Report 2017-119 Recommendation 63 Responses

Report 2017-119: California State University: It Has Not Provided Adequate Oversight of the Safety of Employees and Students Who Work With Hazardous Materials (Release Date: April 2018)

Recommendation #63 To: Sacramento, California State University

Sacramento should immediately assess the health and safety risks in its art sculpture lab and take action to ensure that safeguards are readily accessible as state regulations require.

1-Year Agency Response

Sacramento State determined that the assessment report previously provided erroneously indicated the presence of chemicals in the art sculpture lab that can cause severe irritation. The EH&S director confirmed that the chemicals in question do not, in fact, cause the level of irritation requiring the installation of an eyewash station and prepared a revised report to correct the error.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

For its six-month response, Sacramento State provided evidence that its EH&S director assessed the health and safety risks in its art sculpture lab and concluded that no chemicals were present that required the installation of eyewash stations. However, the assessment report it provided indicates that one of the rooms in its art sculpture lab does have chemicals present that can cause severe irritation.Sacramento State provided an updated assessment report that indicates that none of the rooms in its art sculpture lab have chemicals present that can cause severe irritation.

6-Month Agency Response

Sacramento State has re-assessed and more fully documented the health and safety risks presented by the chemicals in the art sculpture lab. As with the previous assessment, the campus determined that the space complies with state regulatory requirements for safeguards as regulations do not require an eyewash station for the chemicals currently being used in the lab.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented

Sacramento provided evidence that its EH&S director assessed the health and safety risks in its art sculpture lab and concluded that no chemicals were present that required the installation of eyewash stations. However, the assessment report it provided indicates that one of the rooms in its art sculpture lab does have chemicals present that can cause severe irritation. Until it provides evidence that it has addressed this risk, we consider this recommendation as only partially implemented.

60-Day Agency Response

Sacramento State has assessed the health and safety risks in the art sculpture lab and determined that the space complies with state regulatory requirements for safeguards as regulations do not require an eyewash station for the chemicals currently being used in the lab. Nevertheless, the campus has made eyewash bottles available in the lab. Additionally, the campus is in the process of assessing the art sculpture lab for improvements to further enhance the safety of the space.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented

Sacramento provided a memo from its EH&S director indicating that he assessed the health and safety risks in its art sculpture lab and concluded that no chemicals were present that required the installation of eyewash stations. However, Sacramento did not provide actual evidence of this assessment and, until it does so, we will report this recommendation as partially implemented. Sacramento provided evidence demonstrating that the campus has made eyewash bottles available in the lab.

All Recommendations in 2017-119

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.