Rules

The purpose of this rule is to demonstrate the breadth of safety-related activities at Stanly Community College (SCC) and to guide safety-related operations. It is intended as a guide and flexible record that changes with the needs of the institution.

Overall safety response

All SCC employees and students are authorized to call 9-1-1 for emergency medical or hazardous materials response. All SCC employees and students are authorized to call the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to obtain confidential support for a suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress. Qualified individuals may provide first aid in the event of minor incidents and should understand their personal capabilities for triage of serious physical or mental health incidents that should be treated by licensed or certified professional responders. All accidents or emergencies involving students on campus or at off-campus locations are to be reported to the Business Office using the Student Injury Report form. Students who pay fees may be covered by the SCC Accident Insurance Policy. Accident and emergency documentation is needed for all students regardless of their status as fee-paying or as dual-enrolled, correctional, or tuition/fee waived students. The Office of Human Resources maintains similar documentation for employees using Workers Compensation Accident/Injury forms.

Responsibilities

1. Safety Core Team addresses deficiencies and monitors action items identified by safety activities scheduled under this rule. The Safety Core Team will work toward compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act for all safety functions across the college. Members of the Safety Core Team are:
   1. Vice President of Academic Affairs
   2. Associate Vice President of the School of Transfer and Business
   3. Associate Vice President of the School of Health Sciences and Public Services
   4. Associate Vice President of the School of Advanced Manufacturing, Industry, Technology, and Trades
   5. Department Head of Life and Physical Science
   6. Chemistry Instructor
   7. Executive Assistant for the Vice President of Administrative Services
   8. Dean of Advanced Manufacturing, Industry, and Trades
   9. Associate Vice President of Administrative and Facilities Services
   10. Administrative and Facilities Services Director
   11. Vice President of Administrative Services/CFO
   12. Director of Security
2. Building Safety Coordinators are identified individuals trained to respond to immediate emergencies, and to direct individuals within their designated area to follow appropriate emergency protocols.
3. The Safety Core Team is responsible for appointing one or more qualified employee(s) to fulfill the duties of Exposure Control coordinator and Chemical Hygiene officer.
4. Supervisors will include appropriate safety training in individual job descriptions and use the procedures of the Performance Evaluation Policy for accountability of employees.
5. Faculty are responsible for teaching students the proper attitude and specific actions toward safety in courses and their chosen field of study. The instructor’s habits and attitude toward safety have a great influence on the habits and attitudes formulated by the students for their careers and future lives.
6. Program head/coordinator/director is responsible for giving safety contact information to evening and weekend instructors.
   1. The initial point of contact for evenings and weekends is the security number (704-991-0300).
   2. Security will contact these designated positions:
      1. Maintenance Areas – Associate Vice President of Administrative and Facility Services (Call extension, leave voicemail after hours)
      2. Academic Areas – Vice President of Academic Affairs (Call extension, leave voicemail after hours)

Safety Materials and Equipment

SCC makes available to employees and students safety documentation and equipment to allow for a safe and supportive learning and workforce environment. SCC ensures that physical facilities and resources on campus appropriately serve the safety needs of  the educational programs, support services, and on-campus community activities (SACSCOC standard 13.7). SCC takes reasonable steps to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment for all members of the campus community (SACSCOC standard 13.8).

Documentation

Safety rules and regulations are to be posted on laboratory and shop bulletin boards. This includes but is not limited to emergency exit floor plans and the location of SDS.

SCC maintains various safety plans:

1. Chemical hygiene plan is maintained by the Department Head of Life and Physical Science. As updates are completed, they will be communicated to the Chemistry Instructor and the Safety Core Team.
2. Exposure control plan is maintained by the AVP of the School of Health Sciences and Public Services. As updates are completed, they will be communicated to the Safety Core Team.
3. Environmental safety plan is maintained by the AVP of the School of Advanced Manufacturing, Industry, Technology and Trades. As updates are completed, they will be communicated to the Safety Core Team.
4. The Emergency Management Plan is maintained by the Director of Security. Updates for best practices are incorporated to the Emergency Management Plan at least annually, and the latest edition shall be reported by the Director of Security to the Safety Core Team each fall.
5. Crisis Communication plan is maintained by the Vice President of Administrative Services/CFO in conjunction with the Public Information Officer. As updates are completed, they will be communicated to the Safety Core Team.

Fixed Safety Equipment

Safety labels: The Dean of Advanced Manufacturing, Industry and Technology will ensure appropriate personnel coordinate so that all containers are labeled appropriately.  

Eyewash/shower: The eyewash/shower stations are located in classrooms used by particular Schools, and the Associate Vice President with oversight of the School will ensure a monthly purge of water lines.  The manufacturers of the emergency equipment provide detailed instructions on the proper operation, inspection and maintenance of the eyewash stations, emergency showers, and disposable stations for each.

Outside labels on buildings: The AVP of Administrative and Facilities Services will coordinate with the Albemarle and Locust Fire Departments to ensure buildings are labeled appropriately to satisfy the needs of emergency response personnel.

Mobile Safety Equipment

SCC requires three types of personal protective equipment (PPE) in laboratories and field sites, as needed for conditions and as detailed in course syllabi. These locations include, without limitation, indoor classrooms where biological specimens and/or chemicals are used for laboratory courses, advanced manufacturing or industrial classrooms where heavy, fast-moving, sharp, corrosive, or flammable materials are present, or outdoor classroom sites where heavy equipment or dangers such as a fall from heights are present.

