Introduction
Article Twenty, Safety Policy and Statement, is part of the University of Richmond Intercollegiate Athletics Policies and Procedures Manual (hereafter referred to as Manual). The purpose of this article is to provide Department of Athletics personnel and student- athletes a concise reference on safety, risk assessment, and risk reduction.
The materials and information presented here are primarily an extract of the University's Safety Policy as found in the Guidelines for the University of Richmond Support Staff, Practices, Procedures and Employee Benefits [The WWW address is: /~urhr/sta.htm]. The University of Richmond's risk assessment and reduction program is under the direction of the Director of Safety Services. The Department of Athletics works directly with the University's Director of Safety Services to insure that safety policies and procedures are followed.
Safety Policy and Statement
The primary purpose of the University of Richmond's Safety Policy and Statement is to encourage the reduction of accidents which might cause injury or illness to members of our community and/or damage to University property. The intent of these guidelines is to aid faculty, support staff, and student-athletes in developing the proper safety awareness that is vital to the elimination of needless accidents. It is necessary for all personnel to exercise good judgment with personal safety always uppermost in mind in every task that is performed.
Injuries can be prevented if faculty, coaches, staff, and student-athletes are constantly alert to possible hazards and take the necessary precautions to avoid dangerous conditions and injuries. In this regard, each individual should be aware of the following:
Management support and supervisory development which result in safety effectiveness are important, but program activities should go beyond these areas to concentrate on individual faculty, staff, coach, and student-athlete involvement. Such involvement is vital if superior results are to be achieved and maintained, and an accident-free environment created.
No task shall be considered efficiently performed unless the faculty or staff member, coach or student-athlete is knowledgeable and follows appropriate precautions and safety rules to protect himself or herself and others from injury in executing the task.
While the University will be ever-vigilant to comply with legal safety regulations, our first emphasis will continue to be on people. Our interest is in the prevention of human suffering resulting from employment-related injuries. It is the individual faculty or staff member, coach or student-athlete who is in the best position to ensure his or her safety by exercising care, using common sense and following these safety rules:
Always be careful. Each member of the faculty and staff, coach and student- athlete should use good judgement and prudence in performing his or her work so as to protect himself or herself and others from injuries.
After appropriate medical attention is received, accidents or injuries must immediately be reported to the individual's department head, coach, or supervisor. It is the department head's or supervisor's responsibility to relay the appropriate information to the Campus Safety Office or appropriate dean's office as soon as possible. Athletic related injuries should be reported to the Head Athletic Trainer and the trainer assigned to the sport in which the injury occurred.
Each faculty or staff member, coach or student-athlete should report any unsafe act, practice, or condition he or she observes to his or her immediate supervisor, department head, coach, or the appropriate University representative.
No member of the faculty or staff, coach or student-athlete should indulge in an unauthorized or unnecessary activity which could lead to injury to himself or herself or to another. Physical abuse which could lead to an injury of another individual is strictly prohibited.
Individuals under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed to work or participate in any practice or competition.
The University of Richmond complies with the job safety and health standards established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). By law, safety is everyone's business.
Employer: OSHA requires that the University of Richmond furnish its faculty and staff a place of employment that is free from recognized hazards that might cause serious injury or death. OSHA further requires that employers comply with specific safety and health standards issued by the Department of Labor.
Employee: OSHA also requires that each member of the faculty and staff comply with safety and health standards under OSHA which are applicable to his or her conduct.
Because student-athletes and faculty or staff members' individual safety, and in many cases the safety of others, depends upon their action and knowledge, the University of Richmond asks for each individual's wholehearted observance of these guidelines.