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Your Workplace: Environment of Care

Review the following departments and the role they play at UMMC:

  • Campus Police
  • UMMC Shuttle Service
  • Environmental Health and Safety
  • Mississippi Center for Emergency Services (Disaster Management)
  • Employee Health Services

 

UMMC Campus Police

  • UMMC Campus Police Department uses advanced equipment and techniques for crime prevention and carries out a number of programs and services to promote safety and security.
  • State law grants UMMC police the power to enforce general criminal laws of the state and traffic rules.
  • The department works in conjunction with local law enforcement authorities.
  • The UMMC Campus Police Department has a zero-tolerance policy on crime.

If you feel threatened or unsafe, call Campus Police at: 911 or 601-815-7777 for emergencies

  • 601-984-1360 for non-emergencies
  • 601-815-3072 for Dispatch
  • 601-984-1360  for “Lost and Found”

 

Report the following issues to Campus Police:

  • Unsafe areas or situations that require additional security measures Suspicious activity; prevents crime and promotes safety and security Violations of UMMC tobacco policy
  • Unattended backpacks, luggage, coolers, and other like items
  • “Lost and Found” property

 

Situational Awareness is Key to Personal Safety

  • Pay attention to surroundings, watch for suspicious activities, and remove earbuds when traveling on foot
  • Use outside lights to your advantage – stay visible and alert Jaywalking is illegal and dangerous; use crosswalks
  • Keep valuable items secure at all times; including items in offices, vehicles, and break rooms
  • Locking doors is best if leaving the area or working alone after normal duty hours
  • Contact Campus Police to check the identity of strangers engaged in suspicious actions
  • If you choose, Campus Police will escort you to your vehicle after hours

 

UMMC Tobacco Policy

  • UMMC will provide a tobacco-free workplace and environment, prohibiting smoking or the use of other tobacco products including electronic smoking devices in these facilities or on its adjacent grounds
  • This policy applies to all persons, including staff, faculty, students, patients, visitors, contractors, subcontractors and others in Medical Center buildings and Medical Center grounds, parking lots and ramps
  • Smoking in vehicles on Medical Center property is prohibited 

 

Emergency Communication

  • Emergency Communication Towers are located throughout the UMMC campus to include parking lots and garages
  • Works like a radio; push the silver button to speak and then release it to listen
  • Emergency Communication Towers are routed to Campus Police Dispatch

 

UMMC Parking Policy

  • Failure to find a legal parking space shall not be an excuse for violation of Parking Policy regulations.
  • Pedestrians have the right of way at marked crosswalks on campus.
  • Campus Police monitor parking lots and maintain a zero-tolerance policy for parking violations.

 

Clery Act: The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act

A federal statute that requires all colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to keep and disclose information about crime on and near their respective campuses

  • By October 1 of each year, UMMC must publish and distribute an Annual Campus Security Report to current and prospective students and employees
  • The institution's police department is required to maintain a public log of all crimes reported to them, or those of which they are made aware
  •  The Clery Act requires institutions to give timely warnings of crimes that represent a threat to the safety of students or employees
  • UMMC must keep the most recent eight years of crime statistics that occurred: on campus, in institution residential facilities, in non-campus buildings, or on public property
Visit the Campus Police website for information and the Annual Security Report: https://www.umc.edu/police/

 

UMMC Shuttle Service

  • UMMC's shuttle service provides daily transportation to and from designated shuttle stops.
  • Visit www.umc.edu/Shuttlefor route information, shuttle stop locations, and updates.
     

Environmental Health and Safety

Slips and Falls are caused by:

  • wet floors and spills not cleaned or reported
  • improper equipment
  • debris on floor
  • open file cabinet or drawer
  • Uneven surfaces
  • Stairwells

Back Injuries are caused by:

  • lifting more than your ability
  • staff moving patients
  • poor body mechanics
  • slips and falls

ALWAYS lift with your legs; Not your back!

Compressed Gas Cylinders

  • Very dangerous; contents high pressure
  • Must be secure; in use or being stored
  • When transporting a patient, portable oxygen cylinders must be secure

 

Fire Safety 

For assistance, contact the Fire Safety Specialist 601-984-1982

What are the three elements needed to make a fire?

