Health and Safety
Safety and security of all members of the University community are preconditions of the learning, dialogue, and personal growth at Georgetown. The University works comprehensively to promote public safety on its campuses and facilities, at its events, and in international exchange programs.
Georgetown University uses an integrated approach to safety and security on campus and in the surrounding community. The resources of Georgetown’s Department of Public Safety (DPS), Office of Student Affairs, Emergency Response Team, and other departments are coordinated in a network designed to provide a safe environment, to prevent potential problems before they occur, to respond swiftly and effectively when problems do arise, and to maintain essential services and business operations after a serious incident. In the event of an emergency situation on the Main Campus or Medical Center, individuals should report the situation by calling DPS at 687-4343. In the event of an emergency situation on the Law Center Campus, individuals should call 662-9325.
As a means of informing the community of various safety and security issues, the University maintains an emergency preparedness Web site at http://preparedness.georgetown.edu.
the Georgetown University Department of Public Safety publishes an Annual Crime Awareness and Campus Security Report, which is available to employees and the general public. The report provides statistics and other information on topics ranging from crime prevention to victim services. The report provides information about crimes that occur on or near the University’s campuses, including overseas locations. The latest report is online at http://publicsafety.georgetown.edu/incidentreporting and is available upon request from the University’s Director of Public Safety or the Law Center Director of Public Safety.
The program’s basic functions are to provide short-term and crisis counseling, consultations to departments and managers, and work-site interventions. The FSAP deals with a variety of work and personal issues, related to conflict resolution, health, emotional stress, grief, relationship violence, psychological problems, relationship and family problems, parenting and child care, aging relatives, substance abuse, legal problems, and financial concerns. Employees may contact the FSAP directly or their supervisors may recommend that they contact the program.
FSAP also sponsors free wellness programs throughout the year. The Take a Flight into Health “brown bag” lunch series provides the Georgetown community with hour-long seminars on a variety of topics. FSAP offers a prenatal series for employees who are either pregnant or considering pregnancy and an adoption series for employees who are contemplating adoption. An eldercare series is available for those providing care and assistance for an elder in their lives. For more information, visit http://hr.georgetown.edu/fsap.
The University will terminate the employment of any individual who is convicted of unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, or possession with intent to distribute or dispense an illegal and/or controlled drug in the workplace. The University will discipline, and may terminate, individuals convicted of possession with intent to use an illegal and/or controlled drug in the workplace. Lesser sanctions may require the employee to satisfactorily participate in an approved drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program. In any event, the University may conduct an inquiry and impose sanctions.
An employee who is convicted of violating a drug law in the workplace must report the conviction to the appropriate department head within five days of conviction. Failure to report a conviction will subject the employee to disciplinary action. If the employee is working on a federal government grant or contract, the department head will report the conviction to the University Office of Sponsored Programs and other appropriate offices as described in Human Resources Policy #1003. The Office of Sponsored Programs will report the conviction to the federal government within 10 days.
The University may also conduct inquiries and impose disciplinary sanctions, including termination, in cases of drug-related activities in the workplace for which an employee has not been criminally convicted. In such cases, normal procedures governing faculty and staff misconduct will apply.
Further information is available online at
http://hr.georgetown.edu/ employment_services, or by calling the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program or a Human Resources generalist.
http://riskmanagement.georgetown.edu. Click on “Workers’ Compensation.”
Safety Marshal Program
Georgetown’s Safety Marshal Program is designed to ensure that every campus building has staff available to provide safety and security information to individuals working in that location, and to assist in the event of an emergency. Resident assistants serve as safety marshals in residence halls, and staff and faculty volunteers fill the roles in academic and administrative buildings. All safety marshals are trained in building, area, and campus evacuation procedures; fire protection systems; and elements of the University’s emergency response plan. See http://preparedness.georgetown.edu/ for additional information.
Georgetown University uses an integrated approach to safety and security on campus and in the surrounding community. The resources of Georgetown’s Department of Public Safety (DPS), Office of Student Affairs, Emergency Response Team, and other departments are coordinated in a network designed to provide a safe environment, to prevent potential problems before they occur, to respond swiftly and effectively when problems do arise, and to maintain essential services and business operations after a serious incident. In the event of an emergency situation on the Main Campus or Medical Center, individuals should report the situation by calling DPS at 687-4343. In the event of an emergency situation on the Law Center Campus, individuals should call 662-9325.
As a means of informing the community of various safety and security issues, the University maintains an emergency preparedness Web site at http://preparedness.georgetown.edu.
Campus Security Act
Consistent with the requirements of the Campus Security Act, as amended,the Georgetown University Department of Public Safety publishes an Annual Crime Awareness and Campus Security Report, which is available to employees and the general public. The report provides statistics and other information on topics ranging from crime prevention to victim services. The report provides information about crimes that occur on or near the University’s campuses, including overseas locations. The latest report is online at http://publicsafety.georgetown.edu/incidentreporting and is available upon request from the University’s Director of Public Safety or the Law Center Director of Public Safety.
