Chapter 4: Loss Prevention, Emergency Preparedness, and the Office of Emergency Management
4.1 Loss Prevention & Emergency Preparedness
The University's Loss Prevention and Emergency Preparedness efforts are a combination of fire and physical safety inspection, directed corrective actions and targeted preparedness training. All reasonable steps are taken to preserve life and property from exposures to fire and other facility hazards, whether man-made or natural, and to facilitate measures aimed at loss prevention to include not only directing corrective actions but also to educate the campus community in its role to preserve life and property.
4.2 The Program
The University’s Loss Prevention & Emergency Preparedness Program (Program) is a multi-hazard emergency management program that is approved by the President and serves as guidelines for department heads and supervisors who must carry out specific procedures related to l maintaining a safe workplace that is both prepared for emergencies and resilient in the face of foreseeable emergency events.
4.2.1 The Program must implement and maintain an emergency program to address prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery.
4.2.2 As part of the Program, Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) monitors University operations and facilities University-wide to ensure continuity of physical safety and the functionality of building safety systems (such as egress routes and exits, fire protection and fire detection systems). This is achieved through a program of regular scheduled facility inspections, provision of appropriate loss prevention measures and training, and through emergency preparedness awareness training for the University community.
4.3 Office of Emergency Management
4.3.1 The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) , within EH&S, is responsible for emergency management and for developing and implementing the Program, monitoring and facilitating the University’s level of preparedness to respond to and recover from foreseeable emergency conditions. Emergency Management shall include the coordination and integration of all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, or mitigate against threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other manmade disasters.
4.3.2 The OEM within EH&S will coordinate prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery activities with local, State and federal agencies and will ensure compliance of all applicable laws, rules and regulations including the requirements of UT System policies, rules, regulations and procedures.
4.3.3 Other University procedures and requirements for loss prevention efforts and emergency preparedness are located within the guidelines and procedures manuals of EH&S.