About EHS
Mission
To provide services that promote safe and compliant facilities and ensure environmental quality for the university.
The Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) office, located in the Service Building (SER)at 304 E. 24th Street on The University of Texas at Austin campus, is responsible for planning, implementing and administering The University's health and safety program, and for providing supportive technical consultation, training, investigation, and inspection to ensure compliance with guidelines set forth by federal, state and local laws and regulations. Its primary functions are to assist The University community in meeting health and safety responsiblities, to prevent or reduce accidents and to identify and eliminate environmental hazards and dangerous conditions.
Asbestos
This program is responsible for the safe and proper control of asbestos containing materials. This includes compiling an inventory of known asbestos containing building materials, performing surveys, air sampling, and abatement activity oversight.
Biological and Laboratory Safety
Programs includes laboratory safety evaluations and fume hood testing. Periodic evaluations are also performed for biological labs to determine compliance with CDC/NIH guidelines. Provides training in the areas of lab safety, bloodborne pathogens, and biological safety. Responsibilities also include the review of design plans for new and renovated laboratory space. Also assists in emergency response, especially those incidents involving biological materials.
Chemical Safety and Waste Management
This program is responsible for the removal of regulated or potentially regulated waste from University facilities and for overseeing the proper disposal of the waste. The types of waste collected include laboratory reagents, spent solvents, batteries, and used oil. Also instructs generators in chemical safety, hazardous waste management, and waste minimization, as well as responding to chemical spills that occur on campus.
Environmental Health and Industrial Hygiene
Responsibilities include all aspects of environmental health including food sanitation (procedures, inspections, permitting, and training), potable water (inspections, investigations, and evaluations), and health inspections of child care facilities. Industrial Hygiene is tasked to provide technical expertise for the promotion of the health and well-being of faculty, staff, students, and campus visitors from chemical, microbiological and physical health hazards present at or emanating from The University setting. This program responds to concerns about indoor environmental air quality, including unknown chemical odors and ventilation system operations; lead exposure; confined space entry; noise; respiratory protection; and other occupational health concerns.
Occupational Safety
This area covers general safety including accident and injury prevention. Accident investigation coordination, site surveys or inspections, hazard evaluations, injury trend analysis, and training are major components. Examples of programs include lockout/tagout, electrical safety, mechanical safety, back injury prevention, and ergonomics.
