1. MESH System at SUNY Brockport
MESH = Managing Environmental Safety and Health
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

2. Environmental Health and Safety
What EHS does ?
Why EPA is inspecting colleges
What IS an EMS ???
Why do we need one at SUNY Brockport
What an EMS Committee does, doesn’t do
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

3. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
EHS Programs
Hazardous Waste: 3-5 tons per year
Emergency/Spill Response: incidents per year
Lab Safety – 79 labs, 58 lab hoods: inspect 3Xs per year
Right-to-Know Law: must train yearly all those who handle “chemicals” – MSDS required for each product
Asbestos: abatement job each year
Fire Safety: NEW REGULATIONS
Respiratory Protection
Confined Spaces: potential for harm
Indoor Air Quality: growing concern
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

4. EHS Programs (continued)
Petroleum Bulk Storage – 27 petroleum tanks
Spill Prevention Containment and Countermeasures (SPCC)
Air Emissions: register with NYS and monitoring
Pesticides – 4 users, registered applicator
Vehicle Safety – passenger vans, SUNY mandate
Lockout/Tagout – electrical & power equipment
Personal Protective Equipment – assessment required
And more…………………………………………
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

5. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
EHS Status Report
Over 3 tons of hazardous waste disposed of in 05
185 lbs. – acutely hazardous waste (reactives)
Sciences: 79 labs, 58 lab hoods
3 waste storage areas – Smith, Art, F&P
Chemical Inventory: over 15,000 chemical entries
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

6. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
What to expect from an EPA INSPECTION Or…. We’re from the government and we’re here to help you.
Old diesel generator McVicar. Cost: $1200 (EHS) vs. $40,000 (consultant/vendor)
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

7. College Experience with EPA
Boston University - $253,000 in fines & $500,000 in community projects (RCRA and CWA)
UNH - $49,000 fine and $147,000 in SEP
University of Georgia - $2.62 million for hazardous waste cleanup
MIT – small fine but big bucks in an EMS
West Virginia - $15 Million for asbestos cleanup
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

8. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
New York examples
Pratt Institute – fined $301,000
Manhattan College – fined $111,199
Columbia, LI, NJ City Colleges – $1.1 Million
Letters to Presidents (epa.gov/region 02/p2/college/letters/index.html)
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9. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
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10. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
EPA, SUNY REACH ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT AGREEMENT April 1, (#02016) Rensselaer, New York – Jane M. Kenny, EPA Regional Administrator, and Robert M. King, Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY) signed an historic agreement that commits the country’s largest university system to a comprehensive, five-year environmental self-audit program. The signing event takes place today at the East Campus, University at Albany in Renssalaer.
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

11. EPA’s 20 Questions for College Presidents – 4 critical questions:
Written policy on the environment?
Is there a management system (EMS)?
Who is responsible for EHS?
Is EHS part of your strategic plan? (SEHSA Conference winning question)
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

12. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
What EPA is thinking
Management: more awareness/involvement in EHS issues
Academia assumes they will not be held to the same standard as industry
Decentralized structure = not the top down approach of industry
The hammer seems to be working
We’re all unique…………. just like everyone else.
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

13. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
What EPA is doing??
U.S. EPA FILES $111,199 COMPLAINT AGAINST MANHATTAN COLLEGE FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE VIOLATIONS
EPA Enforcement
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

14. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
Ceramics Glaze Area
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

15. EMS – Environmental Management System
EPA has required it in almost every inspection
Policy statement
Manage EHS in a business-like fashion
Accountability & Responsibility a big issue
who does what, when - doesn’t play well in academics
Academic freedom, independent faculty/staff
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

16. Why an EMS at SUNY Brockport?
It’s the right thing to do and….
EPA will require it anyways.
Cost avoidance – easily can reach 7 figures
Cost benefits – manage EHS issues in a business like manner = less waste & improved productivity
Reputation – potential for bad press
It’s good business and fits our strategic plan - #1 is student success.
Potential as a marketing tool at SUNY Brockport
Share with other SUNY colleges
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

17. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE#1
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18. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
Spray Booth
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19. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
EMS Committee – Do’s
Policy statement
Identify scope: compliance vs. beyond compliance
Accountability issues – how does it get done
Power to decide where resources are needed - $$
Identify issues, concerns, problems
Identify solutions to above.
Tracking system – effective checking of progress
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20. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
WHAT is an EMS
PLAN
ACT
CHECK (review)
DO and then
DO AGAIN, based on review
* An EMS is a dynamic system that is constantly changing and updated – it is NOT a written program that gathers dust on someone’s shelf.
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21. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
Elements of an EMS
Plan:
Environmental aspects
Legal and regulatory
Objectives and targets
Environmental Management Program
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22. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
EMS (continued)
Do: Implementation
Structure and Responsibility
Training, awareness, competence
Communication
Documentation
Keeping up-to-date on new requirements
Emergency Preparedness
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

23. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
EMS (continued)
Checking and Corrective Actions
Monitoring and measurement
Nonconformance and corrective actions
Records
EMS audits
MANAGEMENT REVIEW
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

24. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
EMS (continued)
Policy:
Demonstrates management commitment to environmental, health and safety issues
Compliance based and continual improvement
Relevant and communicated to all employees
Fits SUNY Brockport
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE

25. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
Summary
Adopt a policy statement – examples and suggestions provided
Establish the structure of reporting and management commitment
Accountability issues –> are we (they) serious??
Resource issues -> can we do what we say we’re going to do?
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26. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
Grease Collection System
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27. SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE
Policy statements
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28. SUNY Brockport’s Policy
It is the responsibility of SUNY Brockport and the campus community to ensure that our educational programs and other activities protect the environment and promote the health and safety of our students, our employees, and the surrounding community. Students educational experience should include basic principles of environmental, health and safety related to their field of study.
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SUNY BROCKPORT - EHS OFFICE