Environmental Health & Safety
Environmental Health & Safety is a multi-disciplined department that is tasked with the responsibility of designing, implementing, and maintaining a comprehensive health, safety, and environmental protection program for Holyoke Community College. Through inspections, interdepartmental collaboration, local, state, and federal regulatory compliance, systems design, planning, and training, the goal of the department is to prevent accidents, facility and property damage or impairment, health related issues, environmental damage, and other incidents that place people, property, or the environment at risk. In addition, EH&S responds to a broad variation of concerns and emergencies that include, but is not limited to, leaks, odors and spills of nuisance and hazardous materials, fire and life safety issues, health and sanitation concerns, indoor air quality, pest control, and matters of public health.
Working with faculty, staff, students, contractors, visitors, and local, state, and federal regulatory agencies, the EH&S department develops plans, programs, procedures, and best management practices to protect and appropriately respond to our community, its facilities, and the environment.
EH&S is responsible for a number of programs and associated regulatory training which include but are not limited to; asbestos, lead, and PCB inspections, testing and abatements, building, fire and life safety, chemical and laboratory safety, construction and workplace health and safety, emergency preparedness and response, environmental compliance, hazardous materials and waste, health and sanitation, incident, illness, and injury reporting, occupational health and safety, pest control, and public health.
