Environmental Health & Safety
The Eastern Washington University Environmental Health and Safety Office strives to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all students, faculty, staff and visitors, and to protect the environmental integrity of the campus and surroundings.
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Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA 99004
Accidents / Incident Reporting
"What you don't know about safety could hurt you!"
The first responsibility of EWU in the event of an accident, emergency, illness or bodily injury is to ensure that the proper medical assistance is rendered to the affected employee. The Employee's supervisor and/or the University Police must be contacted. If the injury is life-threatening or otherwise requires emergency medical attention, call 9-1-1. If the injury or illness is not life-threatening, the employee should seek medical assistance and treatment without delay.
Incident Reporting
What is an Incident? An incident is any event that causes property damage, injury*, illness, potential exposure or elevated risk to people of the facility.
*Injuries can include onset of pain from repetitive motion, chronic and persistent conditions such as but not limited to skin problems and allergies developed at work.
- Animal Bites
Whenever an incident involves an animal bite the following must be done:
If the animal can be safely detained then do so. Call campus police for 911 for assistance. If the animal must be killed take care not to damage the head. (Important in rabies determination).
For Employees:
A medical evaluation is necessary. If an employee refuses, they must be briefed on the potential of rabies and other potential diseases. They must sign an acknowledgement that they were briefed and have waved medical treatment. The employee should attempt to determine the owner of the animal at the time of the bite. If this is not possible, EH&S will attempt to determine the owner of the animal and, if the animal is current on its vaccination shots. This information will be passed onto the employee within 24 hours or when the information becomes available.
For Students/Visitors:
If a student or visitor is bitten, those bitten should attempt to find the owner of the animal. If this fails, EH&S will attempt to find the owner of the animal and vaccination history. The student or visitor will be advised to seek medical consultation.
An incident report form should be filled out as soon as possible and forwarded to EH&S, 101 Huston Hall or Fax to (509) 359.4690.
If any safety issues or health hazards are identified, it is the responsibility of that supervisor to complete a Hazard Report and correct or arrange for the correction of the hazard as soon as possible. Hazard Report forms should be submitted to EH&S (Fax 4690). Reports will be investigated in order of receipt, and be assessed for degree of hazard. See Procedure 1 Injury and Illness Prevention, for more information.
Industrial Insurance and Claims Management
EWU covers employees under the Washington State Industrial Insurance System. EWU is not self-insured. Employees and supervisors should follow the proper procedures in the event that an on-the-job injury occurs.
Washington
Idaho
See Procedure 2 Industrial Insurance and Claims Management and the EH&S brochure On the Job Injury Procedures for more information.
Safety Committee
The safety committee is charged with important responsibilities for protecting the lives and well-being of students, faculty, staff, administration, and visitors, and for preventing damage or loss to University-owned property. In addition, the committee is charged with the responsibility for formulating, implementing, and monitoring the Universities procedures for environmental health and safety. The committee will make recommendations to the administration in regards to new university health and safety procedures and changes to existing health and safety procedures. The committee will also serve as a forum for the discussion of topics of interest and concern, and the members of the committee will act as liaison between the committee and the constituencies they represent.
The Committee is an essential element of EWU's health and safety program and its membership reflects the concern of the administration for an effective program.