VI - 17.00(A) - UMB POLICY ON RISK MANAGEMENT

(Approved by the President, May 29, 1996)

It is a policy of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) to maintain an environment for its faculty, staff, students, and visitors that does not adversely affect their health and safety. In support of this policy, UMB will give high priority and commit appropriate resources to programs that eliminate, where possible, or reduce to acceptable limits, environmental and occupational hazards that threaten the health or safety of anyone partaking of its programs or using its facilities.

The ultimate responsibility for risk management at UMB rests with the President. The President delegates to each dean, director, chairperson, and supervisor the responsibility for safety performance within their respective unit. Everyone with supervisory responsibility is expected to take the initiative to ensure that safe working conditions are maintained. Each supervisor must take the initiative to train the persons under their supervision in safe work practices. In addition, supervisors are expected to promote a safety attitude and awareness that will lead faculty, staff, and students working under their supervision to take a safe course when faced with situations which are not covered by established regulations and practices.

It is incumbent upon each member of the faculty, staff, and student body to provide the constant vigilance necessary to avoid unsafe acts on their part, and on the part of others. Faculty, staff, and students have an obligation to take all reasonable precautions to prevent injury to themselves or to their fellow employees or students. They are expected to learn and to follow approved standards and procedures which apply to their activities, and to check with their supervisors when they have any doubts concerning potential hazards.

In recognition of these obligations and the value of written policies and procedures, the President delegates to the Vice President for Academic Affairs responsibility for chairing a Risk Management Committee whose duty it is to establish UMB policies to manage risk across all schools and units. The Risk Management Committee has oversight responsibility and serves as a referral board for all advisory and administrative committees related to environmental health and safety and shall review and approve UMB policies pertaining to environmental health and safety issues. Such committees include the Radiation Safety, Biosafety, Recombinant DNA, Health and Safety, Fire Safety, Chemical Hygiene, and Safety and Loss Control committees. The Risk Management Committee will conduct and document an annual review of the performance of the Risk Management programs.

Failure to abide by the policies and procedures of the UMB Risk Management Program jeopardizes the welfare of our most valuable assets, our faculty, staff, and students. Therefore, all UMB faculty, staff, and students are required to comply with applicable Risk Management policies and procedures. Supervisors will implement progressive discipline for repeated health and safety violations and will be held accountable for unsafe conditions and unsafe acts within their area of responsibility.

Non exempt employees should consult the Memorandum of Understanding for the Non-exempt Employee Unit, Article 15 Health and Safety for additional information regarding this and other specific health and safety matters.