Mission Statement
To support the University of Maryland – Eastern Shore’s mission of educational, research, and community engagement opportunities by providing leadership and services that ensure a safe and healthy environment for the entire university, achieve compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, and promote environmental sustainability.
Environmental Health and Safety-Responsibilities
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) operates within the Physical Plant Department and administers the University’s health, safety, environmental, and compliance programs in support of teaching, research, service, and operational activities. EHS is responsible for developing and implementing programs that reduce risk, protect people and the environment, and ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. Services include training and education, inspections and assessments, exposure monitoring, incident investigation, emergency preparedness, regulatory reporting, and technical consultation to support a safe, compliant, and sustainable campus environment.
Compliance Authorities and Regulatory Framework
Environmental Health and Safety programs at UMES are developed and implemented in accordance with applicable federal and state regulations, as well as recognized consensus standards and research best practices. While federal and state agencies establish legally enforceable requirements, organizations such as ANSI, NFPA, ISO, CDC, NIH, NIOSH, and the National Research Council provide guidance and standards that support a safe, compliant, and research-focused environment. The following table provides an overview of the regulatory areas and the applicable agencies that govern the area.
| Regulatory Area | Primary Federal Authority | Primary State Authority | Supporting Standards/Guidance |
| Occupational Safety and Health | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) | National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) |
| Environmental Compliance | United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) | International Organization for Standardization (ISO) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) |
| Hazardous Materials Transportation | United States Department of Transportation (DOT) | Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) |
| Laboratory Safety | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) | American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Research Council National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) |
| Animal Research | United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) | National Institute of Health (NIH) National Research Council |
| Biosafety | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | Maryland Department of Health (MDH) | National Institute of Health (NIH) |
| Radiation Safety | Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) | Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Maryland Department of Health (MDH) | American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) |
| Fire and Life Safety | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) Office of the State Fire Marshall (OSFM) | National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) |
| Emergency Management and Preparedness | Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) | FEMA National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) |
| Construction and Contractor Safety | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) | American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
Environmental Health and Safety Programs
Environmental Health and Safety programs at UMES are implemented through a collaborative approach involving EHS and various academic and administrative departments. The following table identifies the University’s EHS programs, the corresponding regulatory area, the departments responsible for implementation and support, and the faculty, staff, students, contractors, and visitors to whom each program applies. This information is intended to clarify roles and responsibilities while supporting a safe, compliant, and sustainable environment for teaching, research, service, and operational activities.
| Program | Regulatory Area(s) | Ownership | Applies to |
| Biological Safety | Biosafety Animal Research | Institutional Biosafety Committee Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Institutional Review Board | All Researchers, faculty, students, lab staff, and animal care staff that operates a lab using biohazards, recombinant DNA, human/animal biological materials. |
| Chemical Safety | Laboratory Safety Occupational Safety and Health | EHS office | All Researchers, faculty, students, lab staff, and support personnel that operates a lab, shops, or equipment that uses hazardous chemicals. |
| Emergency Planning | Emergency Management and Preparedness | Campus Police | All University personnel |
| Environmental and Sustainability | Environmental Compliance | EHS Office | All Campus operations that have an environmental impact |
| Fire and Life Safety | Fire and Life Safety | EHS office | All Campus buildings |
| Industrial Hygiene | Occupational Safety and Health Construction and Contractor Safety | EHS office | All university personnel, contractors, and sub-contractors that have chemical, biological, physical, and environmental exposure hazards |
| Laboratory Safety | Laboratory Safety | decentralized hazard owner model where EHS office defines the framework, but operational ownership is at the point of work. | All researchers, faculty, students, and lab staff that operates a teaching and/or a research lab. |
| Occupational Safety | Occupational Safety and Health Construction and Contractor Safety | EHS office | All University personnel, Contractors, and sub-contractors. |
| Personal Protective Equipment | Occupational Safety and Health | decentralized hazard owner model where EHS office defines the framework, but operational ownership is at the point of work. | All University personnel, contractors, and sub-contractors where hazards cannot be mitigated through higher tiers in the “Hierarchy of Controls”. |
| Radiation Safety | Radiation Safety | This space is reserved | All Researchers, faculty, students, and lab staff that operates a lab involving radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment. |
| Waste Management | Hazardous Materials Transportation Environmental Compliance | EHS office | All Campus operations that have waste streams |
