Environmental

Health and Safety

Training Plan

A Subsection of the Injury and Illness Prevention Program

Per California Code of Regulations Title 8 §3203
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Environmental Health & Safety Training Plan

Table of Contents
1.0 Regulatory Authority .............................................................................................................................. 1
2.0 Administering Agency............................................................................................................................ 1
3.0 Background ............................................................................................................................................. 1
4.0 Scope ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
5.0 Policy ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
6.0 Objectives ............................................................................................................................................... 2
7.0 Responsibilities....................................................................................................................................... 2
7.1 University Administration ...................................................................................................................... 2
7.2 Safety and Risk Management (S&RM) .................................................................................................. 3
7.3 Deans, Directors, Department Chairs, Managers, and Supervisors........................................................ 3
7.4 Faculty and Principal Investigators ........................................................................................................ 4
7.5 Employees .............................................................................................................................................. 4
7.6 Students Assistants and Volunteers ........................................................................................................ 5
8.0 Training and Accountability ................................................................................................................... 5
9.0 Safety Training Plan ............................................................................................................................... 5
9.1 New Employees ...................................................................................................................................... 5
9.2 Student Assistants or Volunteers ............................................................................................................ 5
9.3 Safety Training for Personnel at Off-Site Locations .............................................................................. 6
9.4 Refresher Training, Retraining or Recertification .................................................................................. 6
9.5 Tracking and Notification of Incomplete Training................................................................................. 6
10.0 Documentation and Recordkeeping........................................................................................................ 6
10.1 Document Control .................................................................................................................................. 7
10.2 Certificates of Completion...................................................................................................................... 7
11.0 Training Plan Evaluation ........................................................................................................................ 8
12.0 Types of Training ................................................................................................................................... 8
12.1 Identifying Types of Training................................................................................................................. 8
Appendices .............................................................................................................................................................. 10
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Environmental Health & Safety Training Plan
1.0 Regulatory Authority

California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Subchapter 4 and 7; California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section
3203; CSU Occupational Health & Safety Policy (Executive Order 1039)

2.0 Administering Agency

California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Industrial relations (Cal/OSHA)

3.0 Background

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and similar regulatory agencies require Environmental Health
and Safety (EHS) training at the workplace in many different circumstances. It gives employees an opportunity to
learn their jobs properly, bring new ideas into the workplace, reinforce existing ideas and practices, and it helps to
put the EHS Program into action.

Everyone at the University will benefit from health and safety training through fewer workplace injuries and
illnesses, reduced stress, and higher morale. Productivity, profits, and competitiveness will increase as production
costs per unit, turnover, and workers compensation rates lower.

4.0 Scope

This plan establishes the requirements for the EHS Training Plan at California State University Stanislaus.
Training is one of the most important elements of a comprehensive EHS program. This plan applies to all
employees of California State University Stanislaus including student assistants and in some cases volunteers.
This does not include the general student population.

5.0 Policy

It is the policy of the University that all faculty, staff, student assistants, volunteers, and visitors who perform
work at, or for the University, receive appropriate training necessary to protect their health and perform work in a
safe and environmentally sound manner. This training must include information regarding job hazards, possible
health effects, and required work practices and procedures. The EHS Training Plan has been designed to meet the
requirements of federal, state, and local regulatory agencies.

The content of training sessions may vary, but each session whether provided by Safety & Risk Management
(S&RM), other individual departments on campus, or outside vendors will work to perform these five University
safety training requirements:

• Inform employees about any University standards, policies and procedures in regard to loss prevention,
safety and health.
• Review the safe work procedures unique to that employee’s job, and how these safe work procedures
protect against risk and danger.
• When personal protective equipment (PPE) is required or necessary, and how to use and maintain the
equipment in good condition.
• Learn what to do in case of emergencies occurring in the workplace.
• Provide direction on how to report hazards in the workplace.
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Environmental Health & Safety Training Plan

6.0 Objectives

The objectives of the EHS Training Plan are to:

• Identify all required and recommended environmental, health, and safety training
• Provide mechanisms to ensure that such training is completed
• Document all safety training
• Make training-related records and reports available to managers and regulatory agencies
• Provide a mechanism to ensure continuous improvement of the EHS Training Plan

7.0 Responsibilities

California State University Stanislaus will work to identify and eliminate hazards; if that is not feasible, training
will be provided to prepare workers to protect themselves, if necessary, against any remaining hazards. If training
can best address remaining health or safety hazards, appropriate training goals will be defined based on particular
needs.

