Supervisors and their employees are responsible for creating and maintaining safe work environments and work practices. Resources are available at UCSF to help guide you.

Managers and Supervisors:

Supervisors are responsible for employee safety and health per the California Labor Code.

Supervisors are responsible for the following:

1. Create and maintain safe work environments for employees
2. Ensure employees complete training modules relevant to their job tasks. See EH&S What Safety Training is Needed for details
3. Review training results and Self-Evaluation reports with employees
4. Implement recommendations, order recommended equipment and make workstation adjustments as soon as possible to reduce risk of injury. Refer to our approved equipment list
5. Work to create a department budget for employee workstation and ergonomic needs
6. Create a department ergonomic plan outlining supervisor authority for employee work environment changes and equipment purchases
7. Be a role model and motivate employees to work safely
8. Understand who and when to contact others for support

UCSF Faculty and Staff:

1. Together with their supervisors, employees are responsible for their safety at work.
2. Employees are responsible for the following:
3. Work with their supervisor to discuss and maintain a safe work environment
4. Use safe work practices
5. Take required campus safety and ergonomics trainings and self-evaluations
6. Review training results and self-evaluation reports with their supervisor as soon as possible
7. Obtain authorization from their supervisor for workstation changes and purchases
8. Notify their supervisor early if they have questions, concerns, or discomfort related to their work environment or if they need to report a work-related injury.

Ergonomics & Human Factors, EH&S:

Department Safety Advisors (DSA): EH&S DSAs are assigned to UCSF departments and provide guidance to supervisors and employees on all safety- related issues, including ergonomics. DSAs can help provide direction if there are questions and unresolved issues after employees have completed required trainings, reviewed their Self-Evaluations and implemented changes together with their supervisor.

Ergonomics Program: One specialist is available to provide guidance to the UCSF campus population on complex issues related to ergonomics and/or when discomfort (not work-related injuries) are present

Ergonomics Program Manager: 

• Subject matter expert in ergonomics for UCSF; develops requirements, guidance and best practices for UCSF supervisors and leadership
• Program development and administration
• Provides ergonomics design requirements and design support for new buildings and renovated spaces