Applies to: Faculty (including part-time and visiting faculty), postdoctoral scholars, staff, and students (including graduate/undergraduate student workers and graduate assistants) employed by University of Southern California and its subsidiaries, including the USC Health System (“USC employees”). This policy also applies to vendors and contract workers.
1. Policy
Issued: October 19, 2023
Last Revised: October 17, 2023
Last Reviewed: October 17, 2023
2. Policy Purpose
This policy seeks to reduce the inherent risks and dangers that building rooftops can present by limiting building rooftop access to Authorized Persons only.
3. Scope and Application
This policy applies to all members of the USC community (e.g., faculty, staff, students, and visiting guests) including vendors and contract workers at all USC owned and leased properties.
4. Definitions
| Term | Definition |
| Authorized Persons | A Trained Person designated and approved by USC to perform specific rooftop duties by reason of training, experience, and/or instruction. |
| rooftop | The external upper covering of any part of a building that is not designed or intended for continuous occupancy. |
5. Policy Details
USC is committed to ensuring a healthy and safe environment for the USC community, as well as vendors, volunteers, and contract workers with dedicated programs for personal safety including injury and illness prevention and programs to ensure adherence to all applicable environmental, health, and safety regulations and best practices.
Rooftops present a variety of hazards including but not limited to physical, chemical, electrical, machine, and radio frequency, and ultraviolet radiation. Due to a variety of potential hazards, rooftop access is currently limited to only Facilities, Planning & Management (FPM), Information Technology Services (ITS) or Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) staff who are Authorized Persons.
Individuals requesting to become an Authorized Person to access USC owned and leased property building rooftops, will need to contact USC Environmental Health & Safety (ehs@usc.edu). The Roof Access Task Force will review the request and the decision to approve or deny the request will be communicated to the individual.
6. Procedures
N/A
7. Forms
N/A
8. Responsibilities
| POSITION or OFFICE | RESPONSIBILITIES |
| Facilities, Planning & Management (FPM) | Maintains and secures building rooftops and ensures that FPM personnel are trained to identify existing and predictable hazards in the workplace. |
| Information Technology Services (ITS) | Maintains and secures wireless communication facilities and ensures that ITS personnel are trained to identify existing and predictable hazards in the workplace. |
| Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) | – Ensures institutional compliance with applicable policies, statutes, and regulations; – Develops safety programs and monitors effectiveness of programs; – Provides health and safety services, training, and support to university schools, departments, and administrative units. This includes creating programs, trainings, and protocols for the safe use of hazardous radiological, biological, chemical substances, and lasers in research and other learning environments; – Facilitates regular and periodic inspections to identify, evaluate, and correct workplace hazard and unsafe work practices. EHS has the authority and responsibility to curtail or shutdown any university activity that constitutes a clear health and safety danger to the USC Community; and – Works with the FPM’s Safety Committee to develop and implement training for the Rooftop Access Program. |
| Roof Access Task Force | – Comprised of USC EHS, ITS, FPM, and Risk Management personnel reporting to USC’s Senior Vice President, Administration. – Reviews and make recommendations to implement university policy and related initiatives regarding building rooftop access and safety, including the review and approval or denial of Authorized Persons requests. |
| Faculty, Staff, Students, Vendors, Contract Workers, Volunteers and Visiting Guests | – Adheres to USC Health and Safety Policies, Programs and Practices, including the Rooftop Access Policy; – Reports any potentially unsafe practice and/or immediate danger to their supervisor, manager, instructor, and/or EHS; and – Shall not proceed with any task that cannot be done safely and resume only when provisions have been made to conduct the task in a safe manner. |
9. Related Information
EHS Safety Trainings https://ehs.usc.edu/training/
10. Contact Information
| OFFICE | PHONE | |
| Environmental Health & Safety | (323) 442-2200 | ehs@usc.edu |