) Hospitals: In the event of a severe emergency, we have established Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with nearby hospitals to swiftly transport affected individuals and ensure their prompt medical care. The university’s security in-charge is responsible for this task.

Safety Drills

To assess the effectiveness of our EHS protocols and responsibilities, we regularly conduct safety drills. These drills provide valuable experience in managing emergencies and ensure that our personnel are well-prepared for any unforeseen situations

Job Description of EHS

This comprehensive EHS Protocol and the associated responsibilities are integral to maintaining the safety of our academic environment, and we are committed to upholding the highest standards in health and safety for the benefit of all members of our institution. Table 1 enlists EHS protocols and responsibilities.

Sr. No.	JOB DESCRIPTION	AREA TO COVER / TARGET AUDIENCE	RESPONSIBLE
1	Monitoring and updating of infrastructure and academic blocks from EHS points of view	General EHS training: University as a whole	UHSSC
2	(a) Clean environment (b) Protecting environment	University as a whole	(a) Deputy Director Admin (b) DSE
3	(a) Representatives from different departments (b) Security guards and floor attendants (c) New faculty, lab staff, and student volunteers	(a) Departmental Representatives (b) Open areas and floors (c) Departmental allocated floors / blocks	(a) UHSSC (b) University’s security in-charge (c) Departmental EHS coordination nominated by HoD
4	Lab specific EHS training to lab instructors, lab technicians, and students	Block floors, labs, and / or offices, classes	Departmental EHS coordination nominated by HoD
5	(a) Training of lab staff (b) Training of students	All equipment’s	(a) Vendors through lab coordinator (b) Lab staff
6	Well-being center	All faculty, staff, and students	HoD psychology department
7	Collaboration with emergency services for training	EHS representatives, selected faculty and staff, and students	VIS directorate
8	(a) In-house dispensary (b) Hospital	All students	(a) Departmental EHS coordinations nominated by HoD (b) University’s security in-charge
9	Safety drills to check the effectiveness of EHS measures	University as a whole	UHSSC / University’s security in-charge