Compliance Officer

The CO, by virtue of their special training and relationship to the Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk, serves as the coordinator of those activities which support the E,S&HMP. The CO is appointed by the Dean, Chair or Department Head to represent the college or department in the coordination of environmental, safety and health activities. This includes the responsibility to notify the ESSR Director of instances, as perceived by the CO, that pose a hazard to the safety of faculty, staff, students and visitors, a threat to the environment and/or to university assets.

The number of COs per college or department will be determined by the Dean, Chair or Department Head based on the size and complexity of the facility and operations. It may be necessary to assign CO duties to more than one individual based on criteria such as number of laboratories, number of faculty and staff or number of buildings that the department occupies.

Compliance Officer Responsibilities

1. Attend scheduled CO training conducted by ESSR.
2. Act as a conduit for information to your organization from ESSR.
3. Serve as a contact person for all environmental, health and safety initiatives (hazardous waste management, laboratory labeling, safety training, environmental audit, inspections, etc.).
4. Serve as a departmental resource for environmental, health, and safety concerns within your department.
5. Work with ESSR and your delegating authority to help resolve compliance issues and non-emergency situations involving potential safety hazards, exposures, accidents, injuries, illnesses, spills, releases, or other regulatory or environmental issues.
6. Maintain a list of lab safety contacts (LSCs) as appointed by all PIs within the department, and communicate environmental, health and safety issues to those LSCs.
7. Maintain a list of contacts for each operational area for anyone working with or storing hazardous materials.

Departmental Responsibilities

1. Ensure adequate system for maintaining records of required training.
2. Ensure the reporting of all incidents, exposures, and/or near misses to ESSR.
3. Encourage faculty and staff to participate in the emergency planning process.

ESSR Responsibilities

1. Develop policy and standards related to environmental, health and safety matters with a focus on cost containment.
2. Represent UMD to federal, state, and local regulatory agencies, neighboring communities, and professional and educational organizations.
3. Provide technical assistance to evaluate, assess, and communicate risks.
4. Assist with the implementation of customized programs in biosafety, campus safety, environmental protection, industrial hygiene, radiation protection, fire protection and insurance.
5. Provide training and education programs related to environmental, health and safety programs.
6. Manage insurance claims process for UMD.
7. Collect and maintain records regarding exposures, waste, compliance, permits, and incidents.
8. Oversee the inspection and testing of campus safety equipment and systems.
9. Provide support to relevant campus committees.

Last Updated 8/2/2012