Chief amongst those at risk of injury on a university campus are those maintenance and grounds keeping staff.  In addition to the standard hazards posed by the use of power tools or the interaction with dangerous machines or electrical circuits, these workers also face other dangers linked to constant exposure to the elements.  Especially in the summer, the heat from the sun can have a difficult to detect – and potentially lethal – effect on worker health.  Sunstroke, heat stroke, dehydration and sun burn are all preventable injuries that must be addressed by a campus safety plan.

While covering up with long sleeves and pant legs can help keep the sun off of a worker’s skin, the need to remain hydrated is also something that should not be ignored.  University grounds are often extensive, and workers can find themselves far away from any buildings which could provide a supply of fresh, cool water.  Providing employees with portable coolers filled with products such as Sqwincher and Gatorade can be more effective at keeping them hydrated than simple water, thanks to their formulation which is designed to quickly replace minerals and vitamins lost through sweating.  Parking lot attendants or special events workers should also be included in a hydration plan.  It is easy for an employee who is absorbed in their task to forget about the need to drink fluids on a regular basis, and foremen and women must be trained to remind their workers not to neglect this simple yet critical health issue.

Tying in with outdoor work is the need for employees who are exposed to vehicle traffic to remain visible while performing their jobs.  All joking about the dangers of young drivers aside, many times preventable tragedies such as automobile accidents or incidents involving heavy lawn equipment occur because the victim simply wasn’t seen in time.  Whether work is being performed in the day time or night time, reflective clothing such as vests, hats or jackets can significantly improve the chances of workers remaining highly visible.  Not only should this type of gear be distributed to campus security and traffic personnel, but it should also be given to employees who frequent less often used areas of a university’s grounds.  This gives them an extra visibility edge should they encounter mechanized vehicles whose drivers may not be expecting pedestrians.

Sun and sight are two catchwords that outdoor workers should always be familiar with.  Not only should these employees be trained in how to recognize potentially dangerous situations involving heat and visibility, but they should also be given the proper tools to protect themselves from harm.

There are some basic safety preparedness steps that can be taken across the board on a university campus that can help even general staff deal with a large number of the potential incidents that could occur within a student body.  Chief amongst these is the distribution of adequate and up to date first aid supplies.  First aid can often mean the difference between serious injury and a minor incident, especially if responders are able to intervene effectively with the correct tools for the job.  In fact, United States Department of Labor regulations specifically state that first aid is required at any facility in the United States – universities being no exception.

University first aid kits and other first aid equipment can be broken down based on a number of factors.  First, it must be determined how large of a kit is required for a given situation.  In areas where crowds are common, such as a football field, gymnasium or even an auditorium, the potential for a greater number of injuries as the result of an accident should be addressed with a bulk first aid kit. For those scenarios such as labs or classrooms where the potential number of accident victims is smaller, then individual or 10 person kits might be sufficient.

Keep in mind that if a university lab is working with caustic chemicals, beyond the requirement for a first aid kit there is also the need to install an eyewash station – or at the very least, make portable eyewash equipment available.  More advanced university labs are also likely to need clean room supplies in order to protect both the health of students and staff as well as ensure the purity of experiment results through the prevention of accidental environmental contamination.  Depending upon the extent of the work being performed, clean rooms could require tacky mats, special disinfecting wipes or even body suits with supplied air respirators.  At a minimum, a biosecurity kit which can rapidly clean and disinfect a person’s body should they be exposed to a harmful contaminant must be within arm’s reach of any potentially hazardous experiment or activity.

Universities, like any corporation, are responsible for the safety of their employees.  Unlike most companies, they are also charged with protecting the health of thousands of students.  A cohesive campus safety policy must take into account all of the activities that take place inside its borders on a daily basis.