Occupational Health & Safety

ABOUT US: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Section’s role is to promote and protect the health and safety of University employees, and to promote University compliance with applicable OSHA, EPA, CT DPH, and other worker safety regulations. The OHS section provides services covering a broad range of worker safety issues that affect the health and well-being of University faculty and staff working in a variety of settings, including the maintenance and construction trades, technical fields, food service, custodial services, farm services, protective services, and office and administrative areas. The OHS section develops policies and programs, conducts training, responds to complaints and referrals, and performs workplace consultations, audits, and accident investigations. Health and safety issues covered by the section include: asbestos, lead, non-laboratory chemical use and handling, electrical safety, personal protective equipment, respiratory protection, industrial vehicle safety, noise exposure, machinery and equipment safety, trenching and excavations, ergonomics, and indoor air quality.

Staff:

Terri Dominguez, Manager 486-0981

• General OSHA and workplace safety questions in non-laboratory settings
• specialty areas: ergonomics, indoor air quality, mold, pesticide safety, ventilation

Valerie Brangan, Health and Safety Specialist 486-2982

• asbestos, hazard communication, hearing conservation, lead, personal protective equipment, respiratory protection

Rich Kula, Health and Safety Specialist 486-3190

• accident investigations, aerial lifts, confined space entry, electrical safety, fall protection, industrial vehicle/equipment safety, lockout/tagout, machine guarding, scaffolds, trenching and excavation safety

Dennis Demers, Health and Safety Technician 486-2229

• workplace environmental monitoring, general workplace safety inspections/surveys