Central Health and Safety Committee

Purpose

The Central Health and Safety Committee (CHSC) promotes the safety and health of people on Western's campuses, university facilities, or engaged in university-sanctioned activities.

The Washington Administrative Code 296-800-130 includes requirements for the committee's composition and functions. These requirements are met through the following Charter elements.

Membership

The Committee shall consist of voting and non-voting members (ex officio).

Voting members include:

• Director, Environmental Health and Safety, Chair
• Assistant Vice President, Risk, Ethics, Safety, and Resilience, Vice Chair
• Director, University Communications and Marketing
• 5 persons, one elected from Bargaining Units A, B, D, E and PTE, respectively
• 3 persons elected by the Faculty Senate/Faculty Union
• 1 person appointed by the Professional Staff Organization
• 1 person appointed by the Associated Students, generally the Vice President for Student Life
• 1 designate appointed by the Provost
• 1 designate appointed by the Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs
• Designate appointed by the Vice President for Student Affairs

Ex-officio, non-voting members include one representative from each of the following:

• Facilities Asset Management
• Safety Committee Chair, Facilities Management Development & Operations
• Program Manager, Capital Planning and Development
• University Police
• Athletics
• Institute for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
• Western Libraries
• Space Administration/Management
• Enterprise Infrastructure Services
• University Residences
• Viking Union
• Human Resources
• Prevention and Wellness
• Workers' Compensations and Claims Management

Specific Responsibilities

The CHSC reviews different aspects of health and safety at Western and makes recommendations to the Vice President of Business & Financial Affairs. The committee may assess:   

• University policies, procedures, and protocols related to safety and health
• Accident investigations, safety and health inspection reports, and other incident reports
• Accidental injury and illness prevention programs and activities, making suggestions to decrease accidents at activities associated with Western
• The results of safety audits provided by departments at Western, making any appropriate recommendations 

This group also advises the staff of the department of Environmental Health and Safety and departmental Safety Officers. 

Administrative Procedures

• New policies and procedures recommended by the committee and approved as appropriate according to University policy POL-U1000.10 shall be carried out by individuals and departments designated.
• All voting members of the committee shall have equal voting rights; non-voting members shall not have voting rights.
• The terms of employee-elected members shall be one year. Members may be re-elected. Members may appoint substitutes if they cannot attend a meeting with the approval of the substitutes' supervisors. The committee may make recommendations as appropriate regarding the lack of participation by individual members.
• Meetings shall be as determined by the committee. Generally, the frequency shall be monthly during the academic year, with a minimum of nine meetings per year. A meeting shall be called by the director of Environmental Health and Safety at the earliest opportunity if requested by any three members of the committee or the chairperson.
• The committee recommends appropriate action to the Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs, with copies of the recommendations to the Provost or appropriate Vice President, in instances where, in the committee's judgment, personnel or property may be endangered.
• A quorum consists of 50% or more of the voting members of the committee.
• Approval of motions requires a majority of voting members present. Members may also vote by email. Members are given up to a week to respond to the request to vote.
• Subcommittees may be formed at the discretion of the committee.
• The director of the Environmental Health and Safety or designee is responsible for meeting minutes.

Amendments to the Charter

Charter amendments may be made by the Environmental Health and Safety director to keep the committee in compliance with regulatory changes or to make minor corrections to department names.

Committee members may recommend an amendment to the Charter to further Western safety activities if the amendment is approved by two-thirds of all voting members.

Recommended amendments must be presented to the Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs. Recommended amendments become effective upon approval of the administration.

Amendments bringing the committee out of compliance with Washington Administrative Code 296-800-130 may not be enacted.

The university also maintains a Laboratory and Chemical Safety Committee (LCSC) whose purpose is to help guide laboratory safety decisions, including research and support functions at Western. The chair of the LCSC is also the chair of the CHSC, and updates the committee as appropriate on relevant topics.

Emergency management and planning coordination and review is not part of this committee’s responsibilities, but is under the purview of Western’s Emergency Management Committee.

For more information about the Central Health and Safety Committee, please contact the committee chair by clicking on their name in the table above.