General Workplace Safety and Health
Mark Linsenbigler
General workplace safety guidance supports Penn State’s commitment to providing a safe and healthful environment for faculty, staff, students, and visitors. This guidance emphasizes hazard awareness, safe work practices, and shared responsibility across all university operations.
Workplace safety includes a variety of programs designed to protect University employees, students, and visitors from injury and illness. These programs place an emphasis on the proactive identification of workplace hazards. Hazards can then be safely managed through the effective application of engineering controls, administrative controls, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Program Applicability
General Workplace Safety Guidance applies to:
- All Penn State employees, including faculty, staff, wage payroll employees, and student workers.
- Supervisors and managers with responsibility for workplace conditions and employee safety.
- University operations and work environments, including offices, laboratories, shops, facilities operations, classrooms, and field activities.
- Visitors and contractors, as appropriate, while on Penn State property.
This guidance addresses common workplace hazards and safety expectations across administrative, academic, research, and support functions.
Program Requirements
Hazard Awareness
- Employees are expected to be aware of hazards associated with their work tasks and environments.
- Supervisors must identify workplace hazards and take reasonable steps to reduce or eliminate risk.
Safe Work Practices
- Employees must follow established safety procedures, instructions, and signage.
- Work activities should be performed using safe methods and proper equipment.
- Unsafe conditions or behaviors should be reported promptly.
Training and Communication
- Employees must complete required safety training applicable to their job duties.
- Supervisors must ensure employees understand safety expectations and receive job‑specific guidance.
- Safety information should be communicated clearly and reinforced regularly.
Incident Reporting
- Work‑related injuries, illnesses, near misses, and safety concerns must be reported according to University procedures.
- Timely reporting supports corrective action and injury prevention.
Documents and Forms
- Emergency Eyewashes and Safety Showers at Penn State
- OSHA Fatality and Severe Injury Reporting Reminder
- Supervisor’s Accident Investigation Report
Additional Resources
- SY01 - Environmental Health and Safety Policy
- OSHA – Worker Safety and Health Topics
- NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Resources
OSHA Basics Safety Training
This course is designed to offer an overview of U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards that have broad applicability to the University. It covers a variety of topics including OSHA requirements, what to do in the event of an OSHA inspection, and rights and responsibilities under OSHA.
The training consists of two three-hour sessions. Each session is conducted on a different day using a classroom format. Participants must sign up for both sessions. Regional sessions are also available at campus locations.
Topics covered during the training include:
Introduction to OSHA
Fall Protection
Emergency Planning
Fire Safety
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Confined Space Entry
Electrical Safety
Lockout / Tagout
Material Handling
Machine Guarding
Hazard Communication
Excavation / Trenching
Bloodborne Pathogens
Individuals in any of the following positions are strongly encouraged to attend:
Directors of Business Services
Facilities Coordinators
College Safety Officers
Departmental Safety Officers
Work Unit Safety Officers
Safety/Security Managers
Maintenance Managers and Supervisors including Grounds and Janitorial Supervisors
Any other Managers/Supervisors who oversee employees working in machine shops, garages, or maintenance shops
OSHA Basics Training does not take the place of any program-specific safety training requirements related to the topics covered. For example, an individual who accesses permit required confined spaces must receive specific confined space entry training -- this OSHA Basics overview class alone will not be sufficient.
This class may not be relevant to Principal Investigators, Managers, or Supervisors who oversee work performed in labs. The PSU Laboratory and Research Safety Plan should be referenced for training needs in these areas.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
New Hire On-boarding participants Training
Required New Hire Safety Information (To be reviewed by New Hire On-boarding participants)