Environmental Health and Safety

PSC Environmental Health and Safety (PSC EHS), a committee of the Executive Council, serves our members by helping to spot health, safety and environmental issues that could cause problems in our working environment. We work with members and with local chapters to investigate and motivate management to insure an environment free of occupational hazards. We believe that work should not be dangerous to our health, and that sustainable environments support sustainable (healthy) people.

A healthy and safe working environment is a right and not a privilege. Here are some of the ways that the PSC Environmental Health and Safety Watchdogs can help you and others in your chapter:

Providing training workshops in the following topic areas (tailored to your chapter’s problems):

  • Workplace Violence Prevention (WVP) and the new WVP Standard
  • Preparing for and avoiding campus construction hazards
  • Know your health and safety rights in preparing for labor-management
  • meetings
  • Workload and stress; its health and safety implications
  • Anti-bullying

Arranging for speakers for meetings on topics including:

  • Green buildings
  • Sustainable campus environments
  • Workplace Violence Prevention standard (NY State)

Investigating campus problems and potential problem situations:

  • Walk through new buildings with chapter members when they are opening
  • Walk through specific areas on campus with chapter members to investigate reported problems
  • Walk through areas with chapter members to assess workplace violence hazards

Reporting Problems: Here are some of the problems commonly reported:

  • Air Quality problems, such as:

    •         -Noxious Odors
            -Sick Building Syndrome
            -Poor Ventilation: afternoon sleepiness

  • Molds and Water Stains
  • Blood or Body Fluid Spills; airborne pathogens, needles
  • Flaking Paint -- Exposed Asbestos
  • Chemical Hygiene Problems
  • Safety and Security Issues

If you have a problem on your campus, please report it immediately to your Building and Grounds Department and/or Security and copy your PSC Chapter Chairperson. CUNY campus administrations have online systems for reporting problems.

Send us a copy using this form or by emailing hswatchdogs@pscmail.org; or call us: 212-354-1252 ext. 208 and ask for the Environmental Health and Safety Desk.

Click here for a pdf version of this information.

Health & Safety News

  • DOSH 900 Logs

    Greetings Watchdogs,

    Did you know that every February, federal and New York State laws require campus Administration to post a record of all reportable injuries and illnesses that occurred on your campus the previous year?

    Throughout the year, a record must be kept of injuries and illnesses in a list known as a DOSH 900 Log or OSHA 200 Log. From February 1 to April 30 of every year, one of these logs must be posted in a public area on your campus. It can usually be found on a bulletin board near Human Resources.


  • Why do workers need environmental and health and safety protections?

    Why do workers need environmental and health and safety protections? Remember the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. Please watch and share this short video.


  • In Memorium

    Vernon Mogensen: We mourn the loss of a great watchdog


  • Update on CUNY's Online Workplace Violence Prevention Training

    PSC representatives met on May 19, 2011 with CUNY about the status of workplace violence prevention (WVP) programs and the online training. Here is what they learned.


  • Ben Chitty Recognized for Health and Safety Activism

    Arthur Ben Chitty, Librarian (HEO) at Queens College, was awarded the bi-annual NYSUT “Unsung Hero” Award for Health and Safety grass roots organizing at the statewide NYSUT conference on March 4th. Chitty was recognized for his work in creating and maintaining an ongoing Quality of Work Life group at Queens with representatives from all unions on the campus. Here is the text of Ben's acceptance speech, which was received with thunderous applause.


  • News: CUNY Flunks PESH Inspection

    CUNY and all other public sector employers were required to enact a new Workplace Violence Prevention policy and program by August of 2009. The Watchdog committee at Queens College (which is made up of all the unions on that campus) filed a complaint with PESH alleging that the college was not in compliance with the standard. When a PESH inspector came to the campus, he agreed and then dug deeper.


  • Customized Hazard Monitoring Equipment

    WatchdogMonitor.jpg
    Brain, eyes, nose, ears, mouth, equipment -- all the monitoring equipment you need for detecting hazards in the workplace.

Member Info

PSC Health and Safety Coordinators/ 2010-2011:
 Joan Greenbaum, Jean Grassman, Jacqueline Elliot, Bob Wurman.

Contact us at:

Email: hswatchdogs@pscmail.org

Telephone: 212-354-1252 (Ask for Health and Safety)

View full member info
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