University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Health and Safety Office

The University's Health and Safety Office grew out of the Radiological Safety Office, which was established in 1960 to oversee the handling of radioactive materials on the campus. The Health and Safety Office was created in 1974 to ensure compliance with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act and is responsible for safety standards involving fire, industrial hygiene, and hazardous substances as well as general public safety. The Office is also responsible for scheduling periodic worker health examinations, inspecting safety equipment, and processing worker compensation claims.

From the description of Records of the Health and Safety Office, 1952-1991 [manuscript]. WorldCat record id: 27122239

The origins of the Health and Safety Office can be traced to the Radiological Safety Office established 1 June 1960, to ensure that handling of radioactive materials on the campus complied with standards set by the Atomic Energy Commission. Raymond C. Pfleger, as Radiation Safety Officer, conducted surveys of storage sites and labs, and supervised the scheduling of medical checkups of university personnel handling isotopes. In January 1967, Pfleger was succeeded by Francis deFriess. In 1970, the United States Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which required employers to meet specific workplace standards to protect the health and safety of their employees. The University Health and Safety Office was created on 1 July 1974 to oversee campus compliance with the law. Dr. Donald G. Willhoit of the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (in the School of Public Health) was selected to head the new office.

The new agency incorporated the responsibilities of the Radiological Safety Office and, in addition, oversaw the university's compliance with fire and public safety regulations and with biological safety and industrial hygiene standards. Health and Safety Office personnel conducted examinations of worksites, operated a hazardous waste program, and developed educational training programs. The office was also responsible for scheduling routine health examinations, arranging for and inspecting safety equipment, and processing workman's compensation claims.

From the guide to the Health and Safety Office of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records, 1960-1991, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives.)