Chapter 4: Loss Prevention, Emergency Preparedness, and the Office of Emergency Management
4.1 Purpose
This policy outlines responsibilities and procedures for ensuring that The University of Texas of El Paso (University) has developed and maintains appropriate loss prevention and emergency preparedness measures to protect its students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the campus.
4.2 Policy Statement and Applicability
The University's loss prevention and emergency preparedness efforts combine fire and physical safety inspection, directed corrective actions, and targeted preparedness training throughout the campus. Steps are taken to preserve life and property from exposure to fire and other hazards, whether man-made or natural.
4.3 Loss Prevention & Emergency Management Program
The Loss Prevention & Emergency Management Program (Program) is a multi-hazard emergency management program that provides guidelines for department heads and supervisors who must carry out specific procedures related to maintaining a workplace that is safe and prepared for emergencies, and resilient in the face of foreseeable emergency events.
4.3.1 The Program must implement and maintain an emergency management program to address prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.
4.3.2 As part of the Program, Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) monitors University operations and facilities university-wide to ensure continuity of physical safety and the functionality of building safety systems (such as egress routes and exits, fire protection and fire detection systems). This is achieved through a program of regularly scheduled facility inspections, provision of loss prevention measures, and emergency management awareness training for the University community.
4.4 Office of Emergency Management
4.4.1 The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) within EH&S is responsible for emergency management and developing and implementing the Program, and monitoring and facilitating the University’s level of preparedness to respond to and recover from foreseeable emergency conditions. OEM shall include coordinating and integrating all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, or mitigate against threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other manmade disasters.
4.4.2 OEM will coordinate prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery activities with local, state, and federal agencies and will ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations including the requirements of UT System policies, rules and regulations, and procedures.
4.4.3 Other University procedures and requirements for loss prevention efforts and emergency preparedness are located within the guidelines and procedures manuals of EH&S.
