Virginia Tech® home

Contractor Safety Program Roles and Responsibilities

Departments

Departments are expected to maintain a safe and healthy living, learning, and working environment for faculty, staff, students, and visitors to our campus. Each department that coordinates or uses the services of a contractor to perform maintenance, repair, installation, renovation, or construction-related operations is expected to designate one or more persons to coordinate this program within the department.

Designated departmental coordinators/project managers

Project coordinators/managers are expected to assure that the contractor is:

  • Provided access to this document upon request during the pre-bid/pre-proposal conferences for the work. This document shall be either included with or referenced in, the contract documents.
  • Provided an opportunity to attend an initial safety orientation during the pre-construction conference, or as arranged with Environmental Health & Safety, prior to the start of the work.
  • Informed of the presence of hazards in or near the work area.
  • Informed about Virginia Tech's requirements related to various safety and health programs.
  • Aware of the university's expectations regarding safety compliance and the control of worksite hazards.

Supervisors/employees

Virginia Tech personnel shall inform the general contractor when on-site, and observe posted personal protective equipment requirements established by the general contractor.

The contractor shall:

  • Bear sole responsibility for the safety of its employees.
  • Take all steps necessary to protect the safety and health of university employees, students, and visitors during the performance of their work by establishing, administering, and enforcing safety rules that meet the regulatory requirements of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (VDLI), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). These regulations include, but are not limited to:
    • Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 1910, Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry;
    • Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 1926, Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction,
    • Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code, as currently adopted by the Commonwealth of Virginia; and
    • Virginia Uniform Building Code, as currently adopted in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
  • Abide by the requirements of any sign posted in a building that requires the use of specific personal protective equipment, that restricts access to qualified or authorized persons only, or that establishes other requirements for entry.
  • Establish controls to restrict unauthorized access to the work zone, and ensure that requirements for entry are clearly posted at all access points. Signs should clearly indicate required personal protective equipment that must be worn in the work zone area.
  • Ensure submittals, where required from the contractor by this document, be made in writing directly to the university project manager, and are available to Environmental Health & Safety upon request. Where review, approval, or coordination of submittals is required, submittals shall be made at least ten working days prior to the start of the project unless prior arrangements have been made. Post-job submittals shall be made no later than 15 working days after completion of the project, or as specified herein.
  • Communicate any safety-related information and requirements to subcontractors, and assure that they abide by the requirements outlined herein. 
  • Attend an initial safety orientation with Environmental Health & Safety prior to the award of the first project under a term contract, or attend pre-construction conferences to discuss pertinent safety issues.
  • Make all arrangements necessary to assure adequately trained personnel in first aid/CPR response are available on the job site as required by OSHA/VOSH.
  • Inform the project coordinator/manager near completion of the installation of any new boiler and pressure vessel that may require third-party inspection.  Third-party inspections are coordinated through the Office of Risk Management.

Environmental Health & Safety’s mission is to work toward providing a safe and healthful living, learning, and working environment for every member of the greater university community by assuring safe work practices through educating, training, and assisting individuals and departments. Environmental Health & Safety supports contractors by:

  • Helping individuals and departments achieve compliance with all health and safety state and federal regulations and university policies as economically as possible;
  • Acting as liaison with external regulatory agencies; and
  • Monitoring university compliance with mandatory health and safety standards where necessary.