  1. heat source = matches, electric energy

  2. fuel = gasoline, oil, paper, wood

  3. oxygen = fire requires 21% oxygen in order to burn

 

Types of Fire Extinguishers 

UMMC maintains 10lb Extinguishers A, B, and C.

 

Proper Fire Extinguisher Use: Remember PASS

Pull the Pin 

Aim nozzle at the base of the Fire

Squeeze the handle 

Sweep nozzle side to side 

 

Procedure Outside the Area of Origin of a Fire:

  • Staff in areas on the same floor level and immediately adjacent to the fire site should send one person to the fire site to evaluate the situation
  • Staff in areas on different floor levels that are immediately above or below the fire site, should send one person to the fire site
  • All staff members in the Alarm Zone should be prepared to take emergency action or provide assistance if the situation warrants

 

Procedure Inside the Area of Origin of a Fire:

  • Staff located inside the area involved in a fire will immediately follow the R.A.C.E. procedures

 

Understand the basic Fire Fighting Concepts: R.A.C.E.

Rescue - Remove persons in immediate danger

Alarm -  Alert Others (call 911 or 4-6666)

Contain - Contain the fire

Extinguish - Extinguish and/or evacuate 

Activate the fire alarm located closest to the fire

Add these fire safety numbers to your contacts:

  • Main Campus: 601-984-6666 or 911
  • Select Specialty: 601-899-3865
  • Jackson Medical Mall: 601-906-4436

 

Maintenance/Construction Service Request

for an Emergency Service Request:

  • call Physical Facilities at 601-984-1420

for a Routine Service Request:

 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 

  • Required under Federal laws and regulations circulated by OSHA. 
  • Four Levels of PPE: Levels A, B, C, D. 
  • Descriptions of each level can be found on the Osha Website: View OSHA website's PPE Levels.
  • PPE provides an increased level of respiratory, dermal, and eye protection.
  • Among the protective equipment available to UMMC employees are face shields, gowns, masks, shoe covers, safety glasses, gloves, and hair covers.

 

Biosafety 

Hospital/ Healthcare areas

  • Inter-related with Blood-borne Pathogens and Infection Control 
  • Medical/infectious (red bag) waste is generated
    • Always handle with gloves and protective clothing
    • Never place general trash in these containers
    • Refer to Medical Infectious Waste Policy
    • Uncontaminated PPE belongs in black bags; general trash

Research areas

  • has Infectious agents or hazardous biological materials:
    • Human Cells/Tissue
    • Infectious Microorganisms ( Bacteria, Viruses, and Fungi)
    • Recombinant DNA

For assistance, contact the Biosafety Safety Officer at 601-815-5074

 

MRI, Laser, Radiation

Learn to recognize the below signs. Do NOT enter these restricted areas unless you have been trained to do so.  

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 

  • Contains a very large magnet which can cause injury (the magnet is ALWAYS on). 

Laser devices 

  • Can cause eye injuries, skin burns, and fires.
  • Always wear proper eye protection when lasers are in use

Radiation 

  • Can damage tissue cells

For assistance, contact the Radiation Safety Office at 601-984-1980

Hazardous Materials 

  • Hazardous materials are chemical substances that, if released or misused, can pose a threat to the environment, life, or health. Hazardous materials come in the form of explosives, flammable and combustible substances, poisons, and radioactive materials.
  • UMMC promotes a safe and healthful environment for every patient, student, employee, and visitor. The objective is to prevent injury and loss of life or property by identifying and eliminating hazards; establishing safe work practices; and promoting safe performance in all UMMC activities.

Visit the Environmental Health Services Home page:

  • UMMC Intranet > Administration > Environmental Health and Safety

 

Globally Harmonized System (GHS)

The method by which the employer transmits the information concerning the hazards of all chemicals is called Hazard Communication (HazCom) or Right-To-Know Law.

UMMC accomplishes this by: 

  • Maintaining HazCom Policy 
  • Labeling of hazardous materials 
  • Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
  • Warning or notification signs to inform employees
  • Employee training programs 

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

The SDS includes information such as the properties of each chemical; the physical, health, and environmental health hazards; protective measures; and safety precautions for handling, storing, and transporting the chemical. Staff should be able to demonstrate how to access this information

UMMC is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, to prepare or have available safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals that are accessible by all employees.

