Evaluating the relative status of health and safety programs for minority academic and research institutions

The health and safety programs that support academic and research institutions face many challenges because of the wide variety of potential hazards present and the possibility of simultaneous exposures to several agents. This study investigated whether differences in health and safety programs exist between minority and nonminority state-funded academic and research institutions. A cross-sectional mail survey was conducted that included 24 minority and 51 nonminority schools. Questionnaires solicited information on descriptive institutional parameters, health and safety staffing, the hazards present, programs in place to address hazards, and medical surveillance services. The hazard types identified as present on both campus types were found to be very similar. The mean number of health and safety staff serving minority institutions was lower (1.14 versus 3.12), with the difference reliably predicted by the number of institutional employees, not minority status or regulatory environment. Other targeted parameters were found to be similar, with a consistent lack of awareness of specific medical evaluations noted for both groups. Since on average a single person is charged with controlling a diverse set of potential hazards on the minority campuses studied, the need for a comprehensive awareness of a variety of health and safety issues is discussed.