The University will commit available resources to ensure employees receive health and safety training
during the following circumstances:

• Whenever a person is hired – general safety orientation including an overview of the University’s Injury
and Illness Prevention Program and the importance of S&RM programs and procedures.
• Whenever an employee is given a new job assignment – during formal classroom training, and again when
the supervisor provides specific task training. It is extremely important that supervisors emphasize safety
during initial task assignment.
• Whenever new work procedures are introduced – during formal classroom training and supervisor on-the-
job training.
• Whenever new equipment is installed – if new hazards are introduced.
• Whenever new substances are used – hazard communication requirements may apply.
• Whenever a new hazard is introduced or there has been an incident.

7.1 University Administration

University Administration will provide the necessary funds and scheduling time to ensure effective health
and safety training is provided. This commitment will include paid work time for training and in the
language that the worker understands.

To most effectively carry out their safety responsibilities, all employees must understand (1) their role in
the plan, (2) the hazards and potential hazards that need to be prevented or controlled, and (3) the ways to
protect themselves and others. University Administration will achieve these goals by:

• educating everyone on the natural and system consequences of their actions;

• educating all managers, supervisors and employees on their safety management system
responsibilities;
• educating all employees about the specific hazards and control measures in their workplace;
• training all employees on hazard identification, analysis, reporting and control procedures; and
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Environmental Health & Safety Training Plan
• training all employees on safe work procedures and practices.

This training plan will focus on health and safety concerns that determine the best way to deal with a
particular hazard. When a hazard is identified, we will first try to remove it entirely. If that is not feasible,
we will then train workers to protect themselves, if necessary, against the remaining hazard. Once it is
decided that a health and safety issue can best be addressed by training (or by another method combined
with training), we will follow up by developing specific training goals based on those particular needs.

7.2 Safety and Risk Management (S&RM)

• Oversee the University's EHS Training Plan, including development, implementation, and evaluation
of the plan.
• Provide consultative assistance on general safety training courses, provided by University departments,
to meet regulatory requirements and injury and illness prevention needs.
• Maintain written documentation and database for all training courses provided by S&RM.
• Provide technical assistance to safety training course instructors and to management on their safety and
job-specific training needs and plan.
• Review safety training courses to ensure proper qualifications of the trainer and training content.
• Assign the necessary required health and safety trainings through CSU Learn.
• Coordinate medical monitoring information in conjunction with training profile.
• Update and modify this plan, policies, and procedures that pertain to the Health and Safety of the
University, as necessary.
• Ensure the EHS Training Plan is in full compliance with OSHA standards.

7.3 Deans, Directors, Department Chairs, Managers, and Supervisors

Deans, Directors, Department Chairs, Managers, and Supervisors will be given special training to help
them in their leadership role. They will be taught to look for hidden hazards in the work under their
supervision; insist on the maintenance of the physical protection in their areas; and reinforce employee
hazard training through performance feedback and consistent enforcement when necessary.

They will commit necessary resources to ensure employees understand the responsibilities below and the
reasons for them:

• Detecting and correcting hazards in their work areas before they result in injuries or illnesses
• Understand the hazards to which they may be exposed and how to prevent harm to themselves and
others from exposure to these hazards.
• Providing physical resources and psychosocial support that promote safe work
• Providing performance feedback and effective recognition and discipline techniques
• Conducting on-the-job training

Deans, Directors, Department Chairs, Managers, and Supervisors are considered the primary safety
trainers. They should understand their responsibilities within this EHS Training Plan. This may require
classroom training and other forms of communication. Formal classroom training may not be necessary.
The subject can be covered periodically as a part of regular management meetings provided by the Human
Resources, S&RM, or by outside resources.

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Environmental Health & Safety Training Plan

Training will be provided in the following subject areas:

• the elements of the safety management system, and the positive impact the various processes
within the system can have on academic objectives
• their responsibility to communicate the EHS Training Plan goals and objectives to their employees
• their role that includes making clear assignments of EHS Program responsibilities, providing
authority and resources to carry out assigned tasks, and holding subordinate managers and
supervisors accountable
• actively requiring compliance with mandatory EHS Program policies and rules and encouraging
employee involvement in discretionary safety activities such as making suggestions and
participation in the safety committee.

Training will emphasize the importance of visibly showing their commitment to the EHS program. They
will be expected to set a good example by scrupulously following all the safety and health rules
themselves.

It is the responsibility of the Deans, Directors, Department Chairs, Managers, and Supervisors to review
their direct reports training record within CSU Learn and hold their direct reports accountable for
completing the required training. Non-Compliance is reviewed by the University President on an annual
basis and is reflected on their annual evaluation from the Chancellor’s Office.

7.4 Faculty and Principal Investigators

Faculty and Principal Investigators are responsible for student safety training prior to any activity that has
a potential for a safety concern (e.g. lab, field trip, internship, field study, etc.).

7.5 Employees

At a minimum, employees must know the general health and safety of the worksite, specific site hazards
and the safe work practices needed to help control exposure, and the individual's role in all types of
emergency situations.

