Environmental Health & Safety

Environment, Health and Safety, is an administrative support unit that reports to the Provost/Executive Vice Chancellor's office through the Vice Provost for Administration & Finance.
EHS aids in the protection of human health, safety and the environment in a manner that enhances the quality of education, research and public service on our campus. EHS is taking steps toward a more sustainable campus.

Current efforts at Environment, Health and Safety include:

• All units of EHS recycle cardboard, plastic bottles, magazines, newspapers, batteries, and cans. Solvent recycling is done at the Paint Shop.
• EHS makes efforts to buy office supplies like paper and pens containing recycled content.
• Energy Star computers are currently replacing old computers and computers and other electronics are reused and/or recycled.
• Compact florescent light bulbs are more energy efficient and are replacing traditional light bulbs. All fluorescent bulbs are sent out for recycling as well.
• Surplus or unusedback chemicals are redistributed back to labs.
• EHS uses a double sided printer and copier to reduce paper waste and they reuse one sided sheets of paper.
• A mercury thermometer exchange program is offered to labs.
• Turning off the lights when leaving a room has long been an important part of the culture of the offices. Some employees don't even turn on the lights, prefering to use natural day lighting that reduces energy use.
• Several employees bike to work or ride the bus, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the typical car transportation.
• All employees are required to turn off computers when not in use, saving energy and increaseing security
• The office also donates furniture to KU's Surplus Furniture Recycling Program through Environmental Stewardship, which reduces the waste stream to the landfill.