by Monica Schwarze
Staff Writer
Students, staff and faculty at the University of La Verne have a place to turn when they notice misplaced extension cords, broken glass and wobbly chairs.
The ULV Safety Committee, which consists of a constantly changing group of four or five faculty, staff and trustee volunteers, works to make sure that the ULV campus remains safe and accident-free by conducting random safety checks on the third Tuesday of each month.
“We don’t necessarily know where we’re going to go when we meet in the morning,” said Oris Barber, director of Human Resources, who has been in charge of the Safety Committee since 1991. “You can always find something somewhere that needs fixing.”
When the committee does notice a problem, they add it to a list of concerns. Although imminently threatening dangers have priority, the committee gives each inspected department recommendations regarding what needs to be fixed. The Operations Department takes care of most dangers, although outside companies are occasionally contracted for repairs.
The committee typically walks across campus with an open eye toward any safety hazards, although there are areas on campus that are more hazardous than others. Barber named the Operations Department, the Theatre Department and science laboratories as areas where safety is especially important.
“These are naturally higher hazard areas,” said Barber. “They are exposed to more hazards such as sharp blades, knives, tools and glass. There are a lot of high hazard areas at ULV, but we’re not different from other campuses in that regard.”
Although the committee does focus much time and attention on these “higher hazard areas,” Barber tries not to discount the fact that the typical office setting can also pose safety problems.
“Tripping hazards are one of our biggest concerns,” said Barber, who cited frayed carpets and misplaced extension cords as two of the most common office dangers. “Offices may seem like pretty safe environments, but they can present safety problems.”
The committee was originally formed to look at liability concerns associated with workers, but Barber said that the purpose of the inspections is to look at all on-campus dangers that both students and staff may encounter.
“Laws at both the state and federal levels protect workers and student workers,” said Barber, “but student organizations do have the option of being involved in campus safety. The Safety Committee is comprised of volunteers who are all there because they have an interest in safety.”
President Stephen Morgan agreed that the purpose of the committee should be to protect students as well as staff and faculty.
“We’re interested in having a safe environment for everyone on this campus,” said Dr. Morgan.
Although Barber briefs volunteers on basic Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, the members of the Safety Committee need no special training to join, and they can serve for as long as they see fit.
“They become the eyes and ears of the Safety Committee,” said Barber. “By sitting on this committee, these individuals begin to pick up what safety is all about. We encourage them to come to the meetings with safety suggestions.”
Barber has tried to involve more members of the campus community in safety issues by offering gift certificates at Warehouse Pizza and Cafe Allégro to faculty and staff who notice and report safety concerns.
So far, the gift certificate program has been working. Last month’s winning suggestion resulted in the removal of a Founders Hall magnolia tree with a precariously dangling branch.
“I examined the tree and noticed that other limbs had fallen,” said Barber. “It was apparent to me that a limb could have fallen at any time.”
If offering incentives for safety suggestions continues to be successful, Barber may expand the program, offering the certificates to students who report concerns. For now, however, the gift certificates are only available to faculty and staff.
Students can still become involved in on-campus safety by calling the safety hotline at extension 4-SAF (4723) to make safety suggestions. Barber also encourages students to get involved by joining the committee and participating in the inspections. He noted that students have always been welcome to join the committee, and he is currently in the process of encouraging fraternity and sorority involvement.
“I’ve been talking to one fraternity about how it might be fun or interesting to take their pledge class on an inspection one year,” he said. “The students’ point of view is very important to us.”
There has been a steady decline in the number of accidents on campus since Barber took over the committee, and this has resulted in insurance savings for the University.
Although the current safety program has been successful, more committee members may be needed as the campus expands.
“As we move ahead, we’ll probably need to staff the safety program with more personnel,” said Dr. Morgan. “As our plant grows, we have more space to cover and we have more buildings. There are more spaces that we need to inspect to insure safety.”
Barber agreed that more volunteers may be needed to keep up with a growing, changing campus. “There’s no limit to the number of volunteers who can be on the committee,” he said. “I’d be happy to have every employee attend our meetings. My goal is to have each geographic area on campus represented on the Safety Committee.”
Currently, the committee does manage to inspect each area of campus “at least two or three times a year,” said Barber.
In addition to recommending immediate safety hazards, the committee also looks at how problems can be prevented on campus.
Barber is presently looking at ways to prevent carpel tunnel syndrome, eye strain and back problems by educating faculty and staff on ergonomics, the study of designing work stations that are compatible with the human body.
Videos on ergonomics are being offered to all departments, and Barber is working with the Purchasing Department to ensure that all chairs, keyboards and other office supplies will be ordered with safety and comfort in mind.
“We need to design work tasks to bring the work into a comfortable position with the body,” says Barber. “It’s our designer safety issue right now.”
Future committee plans also include a hazardous materials study and more intense fire extinguisher training.
Barber said that he is happy to tackle these tasks, but that his other Human Resources duties occasionally take time away from his interest in safety. “My biggest problem,” he said. “Is that safety is only part of my job.”
