Safety Tips from I-Safety

Environmental Health and Safety wants you to safely enjoy your barbeque. Please submit a BBQ/Grilling Authorization form as early as possible before your event. We can provide assistance in planning a safe location and meeting other university requirements listed below. At a minimum, we need to know a barbecue is taking place on campus. We receive many calls regarding billowing smoke from concerned members of the Vandal community. Bonfires and open burning on campus is prohibited.

The following requirements must be met for every barbecue event on campus:

• Grills are allowed only when used a minimum of 10 feet from buildings, flammable landscaping or other readily ignitable fuel sources.
• Grills must be placed on a hard, noncombustible surface (concrete, asphalt, etc.).
• Grills must always be attended when lit.
• Always keep a fire extinguisher handy. Loaners are available from EHS.
• A metal drip pan is required to be used under the barbecue to catch grease.
• Grills are limited to propane, pellet or charcoal fuels, no deep frying allowed.
• Ensure charcoal remains (for charcoal grills) are completely extinguished when finished.
• Do not dispose of charcoal in university dumpsters, trash containers or on the landscaping.
• Do not dispose of spent fuel canisters in dumpsters or other trash containers.
• Do not bring grills into buildings until cooled.
• Propane tanks are not allowed in university buildings.
• Lighter fluid must be properly stored as a flammable liquid.

Outdoor grilling on campus is restricted to university-affiliated departments and recognized student groups. Individuals and unauthorized groups may not conduct grilling on campus, except for tailgating during football games in designated parking lots. If you live on campus, University Housing has guidelines related to university apartments and residence halls; please contact them directly for this information.

Whether you're leaving a lab or office, it is essential to clean and prep your space before you go. The goal is to avoid personal injury and property damage, as well as saving personnel time and other expenses if someone else must clean up after you.

Leaving an office?

If you are leaving for a temporary break or making a permanent change, you'll need to prepare your office as well. Keep these tips in mind when leaving your office:

• Unplug heaters, coffee pots, toasters or any other items with heating elements.
• Remove food items, including things like sugar and creamers.
• Close windows to avoid animal intrusions and insect infestation.
• When applicable, remove holiday decorations as well.

More permanent changes, such as retirement or a move to new location on campus, lead to additional safety concerns. Furniture, boxes and all sorts of items must be moved and are often placed in hallways, becoming safety hazards for exiting the building. Contact EHS to request a corridor use exemption if you must leave items in the corridors; we will evaluate the space and work with you to find a safe solution.

Leaving a lab?

If you're a student working in a lab who is about to graduate or a principal investigator moving to a new location, it's essential that you clean your lab space before heading out. As much as possible, your space should be returned to its original condition so that the next occupant isn't left dealing with potentially dangerous conditions. This includes:

• Ensuring that usable chemicals are properly labeled and stored
• Cleaning up all drips and spills of chemicals or hazardous materials
• Fully cleaning and decontaminating equipment and work surfaces
• Submitting all hazardous waste to EHS for disposal
• Completing any department-specific requirements for leaving a lab

Principal investigators are required to follow the Laboratory Decommissioning Procedure and Checklist before renovating a lab, moving to a different lab space, or leaving the university. If you choose to have help with this process, please ensure these assistants are properly trained and knowledgeable about the chemicals and equipment in your lab.

For more information, check out the EHS Laboratory Safety pages or contact us at 208-885-6524 or safety@uidaho.edu.

It seems everywhere you turn on campus, there’s another construction zone. With traffic revisions due to road closures, the impacts of this work can be felt far from the actual work zone. The university is very good at posting construction areas, so pay attention to email alerts and signage at the doors of buildings or on sandwich boards so you know when and where the construction is going to take place.

As a pedestrian, bicyclist or skateboarder it is important, now more than ever, to pay attention to what is going on around you. Here are some basic tips to follow:

• Always use walkways or designated alternate routes
• Do not enter an area that has signs, caution tape, cones or fencing
• Do not move barriers that are "in your way"; this puts you, construction workers and others that may follow at unnecessary risk of injury
• Comply with posted restrictions both inside buildings and around construction sites
• If you must use the street to bypass construction areas, face oncoming traffic so you can make eye contact with drivers
• Wear bright colored clothing to increase visibility to those around you
• Carry a flashlight/use lights during the hours of darkness
• Pay attention to large trucks and mobile equipment; you will see them before they see you
• Make eye contact with drivers of the trucks and mobile equipment operators before proceeding

Construction work is dangerous, and workers need to be able to focus on their own safety. Following their directions will help them, and you, be safe during these activities. Note: Please report stealing of safety cones to campus security or EHS. The unauthorized relocation of these cones presents a real danger to our personnel and students.