For assistance, contact the Chemical Safety Officer at 601-984-1981

Find the MSDS Online:

  • UMMC Intranet > A-Z Index > MSDS Manual

 

Exposure Prevention Measures

  • Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Wear closed-toe shoes when working with corrosive materials
  • Never eat, drink, smoke, or apply cosmetics (even lip balm) in an area where hazardous materials are used
  • Never handle broken glass containers that held hazardous materials with your bare hands
  • Use a dust-pan and broom to clean broken glass

 

Mississippi Center for Emergency Service Disaster Management

The UMMC Emergency Operations Plan will guide planning and response to hazards that may
threaten:

  • The UMMC campus community
  • The safety of patients, staff, students, and visitors
  • The ability of the hospital to provide healthcare services
The purpose of this plan is to improve the capacity of UMMC to prepare for, detect, respond to,
recover from and mitigate the negative outcomes of threats and emergencies.

To view the Emergency Operations Plan:

  • UMMC Intranet > A-Z Index > Emergency Operations Plan
  • View the Emergency Operations Plan: Emergency Resources 
Overhead Color Code and Plain Text Announcements
  • Every UMMC employee must be knowledgeable of the emergency color code and plain text announcement list
  • Learn how to respond and take immediate action when needed
  • Discuss with Supervisor/Manager for area specific actions during an emergency

 

Emergency Code List:

  • Code Blue is an Adult Medical Emergency  
  • Code 13 is a Pediatric Medical Emergency  
  • Code Red is a Fire Emergency
  • Code Pink is an Infant/Child Patient Abduction 
  • Code Amber is a Missing/Abducted Patient Visitor  
  • Code White is an Urgent Security Emergency or an Inpatient/Outpatient disruptive person 
  • Code Orange is for a Hazardous Materials Emergency 
  • Code Green is for an Emergency Operations Plan Activation 
  • All Clear is a Cancellation notice 

 

Actions to take when a "Weather Emergency" is announced overhead... 

  • Seek immediate shelter in the nearest safe area and direct others as well; shelter-in-place
  • Close blinds/curtains for protection from flying debris
  • Follow department condition directives
  • Direct visitors in the common areas to tornado-safe areas where no windows or outside walls are located until an all-clear is announced

 

Actions to take when "Security Alert" is announced overhead...

  • It is imperative to have a plan for action if such an incident occurs. Because active shooter situations tend to occur very quickly and before law enforcement can arrive, individuals must be mentally and physically prepared to respond to an active shooter scenario.
  • View Active Shooter Training Video on Emergency Management website
  • Discuss with your Supervisor/Manager for area-specific actions during a Security Alert event.

Alert U

 

Employee Health Services 

Blood Born Pathogens 

  • Blood-borne pathogens are infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to:

    • Hepatitis B (HBV)

    • Hepatitis C (HCV)

    • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

  • Blood, bloody body fluids, and unfixed human tissue are the main sources for the transmission of HBV, HCV, and HIV in healthcare workers

  • For healthcare workers, blood carries the greatest risk of transmission

  • UMMC Policy for Occupational Exposure to Blood-borne Pathogens applies to all employees who are at risk of occupational exposure to blood or body fluid:
    • Patient-care givers
    • Laboratory employees
    • Housekeeping
    • Physical Facilities 
    • Hospital Security 
    • Research using human tissue/cells 

 

Standard Precautions

  • Standard Precautions apply to all blood and body fluids
  • Reduce the occupational risk of infection by adhering to Standard Precautions practices
  • Use PPE when working with blood or body fluids as protection from an accidental exposure
  • For assistance contact Employee Health Services at 601-984-1185

 

Reporting Exposures 

  • Notify your Supervisor/Manager immediately
  • Complete the online Employee Injury Report
    • Be specific about how the injury happened
    • Identify who you were exposed to; their name and medical record number
  • Report to Student/Employee Health or, if closed, go to the Adult Emergency Department (AED)
  • If the exposure is reported to the AED, follow up with Student/Employee Health the next working day 

Online Employee Injury Report

  • The injured employee must complete and submit this report
  • UMMC Intranet > A-Z index > Employee Injury Report Form
  • Learn more about the Employee Injury Report Form: Reporting: More is Always Better

Online “ICARE Reports”

  • Document injuries/near misses to patients and/or visitors
  • Can be completed and submitted by any UMMC employee with knowledge of the event
  • UMMC Intranet > Clinical > ICARE Report