The Mission of the Department of Occupational Safety & Environmental Health is to support the University’s Mission through partnership, guidance, and education to promote health, safety, protection of the environment, and regulatory compliance.

The Department Mission lays out what we do to support the University community. Our Vision statements identify how we intend to meet that mission.

• OSEH will provide services that promote health, safety, and environmental responsibility through partnerships, guidance and other activities to support academic, economic and regulatory needs of the University.
• OSEH will lead the University in development, dissemination and application of health, safety and environmental programs using state-of-the-art technologies and innovative ideas.
• Environmental health and safety programs will be integrated into University activities while maintaining efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• OSEH will retain and attract high quality staff by providing professional development and an environment where individuals can contribute to their highest potential, through recognition and empowerment.
• OSEH activities will incorporate the values of quality, responsibility, accountability, trust, diversity, flexibility and respect.

• Quality as demonstrated by accurate documentation and continuous improvement.
• Responsibility as demonstrated by knowing your job, being ready to jump in to help out and making sure your part is done on time with high quality.
• Accountability as demonstrated by taking credit for what is done right as well as what goes wrong - learn from the mistakes.
• Trust as demonstrated by being open and honest in your communication with customers. There is no faster way to lose trust than to be caught in a dishonest action or statement. The actions of an individual do reflect on the entire department.
• Diversity as demonstrated by treating all fellow OSEH staff with equality, without regard for race, gender, or position within the department.
• Flexibility as demonstrated by:
• Opening up to the concept that we are all safety, health, and environmental professionals, regardless of our particular background or position title.
• Offering assistance to other staff, even where it is outside your normal work routines.
• Being ready to shift to new roles within OSEH to support programs that are understaffed or have need for extra help on a project.
• Becoming knowledgeable in a wide range of safety, health, and environmental programs in order to recognize concerns or hazards outside your normal area of expertise.
• Respect as demonstrated by:
• Treating all customers, in either personal or phone contact, with dignity and without judgment of their questions or concerns. All questions and concerns are important to the customer or they would not be requesting assistance.
• Treating all fellow OSEH staff with consideration, using open and honest communication, as an important member of the team effort. The department succeeds or fails as a team, not as an individual.
• Listening to the ideas of other staff and incorporating those ideas where they are appropriate, explaining when they are not appropriate, and giving credit to the person that voiced the idea. Remember, when thinking outside the box, no idea is outside consideration.
• Criticizing ideas, not the person with the ideas.

OSEH provides key services to the University Community in several areas including:

• Biological & Laboratory Safety supports the research goals of the University by promoting research safety and assuring sound laboratory management.
• Environmental Protection & Permitting provides assistance to all University departments in managing environmental issues. There are federal, state, and local laws and regulations that affect our activities on campus. While regulatory compliance is a primary objective, pro-active environmental stewardship and leadership receive equal attention.
• Emergency Preparedness provides resources, guidance, and training of the University community in matters related to emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.
• Environmental Sustainability which assists the University community in projects and programs designed to promote sound stewardship and sustainable practices through conservation measures, waste minimization, and pollution prevention.
• Fire Safety Service is responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable fire safety regulations. This responsibility is met through inspections, fire drills, building plan reviews, consultations and fire safety awareness programs.
• Hazardous Materials Management is responsible for the collection and proper disposal of chemical, radioactive, and biological waste generated throughout the 30 million square feet of facilities during teaching, research, and clinical operations at the Ann Arbor campus.
• Industrial Hygiene & Safety protects University staff from workplace injury and illness by assisting departments in anticipating, evaluating, and controlling potential health and safety hazards – primary campus areas of focus are College of Engineering, Housing, Athletics, Stores, and Printing Services, as well as dealing with issues surrounding lead paint, asbestos, and construction safety.
• Operational Safety & Community Health provides safety support to Plant Operations, administers the Medical Surveillance program including respirator fit testing, ergonomic workstation evaluations and training, and community health support for food service on campus, drinking water evaluations, pesticide use, and swimming pool monitoring.
• Radiation Safety Services promotes radiological safety and provides oversight for the safe use of radioactive materials and radiation producing devices in accordance with federal and state regulations and licenses.
• Scientific Diving Safety monitors the health and safety of scuba divers operating under the auspices of the University in accordance with established federal and state regulations.