Environmental Health & Safety Policy

Policy Category	Issuing Authority	Responsibility	Publication Date	Next Review Date
Environmental Health & Safety	Enterprise Risk Management	Environmental Health & Safety	11/7/2025	11/7/2028

Policy Statement/Background:

Stony Brook University (University) is committed to managing its academic, research and health care programs in a manner that protects the global and local human and natural environments, promotes a safe and healthful campus community, and complies with federal, state and local regulations. We strive to maintain a strong safety culture where everyone feels responsible for demonstrating caring behavior with a commitment to safety.

Policy:

All members of the Stony Brook community are expected to comply with environmental health and safety laws, regulations, and other recognized standards and practices that are identified to mitigate risks, prevent injuries, illnesses, protect property and the environment.

The Department of Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S), under the auspices of Enterprise Risk Management, implements an Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Management System (defined below) - a structured, organization-wide approach to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate safety risks to prevent accidents, improve safety performance, ensure compliance and to build a strong safety culture.

Key elements of the EHS Management System includes, but is not limited to:

EH&S Policies and Procedures
EH&S Training
Risk Assessment and Hazard Evaluations
Inspections and Audits
Compliance Monitoring and Tracking
Emergency Planning and Response
Guides and Awareness and Information
University Committees
Continuous Improvement

Responsibility

The Provost and Vice Presidents have primary responsibility for ensuring that the requirements as established by the EHS Management System are implemented and supported by all academic, medical, research and administrative departments and programs.

Deans, Chairs and Directors are responsible for implementing the requirements as established by the EHS Management System within their designated areas of responsibility to ensure compliance with regulations, safety of personnel and protection of the environment. They shall provide both the resources required to support the EHS Management System and the oversight necessary to ensure implementation and compliance with relevant standards and regulations.

Supervisors, including principal investigators, program coordinators and faculty, have direct responsibility for ensuring that provisions of the EHS Management System are fully executed. This shall be accomplished through the review of work practices, inspection of facilities, development and implementation of procedures, use of engineering controls and personal protective equipment, mandatory training, and the prompt correction of noted deficiencies.

Students, faculty and staff members of the campus community shall follow established procedures, use appropriate safety equipment, report unsafe or hazardous situations, and attend required training sessions.

The Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) shall develop and implement elements of the EHS Safety Management System to assist departments in complying with the requirements. EH&S establishes and maintains EHS Safety Management System elements through the following program areas:

Environmental Programs
Fire & Emergency Services
Hazardous Materials and Waste
Healthcare Safety
Laboratory Safety
Radiation Safety
Workplace Safety

In the event of emergency, the Associate Vice President of EH&S (AVP) or Incident Commander has the authority to immediately address any situation that is or may be hazardous to the safety of the campus community or the environment. The AVP shall advise the Vice President for Enterprise Risk Management and Chief Security Officer and recommend appropriate action to be taken.

Compliance

Any dereliction of responsibility, authority or accountability established by this policy or the EHS Management System that may result in a serious physical hazard, exposure, injury or liability shall be brought to the attention of senior leadership, which may include the President.

Individuals who fail to comply with EHS Management System requirements, policies or procedures (including any training requirements for staff or students), may result in sanctions or other disciplinary action as covered by University policy and/or the disciplinary procedures pursuant to the applicable collective bargaining agreements, and applicable policies and procedures. Individuals may also be subject to civil and/or criminal action.

EH&S has the authority to “Stop Work” to immediately suspend any operation that poses an immediate hazard to life, health or property.

Definitions:

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Management System: a structured, organization-wide approach to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate safety risks to prevent accidents, improve safety performance, ensure compliance, and to build a strong safety culture. Key elements of the EHS Management System includes, but is not limited to: policies and procedures, training, risk assessments, hazard evaluations, inspections and audits, compliance monitoring and tracking, emergency planning and response, safety guides and awareness information. It also includes a continuous improvement process with the involvement of departments and University committees.

Contact:

Additional information about this policy is available here:

Environmental Health and Safety
110 Suffolk Hall
Stony Brook, NY 11794
(631) 632-6410