Employees must know they are responsible for complying with all University safety policies and
procedures, and that most accidents can be prevented by their safe work practices. They must be very
familiar with any personal protective equipment required for their jobs. They must know what to do in
case of emergencies.

Each employee needs to understand that they are not expected to start working a new assignment until
they have been properly trained. If a job appears to be unsafe, they will report the situation to their
supervisor.

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7.6 Students Assistants and Volunteers

Students and Volunteers who are employed by the University are also required to receive safety
training when applicable to their jobs.

8.0 Training and Accountability

The safety and welfare of every individual on this campus is of utmost importance. To help insure that the health
and safety policies and procedures are followed by everyone, normal disciplinary actions could be implemented
against any individual (university employee or student) who disregards the safety of the campus community. The
actions could include verbal or written reprimand and/or any other action up to and including termination or
dismissal.
All employees shall adhere to healthy and safe work practices defined by established campus and
departmental health and safety guidelines. Failure to do so may result in diminished performance evaluations
and/or disciplinary action is implemented within authority and pursuant to collective bargaining unit
agreements. Failure to comply with safe work practices may also lead to fines by Cal/OSHA, the EPA,
and/or personal civil penalties.

9.0 Safety Training Plan

Completion of the required safety training courses ensures that all University personnel know basic employee
procedures, the hazards associated with their jobs, understand the possible health and safety effects of exposure to
those hazards, and know how to perform operations safely and in accordance with all environmental protection
requirements. Some training requires a medical examination and approval before certification is issued (e.g.
respirator training). Additional training and certification are required for work involving special hazards. These
training courses are identified for each individual by their classification. S&RM will identify the necessary
trainings required for each classification based on their job descriptions and assign the appropriate training
through formal classroom training or CSU Learn, if applicable. Additional trainings may be assigned based on a
job hazard analysis performed by employees and their supervisors.

9.1 New Employees

All new employees must:

a. Complete New Employee Safety Orientation within the 90 days after starting work at the
University. This orientation will include general safety information such as an overview of the
IIPP, hazard communication, asbestos notification, defensive driver training, reporting campus
hazards, emergency preparedness, and employee safety and responsibilities.
b. While some trainings need to be completed within the first 90 days, other trainings are required to
be completed within the first year of hire (e.g. IIPP).
c. Receive basic site-specific safety information from their supervisor or other designated
departmental personnel. This training shall include hazard specific safety training and procedural
routines.

9.2 Student Assistants or Volunteers

All new student assistants or volunteers must receive basic site-specific safety information from their
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supervisor or other designated departmental personnel. This training shall include hazard specific safety
training and procedural routines, if necessary.

9.3 Safety Training for Personnel at Off-Site Locations

All University employees working at off-site locations are required to conform to the five University
safety training requirements. These requirements are identified by S&RM through the training matrix (See
Appendix A). In some cases, facility or procedure-based safety training specific to the location will fulfill
a University training requirement. For example, training connected with handling animals or working with
youth, which covers specific procedures for an off-site facility, may be provided by the institution
controlling the work space.

9.4 Refresher Training, Retraining or Recertification

Refresher training or recertification may be required by State and Federal regulations and CSU policy.
Retraining is based on when an employee is given a new job assignment, new work procedures or hazards
are introduced, new equipment is installed, new substances are used, or there has been an incident.

The following safety training classes have refresher requirements:

• Bloodborne Pathogens (Required annually)

• Defensive Driver (required every four years)
• Forklift/Power Lift Operations and Safety (required every three years)
• Hazard Communication (required every three years)
• Hazardous Materials Management (required annually)
• Hearing Conservation (required annually)
• Heat Illness Prevention (required annually)
• Respiratory Protection (required annually)

9.5 Tracking and Notification of Incomplete Training

CSU Learn has the ability to track and notify individuals of their training status. Employees will have 90
days to complete assigned courses. Notifications will be set to generate automatic reminder emails every
day if not completed within the time allotted.

Individuals who do not attend required formal classroom training will be scheduled to attend a make-up
session.

10.0 Documentation and Recordkeeping

A recordkeeping system shall be used to control all records and documents so they are:

• Easy to retrieve and identify and are maintained in an orderly fashion

• Current, accurate, legible, and dated, and that the dates should include revision dates when appropriate
• Relevant/applicable and satisfy regulatory and/or legislative requirements
• Retained for a specified time period – Retention of records may be regulated by legislative or
regulatory policies (See Appendix B)
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10.1 Document Control

Records of training are required to verify that training has been completed. Records may be requested by
regulatory organizations or as documentation for audit purposes.

a. Training development records shall identify:

• Your target audience

• The learning objectives
• Sources used to develop your training materials
• The person(s) designing and developing the training materials
• The qualifications of that person or persons
• All training materials developed for a course
• Plans for evaluating the course and for continuing improvement of the course

b. Training delivery records shall include the following items:

• Date of training
• Location of training
• Duration of training
• Name and description of course
• Names of person(s) delivering training
• Qualification of that person(s)
• Delivery method used for training
• Trainees attending/participating
• Trainees who successfully completed the training, a signature of the trainee must be obtained to
verify attendance and completion

10.2 Certificates of Completion

Certificates of completion shall be issued in accordance with recognized established standards,

regulations, or industry protocols. Certificates for training shall not be issued unless the criteria for
completion have been met by the trainee.

