UCSB Shop Safety Program

UCSB maintains a diverse range of shops that support research, art, theater, facilities maintenance, and other campus operations. These environments include a wide variety of hazardous activities such as heavy equipment operation, machine and power tool use, welding, fabrication, chemical processes, electrical work, and material processing.

The UCSB Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Industrial Safety Program, in alignment with the UCSB Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), provides a Shop Safety Program to support departments and shop supervisors in meeting regulatory and UC policy requirements.

Historically, the program has focused on identifying and controlling hazards. Beginning in 2026, the program expands to include verification of implementation, ensuring that safety requirements are not only identified, but actively maintained, documented, and managed over time.

This process is completed within the departmental supervisory chain and is considered a core departmental safety management function. Shop Supervisors/Responsible Persons (RPs), along with their supervisory leadership (e.g., MSOs/BSOs and Department Leadership), are responsible for ensuring implementation, documentation, corrective action tracking, and annual certification of shop safety program elements.

The approach supports:

• Improved visibility of safety program implementation
• Consistent follow-through on identified deficiencies
• Risk-based prioritization of EH&S support and audits

This process formalizes and enhances existing shop safety expectations by improving documentation, supervisory visibility, corrective action tracking, and ongoing implementation verification.

This program applies to UCSB-owned, controlled, or managed shop environments and to University personnel (faculty, staff, and students) working within those spaces.

Contractors working in or around shop environments are managed through University contracting and project oversight processes. Departments are responsible for ensuring contractors are appropriately vetted and operate in accordance with applicable safety requirements.

These operations include, but are not limited to:

• Metalworking: machining, grinding, welding, cutting, forming, etc.
• Carpentry and Woodworking: cutting, sanding, routing, fastening, etc.
• Surface Modification and Coatings: painting, sandblasting, etching, etc.
• Glass Work: glass blowing, annealing, grinding, etc.
• Electrical / Electronics: fabrication, wiring, control systems, etc.
• Plastics and Fabrication: forming, bonding, machining, etc.
• Equipment Development / Model Building: mechanical systems, compressed air, research equipment

All applicable shops are required to:

• Maintain compliance with UCOP Shop Safety Manual and applicable Cal/OSHA (California Code of Regulations, Title 8) requirements, including IIPP, hazard communication, machine guarding, and lockout/tagout (LOTO)
• Conduct regular shop self-inspection walkthroughs (at least annually, and more frequently as warranted by hazards and risk)
• Implement and document required safety controls
• Participate in the shop safety Safety Management Certification & Annual Self-Inspection process

Overview:

The UCSB Shop Safety Program ensures that shops across campus meet regulatory and UC policy requirements through structured safety practices aligned with the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP).

The program now focuses on:

• Verifying implementation of safety requirements.
• Confirming completion of prior safety findings.
• Supporting risk-based follow-up and continuous improvement.

Submissions are completed within the departmental supervisory chain, ensuring visibility and accountability while implementation remains departmental.

Program Update (2026):

As of 2026, the Shop Safety Program includes an enhanced Safety Management Verification process. This builds on prior EH&S baseline safety management audits and the existing self-inspection process, providing increased departmental visibility into shop safety program implementation, corrective actions, and ongoing risk management. The updated process now allows shops to:

• Verify completion of prior audit findings.
• Confirm implementation of core IIPP elements.
• Integrate high-risk equipment safety (Machine Guarding & LOTO).
• Enable risk-based EH&S audits.

Program Components:

1. Safety Management Verification: Shop supervisors verify completion of prior findings and confirm that safety elements like documented training, hazard assessments (JHAs/SOPs), PPE, emergency preparedness, and hazard communication are implemented.
2. High-Risk Equipment Safety (Machine Guarding & LOTO): Supervisors verify machine guarding and LOTO procedures, ensuring equipment safety measures are in place, consistent with Title 8 §3314 and applicable ANSI standards.
3. Shop Supervisor Self-Inspection Walkthrough: Regular walkthroughs assess general shop conditions, such as egress, equipment condition, storage, and housekeeping, to identify new observations.
4. Supervisory Chain Visibility: Responsible Persons (RPs) complete submissions, with RP Supervisors (e.g., MSO/BSO) included for visibility and support. Department leadership visibility is encouraged as appropriate.
5. EH&S Risk-Based Audits: EH&S reviews submissions and prioritizes follow-up based on risk and completeness.

High-Risk Equipment Safety (Machine Guarding & Lockout/Tagout)

• Machine Guarding Program
• Lockout/Tagout (Energy Isolation) Program

The ANSI B11.0 framework is used as a reference for machine safety. Departments are responsible for identifying applicable ANSI machine guarding standards, with EH&S providing guidance as needed.

