Health and Safety at the Headquarters Building

CalEPA takes seriously the health and safety of our employees and visitors. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the safety measures put in place to serve you.

Emergency Contacts

Emergencies 9-911

Building Security
(916) 551-1313

Emergency Return -To -Work Phone Number
(877) 5CALEPA or
(877) 522-5372

CalEPA Health, Safety, and Wellness Unit
(916) 327-2713

Emergency Response Personnel
(BDO Health and Safety Officers/Floor Emergency Coordinators)

Building Management Office
(916) 551-1449

About Us

The CalEPA Health, Safety, and Wellness Unit (HSWU) proactively provides consultation and guidance on workplace safety issues and safety information directly to employees through Intranet postings, email messages, and training sessions.

The CalEPA Health and Safety Officer will answer questions and inquiries regarding safety and works with the various Board, Department, and Office (BDO) Health and Safety Officers to resolve safety-related issues in a consistent manner. The CalEPA HSWU is responsible for the CalEPA Emergency Response Plan and coordinates various safety programs and trainings. Finally, the CalEPA Health and Safety Officer proactively identifies safety issues and advocates for the wellbeing of all CalEPA employees.

Hours of Operation

CalEPA Health, Safety, and Wellness Unit Office Hours: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday.

Location

The CalEPA HSWU is located on the east side of the building on the second floor.

Other Services, Policies, and Information

CalEPA Emergency Plans/Response

CalEPA Headquarters Building Emergency Response Plan

The CalEPA Headquarters Building Emergency Response Plan (ERP) is a tool designed to assist occupants working in the Joe Serna Jr. CalEPA Headquarters Building before, during, and after an emergency. While the ERP does not address every possible circumstance that may arise during an emergency, it does address situations that are more likely to occur.

To reinforce situational readiness, the ERP includes information about the following: emergency phone numbers, fire and life safety features, emergency relocation procedures, emergency response personnel, maps of relocation/evacuation assembly sites, scenario specific responses, and much more.

All staff working at the CalEPA Headquarters Building are ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance with the ERP. It is the duty of every individual at the CalEPA Headquarters Building to know what actions to take before, during, and after an emergency. Please read and become familiar with the information in ERP.

If you have any questions, suggestions, and/or concerns regarding occupant or building safety, please contact the CalEPA HSWU at hsw@calepa.ca.gov or at 916-327-2713. We must work together to make this building the safest possible working environment.

To view emergency plans for facilities other than the CalEPA Headquarters Building contact your BDO Health and Safety Officer.

*If you anticipate needing assistance relocating/evacuating during an emergency please complete the Emergency Evacuation Assistance Information form. Garaventa Evacu-Trac emergency evacuation devices are available in the service elevator lobby on each floor.

CalEPA Relocation and Evacuation Sector Maps

This map packet identifies the designated relocation sectors within the CalEPA Headquarters Building.

The general emergency response for occupants working at the CalEPA Headquarters Building is to relocate to safety within the building. Given the physical space available, Floors 3 through 20 are designated as relocation floors. Specific relocation sectors have been identified on each relocation floor. Occupants will assemble within these relocation sectors during an emergency requiring relocation within the building.

Primary Evacuation Assembly Site Map: Cesar Chavez Plaza Park

This map identifies the BDO specific areas within Cesar Chavez Plaza Park for the tenants of the CalEPA Headquarters Building to relocate to during a building evacuation.

Secondary Evacuation Assembly Site Map: CA State Capitol Building’s North Lawn

If the Primary Evacuation Assembly Site (Cesar Chavez Plaza Park) become unsafe and/or unsuitable during a building evacuation, then employees will evacuate to the Secondary Evacuation Assembly Site located at the CA State Capitol Building’s North Lawn. This map identifies the BDO specific areas located at the CA State Capitol Building’s North Lawn for the tenants of the CalEPA Headquarters Building.

HQ Relocation and Evacuation Drills Information

In order to better prepare us for unexpected emergencies, relocation and evacuation drills will be conducted in the CalEPA headquarters building on a regular basis. It is the responsibility of State employees and occupants within the CalEPA Headquarters Building to be familiar with and to adhere to all emergency procedures outlined within the CalEPA Emergency Response Plan.

