The DEP's Health and Safety Manual is written to support the Department's policy concerning the health and safety of its employees, DEP Directive 710 "WORKPLACE SAFETY AND LOSS CONTROL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM". The Health and Safety Manual is written to be a "living" document and will be continually under review and refinement as conditions warrant.

The DEP's policy is to provide a safe and healthy work environment for the protection of our most vital resource - our employees.  The safety of employees is of the greatest interest to all levels of service.  The DEP's basic philosophy is that we can prevent all personal injuries.  While the responsibility for safety begins and ends with the Secretary of the Department, all DEP employees share that responsibility.  For example, even though a Division Director is responsible for the safety of the Division, supervisors are responsible for the safety of their staff.  All employees, at every level, are fully responsible for their own safety and for the safety of those with whom they work. There is no place in the Department for an unsafe employee.

The DEP will maintain a vigorous safety and injury prevention program and will allocate the necessary resources to assure a safe and healthy work environment.