Report 2017-119 Recommendation 6 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 #6 To: University, California State

Once it has developed the health and safety reporting template and campuses have used it to submit their reports, the Chancellor's Office should incorporate the risks identified in its assessments into the University Auditor's audit plan to ensure that the University Auditor evaluates problem areas related to campus health and safety.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

In March 2021, Systemwide Risk Management again shared the risks identified by their assessment of the annual reporting data with Audit and Advisory Services (A&AS). A&AS evaluated the data as part of its risk assessment and audit planning process.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented


Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2020

As part of the 2019 audit plan, the division of Audit and Advisory Services completed health and safety audits at all 23 campuses and the Chancellor's Office. The audits reviewed areas similar to those reviewed by the State Auditor.

In addition, after analyzing the data from the first round of annual reports, Systemwide Risk Management determined that revisions to the reporting template were needed. The second round of annual reports is due in November 2020, and Systemwide Risk Management will annually share the risks identified by their assessment of the annual reporting data with Audit and Advisory Services for inclusion in their audit planning.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending


Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2019

This recommendation requires that a new reporting template be in use before we can begin the implementation. The Chancellor's Office developed and distributed a uniform health and safety reporting template to campus environmental health and safety directors. Campuses will begin submitting reports using the new template (or their own report format as long as the reports include the required data) in November 2019. Once those reports are received by the Chancellor's Office, we can begin implementation of this recommendation. The Chancellor's Office will share the risks identified from the campus reports with Audit and Advisory Services to incorporate identified risks into future audit plans related to health and safety.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending


1-Year Agency Response

This recommendation requires that a new reporting template be in use before we can begin the implementation. The Chancellor's Office developed and distributed a uniform health and safety reporting template to campus environmental health and safety directors. Campuses will begin submitting reports using the new template (or their own report format as long as the reports include the required data) in November 2019. Once those reports are received by the Chancellor's Office, we can begin implementation of this recommendation. The division of Audit and Advisory Services began conducting health and safety audits in January 2019. Information from the annual reports will be reviewed and incorporated as appropriate for any campuses that have not yet been audited by that time. In addition, information from the annual reports will be utilized for future audits related to health and safety.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending


6-Month Agency Response

This recommendation requires that a new reporting template be in use before we can begin the implementation. The Chancellor's Office anticipates that the reporting template will be implemented for fiscal year 2018-19, with campuses submitting those reports in September 2019. Once those reports have been received by the Chancellor's Office, we can begin implementation of this recommendation. The division of Audit and Advisory Services plans to begin conducting health and safety audits at the beginning of 2019. Information from the annual reports will be reviewed and incorporated as appropriate for any campuses that have not yet been audited by that time. In addition, information from the annual reports will be utilized for future audits related to health and safety.

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


60-Day Agency Response

This recommendation requires that a new reporting template be in use before we can begin the implementation. The Chancellor's Office anticipates that the reporting template will be implemented for fiscal year 2018-19, with campuses submitting those reports in September 2019. Once those reports have been received by the Chancellor's Office, we can begin implementation of this recommendation. The division of Audit and Advisory Services plans to begin conducting health and safety audits at the beginning of 2019. Information from the annual reports will be reviewed and incorporated as appropriate for any campuses that have not yet been audited by that time. In addition, information from the annual reports will be utilized for future audits related to health and safety.

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


All Recommendations in 2017-119

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.