Hazard Awareness and Safey Information by Job Classification
This webpage was designed to categorize relative hazard and safety information based on what you do at Cal Poly Pomona. Select the Job Safety Classification below that best identifies what you do to see links and detailed information that specifically addresses your needs and best helps you to identify and protect against the hazards of your job. Multiple entries may apply to you so it is recommended that you select the option that represents the more severe hazard, or the option that accounts for the largest percentage of your job (highest exposure).
The following items will provide all newly hired employees or those looking for a refresher in Initial Safety Training with the links corresponding to topics such as the University Injury Illness Prevention Program, Universal Safe Work Practices, Emergency Procedures Pamphlet as well as the forms to certify your training and understanding.
Office Workers make up about 70% of all University Employees which are comprised of both faculty and staff members. While office workers may not be exposed to such hazards as operating heavy farm equipment or working with chemicals, there are a number of hazards to which an office worker is exposed within the course of his/her daily duties. Below is an assortment of helpful links relating to office workers but for additional information please refer to the Occupational Safety Portal or Contact EH&S for additional information.
Construction Workers are exposed to a variety of different hazards ranging from driving on campus, working with powered equipment and electrical safety. Construction workers typically involve instructional support technicians, carpenters and theater technicians. It is possible for other working titles to fall into this category depending on assigned duties but generally this category will correspond to the departments of Environmental Design, Facilities Management and Theater/Dance.
Copier/Press Operators are responsible for duties involving printing and operating miscellaneous graphics equipment. Hazards often include the use of equipment such as machine guarding, lockout tagout, personal protective equipment and back safety. Generally duties assigned to this category or consolidated to the Graphics Commercial Services department.
Custodial Workers are responsible for a variety of duties that involve the use of various consumer products as well as industrial cleaners and cleaning supplies. In addition to different materials, custodial staff may be tasked with duties that would require an understanding of ergonomics, back safety as well as blood borne pathogens. Custodial staff are generally placed within the Facilities Management and University Housing departments.
Drivers are often comprised of Facilities Management staff, Behavioral Science employees as well as participants of the Rideshare Vanpool program. Occasionally, employees from other departments fall under this category when required to drive as part of their job duties but often times, those employees would fall under a different classification that better suits their everyday duties.
Electronics Workers are typically in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science and I&IT departments. These employees routinely or frequently work with electronic equipment that corresponds to servers, computer equipment, instrumentation or specialized equipment and are tasked with topics like back safety, electrical safety and lockout tagout.
Engineering Workers are typically identified under functional job titles such as equipment support technicians and equipment technicians and can often include both faculty and staff employees. Relative job titles can be found in departments like Agriculture Engineering, Irrigation Science, College of Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
Equipment Operators and Material Handlers are characterized as Heavy Equipment Operators, Light Equipment Operators and Warehouse Workers. What makes these positions different from a standard equipment operator is the likelihood to handle different materials ranging from chemical materials to consumer based products during the course of their duties. We normally find these types of roles within the Facilities Management, Procurement and Support Services as well as Distribution Services.
Equipment Workers are characterized by general use of equipment that is used in departments like Athletics, Kinesiology and Music. This would include titles such as coaches, athletic equipment technicians, and equipment technicians. Hazards that employees in this category would be exposed to can be addressed by an understanding of back safety, ladder safety, blood borne pathogens and ergonomics.
Field/Grounds Workers include employees like Nursery Technicians, Crop Technicians, Grounds workers, Gardeners and Tree Trimmers. We typically find these employees in Horticulture Plant and Soil Sciences as well as Facilities Management.
Food Handlers are often found in the departments of Hotel Restaurant Management and Human Nutrition and Food Sciences but can also include employees who work in kitchen settings or are involved in food preparation. This can include faculty, staff as well as foundation employees and may involve specific events where food will be served. Basic safety training is often required such as Hazard Communication, Back Safety but is characterized by Food Safety specialty training.
Laboratory Worker-Chemical is a designation assigned to laboratory workers who work primarily with chemical materials. Departments that include such workers spans Animal Vet Sciences, Biological Science, Chemistry, Chemical and Material Engineering, Civil Engineering, Equine Research/Vet Clinic, Geological Science, Horticulture Plant and Soil Science and Physics. These often include equipment technicians and instructional support technicians whom by their own merit would be classified as equipment workers but it is often the amount of work involving chemical materials that distinguishes the two.
Laboratory Worker-Infectious is a designation assigned to laboratory workers much like those identified in the Laboratory Worker-Chemical classification however, they differ in their exposure to the use of biological materials that have the propensity for being infectious. This typically involves individuals using infectious substances such as bacteria, virus or other regulated biological materials and may often be characterized as a laboratory technician or similar job title. We typically have employees within these categories under the Animal and Vet Science, Equine Research/Vet Clinic, Biological Science and Student Health Center departments. Employees in this classification would be exposed to different forms of PPE relative to biological hazards as well as different handling procedures.
Livestock Workers often work in the Arabian Horse Center and Animal Vet Science departments, often identified by the job title Livestock Technician or similar title. Employees in this classification can be faculty or staff depending on their specific duties.
Maintenance Workers are often assigned to the Facilities Management or Housing Services departments and includes Building Maintenance Workers, Skilled Laborers, Building Service Engineers and trades of Electrician, Locksmith, Painter and Plumber.
- Ladder Safety
- Hearing Loss Prevention
- Asbestos Awareness
Mechanics are often found under Facilities Management and Horticulture Plant and Soil Sciences, usually under the job title of Mechanic or a similar derivative.
- Hazardous Waste
- Automotive Waste
- Hearing Loss Prevention
Media Operators are primarily isolated to I&IT operations and may include Instructional Support Assistants, Media Production Specialists, Camera Operator/Editors and TV Technicians.
Medical Workers can include Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, as well as Trainers and are typically assigned to the Student Health Center or Athletic Departments.
Photography Workers can be found in the Art and I&IT departments as well as the College of Environmental Design; generally with job titles like Slide Curator, Photographer or Graphic Artist. This classification may include faculty as well as staff employees.
Public Safety Workers include both University Parking Officers and University Police Officers under the Parking and Transportation Services and University Police departments, respectively.
Radiation Workers often are identified in the Student Health Center under the title of X-Ray Technician but it is not uncommon to have additional employees from other departments or colleges fall into this category depending on their nature of work or research applications.