The certificate must include:

• Trainee’s name
• Course title
• Date and hours of instruction (if applicable)
• Statement that trainee has successfully completed the course
• Name and address of the training provider
• Date the periodic refresher course is due (if required), or the completion expiration date
• The level of training or type of certificate awarded (if applicable)
• Any other information required by any related regulation
• Signature of the training provider
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11.0 Training Plan Evaluation

An evaluation of the effectiveness of the training plan will be conducted periodically. Evaluation will help determine
whether the training provided has achieved its goal of improving employee safety and performance. When carefully
developed and carried out, the evaluation will highlight training plan strengths and identify areas of weakness that
need change or improvement.

• Evaluation will include analysis of employee attendance at training sessions. Training will not work for an
employee who does not show up. Absenteeism can signal a problem with the worker, but it can also indicate a
weakness in training content and presentation.
• Comparison between pre-and post-training injury and accident rates overall. The periods of time being
compared must be long enough to allow significant differences to emerge if training has made a difference.
• Determine whether the training provided has achieved its goal of improving employee safety performance.
Evaluation will highlight training plan strengths and identify areas of weakness that need change or
improvement.

12.0 Types of Training

Required regulatory-related training will be conducted according to guidelines detailed in OSHA Publication,
2254. Additional training is conducted as deemed appropriate. In general, safety training will be conducted on the
following levels:

• General Safety Education: General safety information is communicated to employees. No measurement

of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) are required.
• Specific Safety Training: Specific safety information and instruction on performing safe procedures and
practices. KSA's are measured/tested. Employees must meet established criteria for KSA's to successfully
complete the course.

12.1 Identifying Types of Training

Specific hazards that employees need to know about should be identified through a job hazard analysis,
job safety analysis and/or change analysis (See Appendix C). Accident and injury records may reveal
additional hazards and needs for training. Near-miss reports, report a safety concern, and employee
suggestions may uncover still other hazards requiring employee training.

a. CSU Learn

CSU Learn is the California State University's (CSU) learning management system (LMS) for
compliance, professional development and instructor led training. The CSU requires that employees
take certain courses to comply with state and university requirements that are driven by federal law,
state law or CSU policy.

There are a number of EHS courses available through this online platform. To see a listing of these
courses, visit https://csyou.calstate.edu/Divisions-Orgs/HR/spd/compliance-
training/Pages/Environmental-Health-and-Safety.aspx

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b. Formal Classroom Training

Formal classroom training is structured and typically led by instructional designers and trainers in a
classroom setting. Depending on the training requirements, some training courses require a Qualified
Person to conduct training (e.g. Forklift training) while other training courses are taught by a
Competent Person (e.g. Ladder Safety).

1. Qualified Person: A qualified person is a person designated by the employer; and by reason of
training, experience, or instruction has demonstrated the ability to perform safely all assigned
duties; and, when required is properly licensed in accordance with federal, state, or local laws and
regulations.
2. Competent Person: A competent person is a person who is capable of identifying existing and
predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or
dangerous to employees. The competent person has the authority to impose prompt corrective
measures to eliminate these hazards.

c. On the Job Training (OJT)

OJT training relates principles and theories to work skills that are then taught and applied in the work
environment. OJT is designed to reinforce formal classroom training. All new-hire employees require
training to perform their jobs effectively. In this regard, OJT is an essential supplement to formal
classroom training. OJT assignments may be provided concurrently with formal training to emphasize
and complement material covered in formal training courses. Time allotted to accomplish OJT
assignments should be compatible with the new-hire's current knowledge, skill, and experience levels.
The employee's supervisor should assess the employee's ability to successfully complete OJT
training.

1. Contract workers: Will receive training to recognize specific workplace hazards or potential
hazards.
2. Experienced workers: Will be trained if the installation of new equipment changes their job in
any way, or if process changes, create new hazards or increase previously existing hazards.
3. All workers: Will receive refresher training as necessary to keep them prepared for emergencies
and alert them to ongoing housekeeping problems.

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Environmental Health & Safety Training Plan
Appendices

Appendix A: Training Matrix

Appendix B: Retention Schedule
Appendix C: Job Hazard Analysis

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Appendix A – Training Matrix

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Appendix B – Retention Schedule

The following table contains an excerpt from the larger Stanislaus State Records Retention Schedule.
Only documents relevant to training records are included below.

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Appendix C – Job Hazard Analysis

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