1. Body protection from blunt-force or sharp object trauma, such as provided by hard-hats, face shields, or steel-toed shoes.
2. Skin and clothing protection such as lab coats, coveralls, or other external cover.
3. Sensory protection for vision and hearing such as face or eye masks, shatter-proof glasses, or hearing protection. North Carolina law requires that eye protective devices be worn by students, instructors, and visitors to the instructional area where any of the following activities are conducted:
   1. Working with hot solids, liquids, or molten metals,
   2. Milling, sawing, turning, shaping, cutting, or stamping of solid materials,
   3. Heat treating, tempering, or kiln firing of any metal or other material,
   4. Welding of any type,
   5. Hazardous servicing of any vehicle, or
   6. Using caustic or explosive chemicals or materials.

SCC provides fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) for each building. The locations of these devices are labeled on emergency floor plans posted in each office, classroom, and hallway of every SCC building. Building Safety Coordinators are trained annually in the proper use of these devices. Each device is inspected regularly and, at least annually, batteries or other consumable component parts are replaced.

Training and Documentation

Safety training is incorporated into the employee work experience in part as college-wide mandatory training and in part as individualized training for specific job functions.

Full-time employees will complete mandatory training via pre-recorded modules each year related to cybersecurity; campus security; slips, trips, and falls; SDS; and ergonomics. The safety training is one portion of a mandatory 30-hours of professional development required by SCC’s performance evaluation policy.

Part-time employees will complete mandatory training each year via pre-recorded modules related to cybersecurity; campus security; and Title IX.

Building Safety Coordinators train annually in areas of Responding to Emergencies, Weather Issues, Lockdowns and Drills & Emergency Management Plan; Documenting Emergencies, Events, Injuries and Accidents; First Aid, CPR, & AED; Controlling Workplace Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens; Self-Defense; and Dealing with the Upset Person.

The Director of Security plans a series of drills each year. SCC and Stanly Early College High School (SECHS) are subject to periodic (monthly for SECHS) drills for fires and tornadoes. One live-action crisis scenario may be enacted each year for employees in concert with first responders. Tabletop exercises supplement training to further identify opportunities to address safety and security needs. The Director of Security provides pre-drill training per building and upon request.

Classroom Safety Practices

Faculty are responsible for teaching students the proper attitude and specific actions toward safety in courses and their chosen field of study. The instructor’s habits and attitude toward safety have a great influence on the habits and attitudes formulated by students for their careers and future lives.

Instructors should demonstrate the proper procedures for the use of dangerous equipment before any student is allowed to use equipment and machinery. Instructors should bring attention to hazards in advance.

Jewelry or loose clothing should not be worn when operating moving equipment. If neckties are worn, they should be of the bow or breakaway type. Lanyards must be styled as breakaway or not worn in the vicinity of moving equipment.

The instructor must always be present in shops and laboratories when students are using machinery or equipment. In the event the instructor must leave the area, another instructor should be placed in charge. Unauthorized students are prohibited from using equipment and machinery.

Members of the public may not use machinery or equipment without written permission from the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Events for community outreach, such as pre-college camps or STEM education competitions, must be supervised by an SCC employee. Any visitor to a shop or laboratory must be accompanied by an SCC employee.

Audits

SCC values the expertise of internal and external subject matter experts to help maintain a safe campus environment. These experts will audit safety processes regularly to identify opportunities for continual improvement.

ADA-compliance audits for safety functions are scheduled by the NCCCS system office. Specifically, the NCCCS Office of Programs, Career & Technical Education, works with the federal Department of Education to prepare audits and voluntary compliance programs to assist colleges with ADA compliance.

Each SCC vice president will ensure that the business continuity plans for their respective areas are reviewed annually. Each SCC vice president will report the results of the review to the Safety Core Team by the end of the fall semester. The Safety Core Team will confirm receipt of the feedback on each Business Continuity Plan at the first meeting of the Safety Core Team in the new calendar year.

Qualified SCC employees and/or a third-party vendor will conduct OSHA mock audits in March each year and report the audit results to the Safety Core Team by April 30.

Timeline for Safety Activities

• January - classroom and laboratory safety check prior to first day of Spring term classes; SECHS monthly drills; Safety Core Team confirms receipt of Business Continuity Plan feedback
• February – SECHS monthly drills; pre-drill training for college
• March –SECHS monthly drills; OSHA mock audits completed
• April – OSHA mock audits reported to Safety Core Team by April 30; SECHS monthly drills
• May- classroom and laboratory safety check prior to first day of Summer term classes
• June – ensure Stanly County emergency management has most updated floor plans following any renovations and confirm hazards are labeled according to federal and state requirements
• July- no scheduled activities
• August- classroom and laboratory safety check prior to first day of Fall term classes; Emergency Management Plan updates reported to Safety Core Team; SECHS monthly drills
• September – SECHS monthly drills; pre-drill training for college
• October–; SECHS monthly drills
• November - SECHS monthly drills
• December – classroom and laboratory safety check prior to first day of Winter Intersession classes and Winter Break; SECHS monthly drills; business continuity plan audits reported to Safety Core Team by the last day of each Fall semester

At least once a year, conduct an all-college crisis drill.

Revision: 02/13/2023