Counseling and Wellness
The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) provides free confidential counseling and referral services to faculty, AAPs, staff, and family members for personal or work-related problems. All records and discussions are handled by qualified counselors on a confidential basis, and FSAP records do not become part of the employee’s permanent personnel file. However, an FSAP counselor may contact a University official if (1) the employee has committed an illegal act, or (2) the employee’s problem is serious and could jeopardize the health and safety of the employee, coworkers, patients, or others or jeopardize University operations.The program’s basic functions are to provide short-term and crisis counseling, consultations to departments and managers, and work-site interventions. The FSAP deals with a variety of work and personal issues, related to conflict resolution, health, emotional stress, grief, relationship violence, psychological problems, relationship and family problems, parenting and child care, aging relatives, substance abuse, legal problems, and financial concerns. Employees may contact the FSAP directly or their supervisors may recommend that they contact the program.
FSAP also sponsors free wellness programs throughout the year. The Take a Flight into Health “brown bag” lunch series provides the Georgetown community with hour-long seminars on a variety of topics. FSAP offers a prenatal series for employees who are either pregnant or considering pregnancy and an adoption series for employees who are contemplating adoption. An eldercare series is available for those providing care and assistance for an elder in their lives. For more information, visit http://hr.georgetown.edu/fsap.
Drug-Free Workplace Policy
Drug abuse in the workplace endangers the health and safety of the public, University employees, students, and patients. Therefore, Georgetown strives to maintain a drug-free workplace. University policy states that unlawfully possessing, dispensing, manufacturing, or using illegal or controlled substances is prohibited on University property, in University vehicles, or while conducting University business. As a condition of continued employment, employees must be drug-free in the workplace, and comply with the terms and conditions of the University’s policy on a Drug-Free Workplace (see Human Resources Policy #1003). The University will provide notification, education, assistance, and training as required by law.The University will terminate the employment of any individual who is convicted of unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, or possession with intent to distribute or dispense an illegal and/or controlled drug in the workplace. The University will discipline, and may terminate, individuals convicted of possession with intent to use an illegal and/or controlled drug in the workplace. Lesser sanctions may require the employee to satisfactorily participate in an approved drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program. In any event, the University may conduct an inquiry and impose sanctions.
An employee who is convicted of violating a drug law in the workplace must report the conviction to the appropriate department head within five days of conviction. Failure to report a conviction will subject the employee to disciplinary action. If the employee is working on a federal government grant or contract, the department head will report the conviction to the University Office of Sponsored Programs and other appropriate offices as described in Human Resources Policy #1003. The Office of Sponsored Programs will report the conviction to the federal government within 10 days.
The University may also conduct inquiries and impose disciplinary sanctions, including termination, in cases of drug-related activities in the workplace for which an employee has not been criminally convicted. In such cases, normal procedures governing faculty and staff misconduct will apply.
Further information is available online at
http://hr.georgetown.edu/ employment_services, or by calling the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program or a Human Resources generalist.
Drug and Alcohol Testing
Alcohol and controlled substance tests will be conducted for operators of commercial motor vehicles according to University and Office of Transportation Management guidelines. Testing may be performed post-offer/pre-employment, randomly during employment, when reasonable suspicion exists, following an accident, before returning to duty, and on a follow-up basis. Individuals testing positive may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.Emergency Response
Georgetown’s Emergency Response Team is responsible for maintaining a plan to enable the University to respond to a variety of potential crisis situations on- and off-campus. The team includes members from numerous departments such as public safety, risk management, facilities, student affairs, communications and public affairs, international programs, and the provost’s office. Information about the University’s Emergency Response Plan is available at http://preparedness.georgetown.edu/.Environmental Health and Safety
The Office of Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for hazardous materials including radiation, biohazards, and chemicals. The office primarily serves Georgetown University Medical Center and sciences departments on Main Campus. Visit www9.georgetown.edu/gumc/ehs/mainindex.htm.Injury on the Job and Workers’ Compensation
Employees who sustain illness or injuries while in the course and scope of their job duties may be eligible for workers’ compensation to cover medical costs and a percentage of lost wages. Injured employees must report the situations to their supervisors as soon as possible. The supervisor will then notify the Office of Risk Management and submit a Supervisor’s Report of Injury Form to begin the process. Employees who are absent from work because of an injury or illness are required to provide written documentation from a health care provider prescribing time off from work; regular status updates to their supervisors; and a clearance from a health care provider to return to work. The Office of Risk Management will submit a formal report of the work-related injury/illness to the District of Columbia Office of Workers’ Compensation. Detailed information on the workers’ compensation policy and process is available athttp://riskmanagement.georgetown.edu. Click on “Workers’ Compensation.”
International Health, Safety, and Security
Georgetown recognizes that safety must be a paramount concern for members of our community traveling abroad or participating in international exchange programs. As a result, the University has developed emergency protocols for students, faculty, and staff traveling overseas in Georgetown-approved programs and activities, and has developed University-wide standards to address international health, safety, and security issues. Visit http://riskmanagement.georgetown.edu and click on “International Coverage.”Safety Marshal Program
Georgetown’s Safety Marshal Program is designed to ensure that every campus building has staff available to provide safety and security information to individuals working in that location, and to assist in the event of an emergency. Resident assistants serve as safety marshals in residence halls, and staff and faculty volunteers fill the roles in academic and administrative buildings. All safety marshals are trained in building, area, and campus evacuation procedures; fire protection systems; and elements of the University’s emergency response plan. See http://preparedness.georgetown.edu/ for additional information.
