Section 4. Safety
4-1 Hazardous Weather Conditions
4-2 Heat Waves
Care is taken to make the College a safe and healthy place in which to work. Federal and state occupational safety regulations detail the College's responsibilities for maintaining a hazard-free working environment. You are required to follow safety rules and procedures, to use safety equipment and clothing when necessary, and to report unsafe conditions to your supervisor promptly. If you are not sure of a safety procedure, ask your supervisor.
4-1 Hazardous Weather Conditions
As a residential college, Wellesley must continue to support its students regardless of inclement weather. The College, therefore, generally does not close. Wellesley is, however, concerned with the safety of its employees, especially when dealing with challenging weather conditions.
On rare occasions, when weather conditions are especially severe, a decision to open late, to close for the day, or to close early may be made by the Administration. For early closing, the College Community will be informed of the decision and the time of closing by the administration. When the College is to open late or to be closed for the day, there will be no charge to employees for the time lost. Efforts will be made to get an announcement on the following radio stations: WBUR (90.9 FM), WCRB (99.5 FM), WBZ (1030 AM), WRKO (680 AM). TV channels 4, 5, and 7 will also carry cancellation notices. This information will also be on the College’s website and communicated through the College’s electronic alert system.
Employees providing essential services should report to work or remain on duty even though the College is closed. Non-exempt employees who are required to work while the College is closed will be compensated at time and one half for hours worked.
Occasionally when the College is open, adverse weather conditions may cause employees to be concerned about safety in traveling to or from work, depending on the distance of travel, the hazards of driving, the availability of public transportation or a number of other subjective factors. In such cases, employees will need to make their own judgments (in consultation with their supervisor), about whether to stay home or to leave work early, and may use personal or vacation time should they do so.
4-2 Heat Waves
In many respects, heat waves can be treated as any other kind of hazardous weather and the guidelines above apply. However, aspects of College life that must be carried on despite the weather will include maintaining sufficient staff to take care of summer program commitments.
When the weather has remained very hot (in the mid-90s F) and humid for several days, supervisors should use their judgment about allowing staff members to take their work to an air-conditioned location, to change the work assignment planned for that day, or to leave work early.