Emergency Return to Work Phone Number

This toll-free number is available to obtain information about return-to-work status and possible alternative work locations, should an emergency occur. The number is (877) 5-CALEPA or (877) 522-5372. It has been set up to provide this information about any affected CalEPA and BDO field offices, as well as the Headquarters Building.

Other Plans

CalEPA COVID-19 Prevention Plan

CalEPA is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our employees and visitors. To protect all our employees and guests, CalEPA has worked with its BDOs to develop a COVID-19 Prevention Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. CalEPA’s goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our workplaces and communities, and that requires full cooperation among our employees, management, and visitors. Managers, supervisors, and employees are all responsible for implementing this plan.

The COVID-19 Prevention Plan follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California Department of Public Health (CDPH) & California Department of Occupational Safety & Health (Cal/OSHA) guidelines, as well as federal OSHA and Cal/OSHA standards related to COVID-19.

Employees can direct questions, concerns, and comments about the COVID-19 Prevention Plan to their office coordination team using the emails listed in Appendix C (BDO Regional/Field Office Information).

Safety Trainings

CalEPA Online Fire Life Safety Training

This training provides building occupants important emergency preparedness information specific to the CalEPA Headquarters Building and how to respond safely and effectively to various emergencies. It is mandatory for all occupants of the CalEPA Headquarters Building to complete the training at least once per year. New employees need to register in the training platform (BSS Guardian) to access the training.

New Employees – To register, please click on your BDO-specific registration link* below:

DGS | CalEPA OOS | CARB | CalRecycle | DPR | DTSC | OEHHA | SWRCB

*The above links are refreshed every 60 days.

Once registered, employees can access the training using the following link: CalEPA Online Fire Life Safety Training (BSS Guardian).

If you have questions about creating an account or accessing the training, please contact the CalEPA HSWU at hsw@calepa.ca.gov.

 

Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Online Training

The Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Online Training course is required for CalEPA employees. Once completed, please submit certificates of completion to the CalEPA Training Unit and/or one’s BDO Training Coordinator.

  • Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Online Training – Cal/OSHA has developed an online training course to help educate employers and employees about the Cal/OSHA Non-Emergency COVID-19 standards that are in effect from February 3, 2023, through February 3, 2025.

The training can be accessed via the following link: Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Online Training.

Note: To participate in the training, users must register by providing their name and email address. The training platform will use the provided information to track course progress and award the certificate of completion.

Basic First Aid, CPR, and AED Training
Basic First Aid, CPR, and AED training teaches employees procedures on providing assistance during medical emergencies. The training consists of information on providing basic first aid, how to properly provide CPR, and instructions on operating AED equipment. Once an employee completes the training, they will receive certification valid for two years. To inquire or enroll in the training, contact the CalEPA HSWU.

CHP Bomb Incident Response Training
CHP Bomb Incident Response training teaches employees how to respond to a bomb incident in case a threat is received. CHP will walk employees through the proper procedures on how to respond and discuss how to mitigate a threat from occurring. To inquire or enroll in the training, contact the CalEPA HSWU.

Fire Extinguisher Training
Fire extinguisher training teaches employees how to operate a fire extinguisher safely during an emergency. It is highly recommended that employees take the training before operating equipment. To inquire or enroll in the training, contact the CalEPA HSWU.

Emergency Response Training
The CalEPA HSWU coordinates and offers emergency response training for Emergency Teams (E-Teams). The training covers information on various procedures on how to respond to different emergencies. To inquire or enroll in the training, contact the CalEPA HSWU.

Evacu-Trac Emergency Chair Training is also available for E-Teams and is highly recommended in order to learn how to operate the chair and transport a person down the stairs safely during an emergency. Building Security handles all inquiries and facilitates the training.

Policies

These general building and agency-wide policies/procedures were developed and adopted, for the express purpose of enhancing and maintaining the safety and general well-being of occupants and visitors of the CalEPA Headquarters Building.

Cal/OSHA Required Posting Links

Health Safety Information