ACCIDENT REPORTING

1. Reporting Hazards
2. Hazardous Substance Exposures
3. Employee Accidents
4. Student Accidents
5. Reporting of "Near Miss" Accidents

Reporting Hazards

The University of the Science's Safety Manual states, "Safety is everyone's responsibility".  A major part of this involves the reporting of hazardous conditions.  Everyone should be looking out for unsafe areas, acts, conditions, practices, and equipment in order to protect themselves as well as their fellow workers, students and any visitors to the campus.  (e.g., damaged chairs, bulb replacement, damaged or icy sidewalks, fire hazards) Take the time to report problems that are found in classrooms, too. Once an unsafe condition has been discovered, prompt communication to the appropriate personnel is essential.

The proper individuals to inform may include any of the following, depending on the location, nature and seriousness of the hazard:  1.)  any persons in the immediate area of the hazard who are endangered,  2.)  your supervisor,  3.)  Facilities Services, (building related issues, repairs)   4.)  the Safety Department,   5.)  Public Safety.

Hazardous Substance Exposures

There may be times when employees or supervisors suspect that an individual has been exposed (i.e., contact, inhalation) to a hazardous substance to a degree and in a manner that might have caused harm to the individual. Whenever an employee develops signs or symptoms associated with a hazardous substance, or is exposed to a hazardous substance in an emergency, (e.g., chemical spill or splash) the employee must be provided an opportunity to receive an appropriate medical examination.

Employee Accidents/Hazardous Substance Exposures

Any employment related injury to faculty and/or staff is to be reported immediately to the employee's supervisor, including those related to hazardous substance exposures.

If it is an emergency, call 911 and Public Safety at X7000.  If security transports the employee to the hospital, someone other than the Public Safety Officer (co-worker, supervisor, etc.) must accompany the injured employee into the medical facility. 

Do not move a seriously injured person unless they are in further danger.

In the event of a hazardous substance exposure, do what is necessary to prevent further injury or illness. (i.e., flush skin or eyes with copious amounts of water for approximately 15 minutes, leave the area and get fresh air for an inhalation exposure) Also, bring the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or the chemical container to the medical facility.

Notify supervisor immediately of incident.

Supervisors must complete Human Resource's Supervisor's Accident Investigation Report as soon as possible after the accident. If an employee refuses medical treatment, their signature must be documented on Human Resource's Supervisor's Accident Investigation Report.

Any laboratory incidents (i.e., injury, hazardous substance exposure, fire) must also be documented through a Laboratory Incident Report. Faculty in charge of the laboratory must complete this form. This report should be received by the Safety Department within 5 days of the accident.

Notify the Safety Department of any major employment related accidents that require an overnight stay in the hospital or of the unfortunate death of an employee. 

Student Accidents/Hazardous Substance Exposures

Students must notify their instructor or supervisor of all illnesses or injuries occurring at the University, including those related to hazardous substance exposures.  The incident must then be immediately reported to Public Safety (X7000).  Contact Public Safety, no matter how trivial the incident so that the incident can be documented.   (In the case of an injury or illness in a Residence Hall, students must notify their resident assistant, resident director, or residence life coordinator.)  If a student refuses medical treatment, their signature must be documented on Public Safety's Incident Reporting Form.

If it is an emergency, call 911 and Public Safety at X7000.   If Public Safety transports the student to the hospital, someone other than the Public Safety Officer (i.e., fellow student, instructor) should accompany the student into the medical facility. 

Do not move a seriously injured person unless they are in further danger.

In the event of a hazardous substance exposure, do what is necessary to prevent further injury or illness. (i.e., flush skin or eyes with copious amounts of water for approximately 15 minutes, leave the area and get fresh air for an inhalation exposure) Also, bring the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or the chemical container to the medical facility.

Laboratory accidents must also be documented through a Laboratory Incident Report.  Faculty in charge of the laboratory must complete this form.  This report should be received by the Safety Department within 5 days of the accident.  All such incidents should be documented for future reference even if the student claims to be unhurt.

Any student that is working for the University, and their injury or illness occurs during the performance of their duties, will be covered under our worker’s compensation carrier. Therefore, they should observe the policy under the Employee Accident/Hazardous Substance Exposures Section.

Reporting of "Near Miss" Accidents

Much can be learned by evaluating incidents where all the conditions existed that would normally result in a serious accident, but fortunately, no injury occurred.  (called a "near miss")  Regretfully, in the vast majority of cases, unsafe conditions go unnoticed or ignored until an injury occurs.

All employees are requested to report those conditions or circumstances related to a "near miss" to their immediate supervisor and/or to the appropriate department specified above, under "Reporting Hazards", so that action can be taken to evaluate the situation and take corrective action to avoid a similar type of occurrence in the future.