The University is committed to conducting all its teaching, research and other operations in a safe and environmentally friendly manner and in compliance with relevant regulations. Heads of all campus units have the responsibility to implement the University safety policy and to ensure a safe and environmentally healthy workplace. All members of the campus community must follow safety and environmental procedures and watch out for the safety and health of one another. The Health, Safety and Environment Office (HSEO) was established to develop and help implement safety and environmental policies and procedures, and to provide necessary services to facilitate the realization of this commitment. The Office also provides leadership in the promotion of safety and environmental protection culture and awareness. It is our vision that students will learn about safe and environmentally friendly practices while studying at HKUST and will also take this knowledge and experience into the community after graduation to positively impact the safety performance and environmental consciousness of the Hong Kong community.Specifically, HSEO contributes to this university commitment in the following ways:

Provides consultation on the planning of facilities and operations to address safety and environmental concerns

Liaises with governmental agencies to facilitate regulatory compliance on safety and environmental issues

Conducts risk assessment and review of research proposals

Conducts inspections and audits to evaluate performance

Monitors personnel exposure to hazardous materials to ensure compliance with regulatory limits, and evaluates the performance of hazards control equipment

Provides general safety training on a variety of safety subjects to complement supervisors’ hands-on safety training and to address curriculum requirements

Disseminates information on safety and environmental protection matters

Assists with the proper selection of personal protective equipment

Coordinates emergency response and organizes drills

Coordinates the implementation of a medical surveillance program to address occupational health issues

Monitors air emission, liquid effluent and waste management to ensure proper practice and compliance

Stops operations which involve repetitive violations or imminently dangerous situations

Conducts accident and incident investigations to identify causes and to assist with preventing recurrence