In addition to meeting regulatory compliance requirements, the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is dedicated to providing a safe work environment for all faculty, staff, and students.
The Colgate University occupational safety program is based on occupational hazard assessments, associated injury prevention programs, and health and safety training for the entire university community.
Incident, Injury, and Illness Reporting
Work-related accidents, injuries, and illnesses must be reported as soon as possible via the forms provided below. Upon receipt, EHS will investigate the incident within 24 hours to ensure that no unsafe conditions exist and, when necessary, implement corrective actions.
Training Management System
Colgate's online training management system (TrainCaster) ensures regulatory and university training requirements are properly maintained and recorded. TrainCaster also provides an online training library for faculty, staff, and students. For further support, contact EHS at 315-228-7994 or via email at mwilliams@colgate.edu.
Learn more about specific safety programs by expanding the accordions below.
In accordance with the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (NY HERO Act), Colgate has developed an Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan. The purpose of this plan is to protect employees against exposure and disease during an outbreak and goes into effect when an airborne infectious disease is designated by the NY Commissioner of Health as a highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health.
Employees are at risk of contracting infectious diseases each time they are exposed to bloodborne pathogens. Colgate's policy is to prevent exposure incidents whenever possible. To protect workers and to comply with OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, the university has established a Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan.
Bloodborne pathogen response kits with personal protective equipment and clean-up materials are located across campus. A map of their locations is available here.
A confined space, as defined in 29 CFR 1910.146, has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (ex. tanks, vessels, silos, vaults, pits, and storage bins) and is not designed for continuous employee occupancy. An inventory of all confined spaces at Colgate University has been compiled to provide potential hazards, personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, and entry procedures for each identified space.
Colgate University has established a Hot Work Permit Program to (1) minimize the potential for a fire incident due to hot work on campus and (2) comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.252 Welding, Cutting and Brazing standard, International Fire Code (IFC) Chapter 35 Welding and Other Hot Work, and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 51B Standard for Fire Prevention During Welding, Cutting, and Other Hot Work.
The Eye and Face Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program is designed to ensure all Colgate University staff and students have the appropriate level of protection during activities that present a potential eye and face hazard. The program sets forth use requirements and provides resources to appropriately identify and select eye and face protection based on the specific hazard source. All protective eyewear must meet the ANSI Z87.1-2003 standard.
The Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) establishes respiratory protection requirements at Colgate University and describes all aspects pertaining to the safe use and maintenance of university-issued respirators. All respirators are issued through EHS (following a respirator medical evaluation and respirator fit test).