Our Mission, Vision & Services

Our Mission is to partner with the Vanderbilt University community to facilitate and promote safety, health and environmental management.

Our Vision is to achieve excellence through stewardship for safety, health, and the environment.

Our Services

VEHS Departmental Services

• Vanderbilt Environmental Health & Safety provides customer support for issues related to biological safety, chemical safety, radiation safety, fire safety, life safety, workplace safety, emergency preparedness and environmental protection.
• Through the VEHS Emergency Pager, VEHS responds to emergencies on the Vanderbilt campus involving hazardous chemicals, biological hazards, radioactive material, fires, and threats to the environment.
• VEHS provides impact analysis and oversight of regulatory requirements for the following regulatory and licensing agencies:
  • Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
  • Tennessee Occupational Safety & Health Administration (TOSHA)
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC)
  • Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
  • TDEC Division of Radiological Health (TDEC, DRH)
  • Department of Transportation (DOT)
  • Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)
  • Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • The Joint Commission (TJC)
  • National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA)
  • Metropolitan Nashville Fire Codes

Hospital / Clinic Safety & Training Section    meet our staff

The Hospital / Clinic Safety & Training Section provides services related to safety and health in hospital and clinic facilities, and manages several safety related programs so that VUMC will be in compliance with The Joint Commission healthcare acceditation and federal, state and local healthcare regulatory agency requirements.

• Manages Environment of Care Surveys and Audits
• Liaison with regulatory and licensing agencies for VUH, MCJCHV, VPH and Vanderbilt Clinics
• Emergency Preparedness assistance for the Medical Center
• Manages VUMC respirator fit-testing program
• Monitors for chemical exposure in the Medical Center
• Provides consultation for fire and life safety issues in the Medical Center
• With VUMC Plant Services, manages the Medical Center Safety Committee
• Performs weekly inspections of medical center construction
• Provides training on a wide variety of safety and compliance topics, such as Hazard Communication, Fire Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Tow Motor Safety.
• Performs Indoor Air Quality monitoring
• Performs chemical exposure monitoring
• Manages web sites for VEHS, VU Emergency Preparedness and VU Fire Safety.
• Manages VandySafe, the online safety training Learning Management System used by students, faculty and staff.

Chemical Safety Section     meet our staff

The Chemical Safety Section provides services related to chemical safety, lab safety and hazardous chemical waste disposal. 

• Provides specialized assistance for laboratories
• Provides assistance with lab-specific chemical safety plans
• Manages the laboratory relocation & closing service
• Manages chemical inventory program
• Manages hazard sign posting program
• Manages Chemical Safety Committee
• Provides training on chemical safety (including Hazard Communication), lab safety and hazardous waste compliance mandated by EPA and DOT.
• Performs Indoor Air Quality monitoring
• Performs chemical exposure monitoring
• Manages chemical waste collection program
• Manages chemical redistribution program
• Provides assistance and responds to hazardous chemical spills
• Serves as a liaison with EPA, TDEC, DOT & TDOT agencies

Biological & Animal Care Safety Section    meet our staff

The Biological & Animal Care Safety Section develops and oversees programs to facilitate and promote the safe handling, transport, use and disposal of biological materials in laboratory, animal or clinical research. These programs include:

• Manages Vanderbilt Institutional Biosafety Committee
• Reviews applications for use of biohazardous materials
• Audits work practices, facilities and equipment for use at established biosafety containment levels
• Provides biosafety training
• Manages Animal Care Safety

Radiation Safety Section    meet our staff

The Radiation Safety Section provides a variety of services related to ionizing radiation:

• Manages Vanderbilt Radiation Safety Committee
• Reviews applications for use of radiation sources
• Provides radiation monitoring badges and performs bioassays
• Performs radiation source shielding and facility design
• Calibrates radiation survey meters
• Purchases, receives & distributes radioactive material
• Evaluates and monitors radiation producing machines
• Liaison with TDEC, DRH agency
• Manages Laser safety
• Provides safety training for ionizing and non-ionizing (laser) radiation
• Manages radioactive waste collection program
• Provides assistance and responds to radioactive material spills

Sustainability & Environmental Management Office
meet our staff

SEMO coordinates, evaluates and promotes environmental management and sustainability initiatives to minimize and improve Vanderbilt’s impact on the community and environment. 

• Manages Vanderbilt Environmental Affairs Committee
• Provides training on Hazardous Waste mandated by EPA and DOT.
• Manages SustainVU web site.
• Facilitates sustainability initiatives across the university involving multiple departments, such as programs involving waste conservation, energy conservation and waste reduction.
• Manages programs required for federal and state environmental protection compliance.