Handbook of Operating Procedures

I. POLICY AND GENERAL STATEMENT

Minors may not participate in a study project with or a visit to, or be employed by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (“university”) without the prior approval of the Office of Safety, Health, Environment & Risk Management (“SHERM”) if the activities involve working or learning in a laboratory, clinic, or other area where potential hazards exist as determined by SHERM. Individuals who fail to follow this policy may be personally liable for any injuries to a minor.

For the purposes of this policy, a minor is defined as an individual under the age of 18 years. For a minor to be selected as a volunteer, the volunteer opportunity must be approved and processed in accordance withHOOP Policy 159 Volunteersin addition to conforming with this policy. For a minor to be selected as an observer, in addition to conforming with this policy, the observer opportunity must be approved and processed in accordance withHOOP Policy 125 Visitorsand the guidelines on the观察家、学员和来访的Scientists website, which require visitors to be at least 16 years of age.

Supervisors are responsible for the safety of all minors who are approved under university guidelines to be in their areas and for compliance with this policy. Under no circumstances will minors be allowed to work or study with or around radiation sources, biological agents, hazardous chemicals, power-driven equipment, high voltage equipment, or animals in manners that pose a risk to their health or well-being. Minors will be required to attend laboratory or clinic safety training from SHERM prior to entering a laboratory or clinic, respectively. Minors who do not meet any of the official designations noted above are specifically prohibited from visiting laboratories, clinics, process areas, or any other area with potential exposure to hazards. This prohibition includes minor children of faculty, staff, students and trainees who do not meet any of the official designations noted above.

Minors under 18 years of age may not be hired to perform particularly hazardous activities such as driving motor vehicles or operating power-driven machinery. Minors under 16 years of age, including temporary employees, are not allowed to work in laboratories, clinics or process areas where exposure to radioactive materials, radiation-generating equipment, hazardous or toxic materials may occur. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that all minors are closely supervised while in a laboratory, clinic or process area and that any sources of hazard are stored in a safe manner prior to entry. Individuals responsible for minors employed by the university (either on a regular or temporary basis) must obtain authorization from SHERM before confirmation of the minor’s effective date of hire.

这项政策建立一个机制布鲁泰克tion of minors at the university for educational, research, or employment purposes only. It is not intended to provide coverage for, nor is it an endorsement of, minors being at the workplace due to such situations as school vacations, illness, or holidays. The university strongly discourages the presence of minors who are not involved in university activities and cannot be responsible for their safety. Department heads are responsible for assuring that any minors within their assigned space are on campus in conjunction with university activities.

For information regarding applicable child labor laws, contact Human Resources.

II. PROCEDURE

A. Study, Visit, Observe, or Volunteer Purpose

Before minors may study, visit, observe, or volunteer in the university:

• The project or visit organizer representing the university should work with the administrator of the unit or department where the proposed study, visit, observation, or volunteer opportunity is to take place to develop a plan for the minor(s). This includes any camps that are held on campus.
• If the activities will be conducted in a laboratory, clinic, or other area where hazards may exist, the project or visit organizer representing the university must obtain and complete the first section of aClearance Request for Minors in the Workplace Study or Employment form. (Individuals who might request this form are the supervisor of the laboratory or clinic area where a tour or project is planned, the directing teacher for a university cooperative project with an area school, or a minor who wishes to work or study at the university.) If there is any question regarding whether the activities will be conducted in an area where hazards may exist, please contact SHERM. After the first section has been completed, the minor and his or her parent or legal guardian should review and sign the form. Note: in the case of a group project or visit, the project or visit organizer may wish to have the top section of the form completed before photocopying it for distribution to all minors participating in the project. The form should then be returned to the supervisor of the designated project area for review.
• At least four weeks before the proposed start of study or work or the proposed visit, the supervisor of the designated project or visit area must submit to SHERM the completed form signed and dated by the minor, his or her parent or legal guardian, the requestor, and the supervisor of the designated project area.
• SHERM will review the information and the proposed work or visit areas for any health and safety concerns. SHERM will indicate approval/disapproval on the form. SHERM may state on this form any concerns it has regarding the project and will prescribe any necessary health and safety training. In some instances, special training may be warranted for the minor and will be arranged by SHERM. The supervisor of the designated project area must address any noted concerns, must retain these completed forms on file in accordance with the applicableRecords Retention Schedule, and must ensure that only individuals who have approved forms are participants in the project.
• For any camps at the university, excess accident and general liability coverage is provided under the UT System Camp Program. Contact SHERM for more information and to set up this coverage. Completion of theClearance Request for Minors in the Workplace Study or Employment formis not required for camps unless it involves activities in a laboratory, clinic or other areas where potential hazards may exist.

Study projects that are to be undertaken at the university by students who are minors must be reviewed and authorized in advance by SHERM if exposure to ionizing radiation, biological hazards in laboratories designated as Biosafety Levels 2 or 3, acutely toxic chemicals, chemical carcinogens, pathogenic agents of childhood disease, toxic materials, nanoparticles, power-driven equipment, high voltage equipment or other hazardous substances is involved. Laboratory or clinic safety training is required via SHERM prior to the minor entering the laboratory or clinic, respectively.

B. Employment Purpose

Departments must submit to SHERM a completedClearance Request for Minors in the Workplace Study or Employment form, signed and dated by the minor's parent or legal guardian and the supervisor before confirmation of the effective date of hire. The department must ensure that the minor receives a copy of the completed form.

Once a request has been approved or disapproved by SHERM, it will be sent to Human Resources Employment Services and to the supervisor who wishes to hire the minor. Proof of age may be ascertained from the documents listed on the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Supervisors should contact Human Resources Employment Services to coordinate the minor’s employment in accordance withHOOP Policy 14 Employment Eligibility.

III. CONTACTS

• • Safety, Health, Environment & Risk Management (questions regarding the safety of minors)
  • 713-500-8100
  • //www.tjghsg.com/safety/sherm/ehs-staff.htm
• • Human Resources (questions regarding employment of minors)
  • 713-500-3130
  • //www.tjghsg.com/hr/contact.htm

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