85.020 Hazardous Chemicals and Radioactive Materials Policy

Bd. Min. 10-18-91, Bd. Min. 10-5-07.

1. Purpose
   
   1. Public concern about the environment and the handling of biological, chemical and radioactive materials has resulted in the enactment of stringent federal and state laws, statutes, and regulations. Federal and State regulatory agencies can and do impose substantial fines and penalties for violation, intentional or unintentional, of the enacted statutory and regulatory requirements.
   2. Faculty, staff, students and independent contractors under contract with the University of Missouri, who may obtain, use, dispose or otherwise control  biological, chemical, radioactive materials, and other hazardous materials have the responsibility and obligation to act in accordance with all applicable Federal and State regulations. In unusual situations where the University is exempt from regulatory jurisdiction due to its status as a government entity, faculty, staff , students and independent contractors under contract with the University of Missouri still have the responsibility and obligation for obtaining knowledge of the risks associated with their activities and exercising reasonable judgment to protect against the risks the regulations are intended to protect.
2. Policy
   
   1. It is the policy of the University of Missouri, as approved by the Board of Curators, to operate in full compliance with all laws and applicable regulations and to ensure the health and safety of its students, faculty and staff. Consistent with this policy, the Chancellors are responsible for their respective campuses for the proper use, storage, and disposal of biological, chemical, radioactive materials, and any other hazardous materials used on their campuses. Consistent with this policy, the following shall apply:
      
      1. For their respective campuses, the Chancellors are responsible for providing faculty, staff, and students with the relevant rules, the necessary training, and the appropriate resources to comply with standards and regulations, to maintain an appropriately safe work environment, and to maintain appropriate documentation that standards and regulations are being met.
      2. It is the responsibility of individual faculty, staff, and students to be informed of applicable rules and regulations and to comply with these rules and regulations. Failure to comply with these rules and regulations constitutes possible grounds for dismissal of students and termination for cause of faculty and staff.
      3. It is the responsibility of individual faculty, staff and students having actual knowledge that the actions of visitors are in violation of applicable rules and regulations to inform the visitor(s) of that known fact and to take reasonable steps in an effort to stop such action.
      4. The University will make every appropriate effort to protect faculty members and other employees from civil penalties imposed by outside agencies as a result of the alleged improper use, storage, or waste management practices provided they have made bona fide efforts to comply with appropriate regulations.
      5. The campuses will be responsible for civil penalties that result from operations on the campuses.