35.74 - Division of Building Safety Inspections

A. General. The University of Idaho is obligated to ensure university owned or occupied buildings and facilities are free from recognized hazards that could cause personal injury or illness. The Idaho Division of Building Safety (DBS) conducts annual safety inspections of university buildings and facilities to monitor and document compliance with applicable codes and regulations.

A-1. Regulatory Requirements. IDAPA 17.10.01.007 requires (1) DBS to conduct annual workplace safety inspections; and (2) the university to respond to identified discrepancies in a timely manner.

B. Responsibilities. To ensure adequate and proper coordination for DBS annual safety inspections, the following procedures are prescribed for various units and/or administrators:

B-1. Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Office:

i) Accompany and assist DBS personnel during safety inspections of university campus buildings and facilities.

ii) Relay in writing to affected departments and divisions all reported inspection discrepancies. Included should be the targeted dates for corrective actions.

iii) Provide DBS written responses containing action plans to address and/or correct inspection discrepancies.

iv) Advise and assist administrators in their efforts to respond to safety discrepancies and/or hazards identified during the inspection process.

B-2. Off-Campus Units or Facility Managers and/or Administrators:

i) Accompany and assist DBS personnel during safety inspections of off-campus university buildings and facilities.

ii) Relay in writing to affected departments and divisions all reported inspection discrepancies. Included should be the targeted dates for corrective actions.

iii) Provide DBS written responses containing action plans to address and/or correct inspection discrepancies.

iv) Provide EHS copies of the DBS inspection report as well as the report response with action plans to address and/or correct any inspection discrepancies.

B-3. Department/Division Administrators and/or Supervisors:

i) Ensure all safety inspection discrepancies are addressed in a timely manner.

ii) Document corrective actions and provide copies to appropriate agencies and/or campus units.

iii)May be held accountable for fines, citations or other penalties levied by DBS that result from a failure to comply with requirements in this policy.

B-4. Architectural and Engineering Services: Provide assistance to departments/divisions as needed to ascertain space needs, define scope of work, identify funding options, and provide information as necessary @(208) 885-7250.

C. Procedures.

C-1. General Requirements. EHS personnel will accompany and assist DBS personnel during safety inspections of university campus buildings and facilities. Departments will normally be notified before an inspection is conducted.

C-2. Safety Discrepancies Categorized by Various Criteria. EHS personnel will categorize safety inspection discrepancies by the following criteria:

i) Maintenance Items. Notice of these type discrepancies will be forwarded to Facilities Maintenance and Operations, appropriate Auxiliary Services units, or other responsible departments. Examples of these type discrepancies include faulty exit or emergency lights; inoperable doors and latches; exposed electrical wiring; plumbing problems; and/or maintenance equipment problems.

ii) Departmental/Division Items. Notice of these type discrepancies will be forwarded to the responsible department or division. Examples of these type discrepancies include heating appliances (e.g., coffee pots or space heaters) used near combustible materials; use of unapproved extension cords; improper care of hazardous materials; excessive or unstable storage; tripping hazards; improper blocking of designated egress routes or emergency equipment; unsecured compressed gas cylinders; improper or lacking equipment guards; missing first-aid kits, and/or using a space or equipment for other than its designed or intended use.

iii) Miscellaneous Safety Items. Safety discrepancies not categorized as either maintenance or departmental/division items are generally submitted as project requests to Facilities Maintenance and Operations (FMO). Examples of these type discrepancies include need for additional exits or exit signage; lack of handrails or guardrails in public areas; unapproved door or latch assemblies; lack of emergency eyewashes or showers; hazards caused by inherent design flaws or missing equipment; and/or fixture or equipment code violations.

D. Information. For additional information regarding DBS safety inspections and related procedures, please contact Environmental Health and Safety at (208) 885­6524.

Version History

Amended October 2024. Minor edit to update owner position title.