You can follow upcoming and ongoing construction projects by checking the Facilities website.

Working in the heat stresses the body and can lead to illness and even death. Exposure to heat can also increase the risk of other injuries because of sweaty palms, fogged glasses, dizziness and burns from hot surfaces. Every year thousands of workers become sick from heat exposure and many workers die. Most heat-related health problems are preventable, or the risk of developing them can be reduced.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) developed a Heat Safety smartphone app in both English and Spanish. The app provides reminders about protective measures that should be taken at the indicated risk level to protect workers from heat-related illness; for example, reminders about drinking enough water, recognizing signs and symptoms of heat-related illness and planning for and knowing what to do in an emergency.

If you or a coworker are experiencing symptoms of a heat-related illness, move to a cool, shaded or air-conditioned area; drink water if conscious; apply cold compresses and use caution when standing.

Symptoms to watch for:

• Headache, dizziness or fainting
• Profuse sweating
• Irritability
• Weak, rapid pulse
• Shallow breathing
• Pale, cool, clammy skin
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle cramps

Call 911 and cool the victim by any means when symptoms include:

• Absence of sweating
• Pulsating headache
• Hot, red, dry skin
• High body temperature (above 103F)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Strong, rapid pulse
• Confusion
• Convulsions
• Loss of consciousness

Risk factors for developing a heat-related illness are a combination of weather/working conditions and personal factors/physical demands. The risk of heat stress is relative to temperature, humidity, sunlight and wind speed. High temperature and humidity, direct sunlight and low wind speed make the worst combination. Working indoors in areas where heat is generated and/or is not easily dissipated can also increase risk. Personal factors and physical demands contribute to a person's risk: a physically demanding job increases body temperature; working such a job in an environment that is hot with high humidity greatly increases risk. Older workers, obese workers and persons taking certain types of medication, such as antihistamines, have a greater risk as well.

Ways to Reduce Your Risk:

• Scheduling. Whenever possible, schedule heavy work during cooler times of day.
• Acclimation. Gradually increasing exposure time and work load will increase heat tolerance. New employees and workers returning from an absence of a week or more should take care to re-acclimate to the conditions.
• Appropriate Clothing. Wear light, loose, breathable clothing and a hat that doesn't interfere with your work safety. In some cases, personal cooling devices (such as water circulating cooling vests) may be advisable.
• Hydration. Pre-hydrate the body by drinking 8 - 16 ounces of water before working in the heat. Keep water or an electrolyte drink within easy reach and consume about 8 ounces of fluid every 15 - 20 minutes, not just during rest breaks. Avoid alcohol, coffee, tea or soda, which act as diuretics and further dehydrate the body. Monitor your urine output - small volumes and/or dark urine may be indicators of dehydration.
• Adequate Rest Periods. Avoid overexertion and work at a steady pace. Heed the body's signals. Take plenty of breaks in shaded or cooler areas.
• Job Rotation. When possible, rotate difficult work tasks in hot conditions between two or more employees.

Remember, heat-induced illnesses should not be taken lightly. Keep an eye on yourself and co-workers for any symptoms that might indicate heat stress and take action if they appear. For more information, contact Environmental Health and Safety at 208-885-6524 or safety@uidaho.edu.

Every time you start your mower, you are dealing with a dangerous and potentially deadly piece of equipment, for yourself and others in the area. The leading cause of lawn mower injury is debris, such as rocks and branches, being propelled at high speed from mower blades, as reported in the journal Annals of Emergency Medicine.

OSHA and other lawn maintenance organizations recommend a thorough sweeping of a work area, removing debris and temporary fixtures, such as metal stakes, before performing any landscaping tasks. Specific important precautions include the following:

• Clear the work area before you begin.
• Pick up sticks, bottles, rocks, wires and other debris before you begin.
• Flag or mark objects that cannot be removed so they are more visible.
• Keep children and bystanders away from the area.
• Wear long pants to protect your legs from debris.
• Wear safety glasses at all times unless you are inside an enclosed cab.
• Workers in the area should wear safety glasses and a face shield when operating string and brush trimmers.
• Shut off equipment when crossing a sidewalk, driveway or road.

