POLICY: Employee Safety Training
New employees should observe the requirement for safety training via the Employee Safety & HazCom Class. This class is presented at least every other week and is scheduled to coordinate with the New Employee Benefit Orientations sessions. This class is required under NMSU policy and is slated to help NMSU comply with EPA and OSHA obligations. This requirement is noted on the employment letter to new full time employees. Previously hired employee are also welcome.
Department heads and other supervisors should be aware that all NMSU employees, that work with hazardous materials are required, at a minimum, to attend the Employee & HazCom Safety class. This includes temporary, part-time, post-doc, graduate, student and any other employees that work with these materials in instructional, research, shop, or agricultural settings.As these employees may not receive an employment letter, and their supervisors may not be aware of above requirements, EH&S asks that this information be forwarded to them or otherwise brought to their attention. Supervisors (faculty or staff) can be held legally responsible for ensuring training for those (regular, graduate, or student employee) that they supervise (see Environmental Health and Safety policy).
In addition to the above, many departmental work areas require additional training (e.g. radiation, bloodborne, biosafety, asbestos awareness, lab standard, forklift, respirator, lockout, etc) on annual or periodic basis as well as documents (e.g. chemical inventory, MSDSs, chemical hygiene plan, infection control plan) to operate within the law. EH&S provides the initial training and requires annual document updates.Supervisors (faculty or staff) are responsible for ensuring training for those that they supervise. Checklists on required employee training and documentation are available for
research & lab areas general, agr. & shop areas graduate orientation summary checklist