Safety Tips from I-Safety
Spotlight Tips of the Week
Flash floods and rising waters can occur quickly and are not uncommon on the Palouse this time of year. Please be wise about your actions when weather reports predict the possibility of this happening. Warning signs: unusually hard rain over several hours; steady substantial rain over several days; and rains in conjunction with a spring thaw.
If water is backing up on Paradise Creek as it flows across campus—typically near culverts—report the concern to Facilities (208-885-6246) and Environmental Health and Safety (208-885-6524).
Precautions to take: although these seem obvious, they are important!
- Remain aware and monitor local radio, television and go online for up-to-date . If flash floods are possible, move to higher ground.
- Be watchful at bridges and low areas that could have rushing water and over running banks, especially Paradise Creek in Moscow.
- Avoid flood waters and fast moving creeks and rivers. Don't walk or drive into moving water. Just inches of moving water can knock you down. Read more about .
- Refrain from kayaking, inner tubing or doing any other water activity during flood conditions. Floodwater may be contaminated with oil, gasoline or raw sewage. Floodwater may also be charged with electricity from fallen power lines.
- Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. Moving water is very easy to underestimate. Driving through any sort of moving water can sweep your car right off the road, even in seemingly mild flooding as shallow as a few inches.
Weather during the winter and spring months can lead to water damage to buildings and the contents inside. Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), Risk and Facilities urge all university locations to inspect property regularly and actively look for ways to prevent water intrusions and damage. We encourage reporting of large snow loads, frost heaves, freezing of pipes and cracks or fissures that drain snow melt into unwanted areas.
Moscow area: If you notice any of these issues on the Moscow campus, please report your concerns immediately to Facilities 208-885-6246 so that we can work to prevent loss of infrastructure and resources in a timely manner. A water leak is an emergency — do not rely on voicemail. If a loss occurs during regular business hours, contact Facilities at 208-885-6246 immediately. Outside of regular working hours, contact Security at 208-885-7233 (SAFE).
Outside of Moscow area: Report water intrusions to Risk at 208-885-7177 so an adjustor can be assigned. Report situations that could lead to damaged structures to your college or division leadership for mitigation to prevent water intrusions from occurring.
When a water intrusion is reported to either Facilities or Security, notice is also sent to EHS and to Risk. Water should be dried out within 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Concern about indoor exposure to mold has been increasing as the public becomes aware that exposure to mold can cause health effects and symptoms. EHS will monitor the drying operations, conduct surveys and monitor the moisture percentage in the affected areas. Risk will assist the unit with property claims management.
What to watch for and report:
- Building exteriors: signs of heavy snow load or ice damming. Make sure drains are free of snow/ice and operable.
- Building interiors: signs of sagging ceiling components, doors and windows that do not open or close properly, wet carpet or stained ceiling tiles, cracks in walls or masonry and leaks.
- Noise: popping, cracking or creaking noises can indicate imminent trouble, such as structural collapse.
What you can do to help:
- Anticipate and take steps to prevent water from entering unwanted areas.
- Elevate contents (e.g., records, equipment) that may be subject to damage from backup of drains or water from other sources.
Some property insurance coverage notes:
- Deductibles are the responsibility of the department.
- Policy is intended to apply to "sudden and accidental" losses - exclusions include "wear and tear" and continuous or repeated water intrusion over 14 days or more.
If you have inquiries about ways to help prevent water intrusions and damage, contact EHS 208-885-6524.
Culture of Questioning
Questioning certain practices with safety in mind is an essential attitude to keep you and the rest of the Vandal family safe. Questioning challenges the complacency that grows in familiar situations and drives change. Questioning safety practices, or perhaps a lack thereof, is vital to developing a culture of safety at the 果冻传媒麻豆社. The goal is for everyone to return home at the end of every day just as healthy as when they arrived on campus.
Safety issues are often recognized but go unreported because a person doesn't know whom to contact or assumes that someone else is already taking care of it. At U of I, we want everyone to challenge these assumptions, question the situation and report the issues. The Report a Safety Concern form was created just for this purpose. It allows for anonymous reporting if you choose, as well as the option to upload an image of the safety problem when appropriate. It is available for anyone to use, and concerns will be directed to the proper campus unit to correct the problem.
Students and employees are the eyes and ears of the community, and your help is essential. Get involved in the safety training opportunities available to you, ask questions if you have a concern about a procedure, take part in safety inspections and report issues right away - issues cannot be corrected if no one knows about them. Timely questioning and reporting can prevent accidents and near misses. If an accident or near miss does occur, report this as well; investigating the reason will help avoid another injury.
As a supervisor, you have additional influence - lead by example and ensure safety is a core value in your team's activities. You are encouraged to do workplace inspections, ensure your employees are current on their safety training, talk regularly with your employees and discuss accident investigation reports with them and the U of I EHS staff. EHS has many resources available for you and the EHS staff can assist all supervisors in their safety efforts.
Our Vandal culture is how we think and act in all our activities. Avoiding complacency and continuously challenging existing conditions that might pose a safety risk allows us as a community to identify discrepancies and take appropriate actions before an accident or near miss occurs. Put safety first and we can achieve the safest possible working and learning environment for our Vandal family.