Unfortunately, these simple precautions are often not taken; precautions that may have prevented accidents like these:

• A 30-year-old lawn care worker was killed as a result of being struck by a metal projectile kicked up by a coworker’s lawn mower. The projectile was a piece of a pet tie-out stake that was sheared off and thrown by the lawn mower.
• An 11-year-old lost her foot when the mower she was riding on “just for fun” tipped over with the blade running.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that each year, 800 children are run over by riding mowers or small tractors and more than 600 of those incidents result in amputation; 75 people are killed, and 20,000 injured; one in five deaths involves a child. For children under age 10, the most common cause of major limb loss is lawn mowers.

Keep in mind these safety tips and take actions to protect yourself, your loved ones and your neighbors!

The University of Idaho is blessed with a pastoral campus landscape and thousands of mature trees which provide an aesthetically appealing place to work, learn and enjoy. Ongoing maintenance and care is required to keep them safe and healthy so that they can provide our students, faculty and staff with decades of enjoyment, shade and clean air.

The Landscape Arboriculture team works year-round providing this service to keep the U of I campus safe and beautiful. Doing so requires pedestrian and vehicle safeguards be implemented whenever tree work is happening. The Fall Zone area is cordoned off with ribbon, cones or fencing to provide protection for you. Signage may be installed directing pedestrians and/or vehicles to use a different route. One or two ground persons in safety vests, hearing protection and helmets are there to deal with felled branches and logs and monitor the Fall Zone to make sure it remains clear of objects and people that could be damaged or injured.

As a pedestrian or vehicle driver it is imperative that you also make safety your priority by following all signage or verbal instructions when tree work is happening along your chosen route. When you see orange safety signs, vests and helmets in an area, pay attention to your surroundings. Avoid distractions like cell phones or conversations and follow the safety guidelines put in place to protect you.

Never cross into the Fall Zone unless specifically allowed to by an authorized ground person. This is a time when your convenience is not a priority — your safety is. Paying attention to this work and following directions will allow you to safely reach your destination.

Over the next few weeks, it is likely that the U of I community will experience intermittent smoke outdoors due to wildfires in the region. This outdoor air contaminant can have negative effects on personal health and may trigger restrictions of outdoor activities.

When smoke is on the horizon, an Air Quality Index (AQI) helps to identify potential health risks, who may be impacted and at what point specific actions should be taken. Keep in mind that indoor air quality is not part of the AQI, but wildfire smoke can have an impact on indoor air quality.

What is an AQI?

The Air Quality Index is a measure of multiple contaminants in the air outside. It can be forecast over a few days and generally fluctuates based on temperature and wind direction. The AQI is a combination of ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter, like smoke or smog. Because the index is a combination of air contaminants, a spike in one or more specific contaminants can drive the overall index upward.

The AQI is represented as a single number on a scale of 0-500. The scale provides different levels at which specific health hazards and symptoms can be expected. In some cases restrictions on outdoor activities is advised. For Moscow, readings are obtained from a weather station on Highway 8. Additional information on these levels and the AQI scale can be found at the links below:

• Idaho DEQ Real-Time Interactive Map
• AirNow Air Quality Index Basics
• EPA Historical Air Quality Index Report

How to Use the AQI

Understanding the AQI can help you decide what precautions to take while outdoors. When smoke is the known contaminant that is driving the AQI upward, you can take measures to protect yourself from particulate matter or strenuous activity outdoors. Sensitive groups should take extra precautions and be mindful of how the change in outdoor air quality might impact personal health. These groups include:

• People with heart or lung diseases
• People with asthma
• The elderly
• Young children
• People who to perform strenuous work, exercise or training outdoors

Additional Information

For more information, see the Wildfire Smoke FAQ page on the Environmental Health and Safety website. Additional resources can be used for planning and prevention at the EPA Wildfires and Indoor Air Quality page, the Idaho DEQ Air Quality Index, and AirNow.gov. A comprehensive downloadable guide to the Air Quality Index is available from the EPA here: Air Quality Index - A Guide to Air Quality and Your Health.