Work Place & Fire Inspections

Work Place Inspections

OSHA’s stated mission is “to ensure the safety and health of America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards…and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health.”
Created in 1970 by the Occupational and Safety Health Act, OSHA has established workplace rules and guidance. Departments and employees both have a responsibility to make our workplaces as safe as possible. Department directors should be familiar with OSHA regulations and enforce them in their departments. Workplace safety review should be a regular part of the supervisor’s department management. The Environmental Health and Safety Manager will assist departments in assessing safety issues, policies, and reviews.

Any employee can request the Environmental Health and Safety Manager review a workplace safety policy.

OSHA inspectors can inspect a workplace without giving notice. If an OSHA inspector arrives for an inspection ask for proper identification, cooperate fully, contact the Environmental Health and Safety Manager. OSHA will assess monetary penalties on companies that fail to provide safe working conditions. As with the NYS Fire Inspection, departments are responsible for payment of assessed penalties.

NYS Fire Inspection

The New York State Education Law requires annual inspections of colleges by the State’s Office of Fire Prevention and Control. This program is called the NYS Campus Fire Safety Program and Hartwick cooperates with the state inspectors to ensure the safety of all community members. The program focuses on compliance with the Uniform Building Code and NYS fire and life safety codes and standards.

What Can You Do to Pass Inspection?

There are many things we can do all year to make the campus safer. For instance:

1. Fire extinguishers or exits should be accessible and visible. Nothing  should be placed to block exit doors – not even for an hour.
2. Extension cords are not permitted by the fire code but power strips with built-in circuit breakers are acceptable. Don’t plug one power strip into another one. Put in a work order for permanent wiring to replace temporary wiring.
3. Store combustibles in the proper place and not in stairwells, mechanical or boiler rooms.
4. Storage rooms should be neat and accessible. Do not store items to  the ceiling- leave 24 inches of open space between items and the ceiling and leave a gap of 18 inches beneath sprinkler heads. Combustible materials should be stored in approved areas only.
5. Compressed gas cylinders must be properly secured.
6. Fire doors should be kept closed.
7. Call Security, ext. 4111 or dial Zero, for on-campus emergencies. If smoke or fire is present, pull the building fire alarm, then call Security. Off-campus students should call 911 for any emergency.

Recurring violations will incur state imposed fines-these fines accumulate daily. Departments will be responsible for paying any fines incurred.