Other high-risk, equipment-specific safety programs are addressed under their respective EH&S programs (e.g., forklifts, aerial lifts/MEWPs, and heavy equipment, as applicable)

Shop safety implementation, corrective action management, and annual certification are departmental responsibilities conducted through the established supervisory chain in alignment with the UCSB Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), applicable UCOP requirements, and Title 8 Cal/OSHA requirements. EH&S provides regulatory guidance, tools, templates, and risk-based oversight; implementation and operational control remain with the department.

Department Heads / Chairs

Responsible for:

• Ensuring implementation of the UCSB Shop Safety Program within their units
• Providing authority and resources necessary to meet program requirements
• Designating Responsible Persons (RPs) / Shop Supervisors in writing
• Supporting visibility of shop safety program performance

Responsible Persons (Shop Supervisors / PIs)

Responsible for:

• Implementing shop safety requirements in accordance with UCOP Shop Safety Manual and Title 8 Cal/OSHA requirements and industry best practices
• Conducting regular Shop Safety Self-Inspection Walkthroughs
• Completing Safety Management Verification through RSS
• Ensuring hazards are:
  • Identified
  • Corrected, or 
  • Actively managed with a documented time-bound mitigation plan
• Maintaining
  • Training records
  • JHAs / SOPs
  • Inspection and preventative maintenance documentation
• Verifying high-risk equipment safety, including:
  • Machine guarding
  • LOTO

Shop Users (Authorized Personnel)

Responsible for:

• Completing required documented training prior to equipment use
• Following SOPs and safe work practices
• Using required PPE
• Reporting hazards and unsafe conditions

Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S)

Responsible for:

• Maintaining the Shop Safety Program framework
• Providing regulatory guidance, tools, and training resources
• Reviewing Safety Management Certification submissions
• Conducting risk-based audits and follow-up
• Supporting departments in hazard identification and control

EH&S does not:

• Certify shops or equipment
• Perform engineering-level hazard determinations
• Assume responsibility for implementation

Implementation resides within the departmental supervisory chain; EH&S provides Title 8 and UCOP-aligned guidance, shop supervisor support, and risk-based oversight.

You will receive an RSS checklist assignment from IS@UCSB.edu
All sections must be completed and submitted within 60 days of assignment.

1. Prior Findings Verification

• Review all findings from prior audit(s)
• Mark each item as:

  • ✔ = Completed, or

  • 𝗫 = In Progress (with a defined timeline and interim controls)

Items identified as “In Progress” are expected to include a documented action plan consistent with the RSS checklist format, including:

• Issue Identified
• Corrective Action
• Interim Controls (if applicable)
• Responsible Person
• Target Completion Date

Corrective actions are expected to be actively tracked and managed through departmental supervision until closure.

Attachments are expected for completed items (e.g., corrected condition, updated SOP, training record, photo verification)

2. Safety Management Verification

Confirm that core IIPP elements are implemented and in use:

• Training (with supporting records or Training Needs Analysis)
• Hazard Identification (JHAs / SOPs actively used in the shop)
• Emergency Preparedness (postings and awareness)
• Hazard Communication (SDS access and chemical inventory)
• PPE Assessment and Use
• Preventative Maintenance tracking

Attach representative examples that reflect current practice
(e.g., completed JHA, SOP, training record, maintenance log)

3. High-Risk Equipment (Machine Guarding & LOTO)

• Verify machine guarding is in place and functional
• Confirm LOTO procedures, documented training, and devices are in place and in use

Attach examples where applicable, such as:

• Equipment-specific LOTO procedures
• Machine guarding SOPs or hazard assessments
• Training documentation

4. Self-Inspection Walkthroughs

Conduct a physical walkthrough of your shop and evaluate conditions such as:

• Egress and fire/life safety
• GFCIs near water sources
• Compressed gas cylinder storage
• Seismic anchoring of equipment and shelving
• Electrical safety
• General housekeeping and organization

Mark each item as ✔ = Acceptable (or 𝗫 = Needs Attention with a timeframe to completion)

Items marked as “Needs Attention” are expected to include a documented action plan consistent with the RSS checklist format, including:

• Issue Identified
• Corrective Action
• Interim Controls (if applicable)
• Responsible Person
• Target Completion Date

Corrective actions are expected to be actively tracked and managed through departmental supervision until closure.

Include observations and photos where helpful.

5. Submission

• Review all responses prior to submission
• Ensure attachments are included to support responses
• Ensure corrective actions and action plans are documented where applicable
• Submit the completed Shop Safety- Departmental Management Certification & Self-Inspection through RSS
• Direct Supervisor review and approval is required prior to final submission

Important Note on Documentation

Providing clear, representative documentation (written examples, records, and photos) helps demonstrate that safety programs are actively implemented.

More complete submissions may reduce the need for additional EH&S follow-up or in-person, risk-based auditing.