Report 2017-119 Recommendation 49 Responses

Report 2017-119: California State University: It Has Not Provided Adequate Oversight of the Safety of Employees and Students Who Work With Hazardous Materials (Release Date: April 2018)

Recommendation #49 To: Channel Islands, California State University

To ensure the health and safety of students in a laboratory setting, beginning in the Fall 2018 semester, Channel Islands should require departments to have those students required to wear PPE sign the student safety training acknowledgement forms to demonstrate that they have received proper laboratory safety training.

6-Month Agency Response

Channel Islands has updated and implemented its requirement that all students taking courses where PPE is used complete and sign the campus Lab Safety Rules Documentation form. In addition, the campus has developed companion forms to enhance awareness among students taking classes with more specific potential hazards, including those related to field work.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

We consider this recommendation to be partially completed.

Channel Islands has developed a standardized student laboratory form (Lab Safety Rules Documentation Form). The form is a comprehensive list of general safety guidelines that are applicable to all academic departments involved in laboratory activities. The form can be used in tandem to program-specific forms currently utilized. In addition, Channel Islands has implemented a process by which these forms should be used.

The campus will begin requiring completion of the Lab Safety Rules Documentation Form for all students needing PPE beginning Summer 2018. The standardized form (noted above) will be piloted this summer prior to general implementation in Fall 2018.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2017-119

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.