Safety programs

University of Idaho maintains an Emergency Response Team (UIERT) through the Office of Environmental Health and Safety. The team, comprised of all members of EHS, is trained and equipped to handle most incidents that may occur on campus, including chemical, radiological, and biohazard incidents. We also have an agreement with the City of Moscow to respond to other incidents in the city as requested. This service is activated as needed by the incident commander acting for the City of Moscow and may be initiated by calling 911.

Managed by the director of EHS, several environmental compliance programs, including air and water quality and oil pollution prevention, are in place to not only meet but also exceed the rules and regulations of federal and state agencies. These programs have a positive impact on the university and environment, earning the university recognition as the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s 2017 Pollution Prevention Champion.

The fire safety specialist is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining a comprehensive fire and life safety program for the university through expert knowledge of fire and building codes.

A joint effort of the hazardous materials specialist and hazardous materials technician, this program directs the university’s hazardous waste management, PCB management, and used oil management programs.

The university’s industrial hygienist manages campus-wide programs in industrial hygiene. Policies and procedures are based on the work of Occupational Safety and Health Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and others.

Managed by the laboratory safety officer, the purpose of the laboratory safety program is to minimize the risk of injury or illness to laboratory workers by ensuring that they have the training, information, and support needed to work safely in the laboratory.

A multidisciplinary field, occupational safety is concerned with safety, health, and welfare of people at work with a primary focus on the prevention of hazards. Regulated by federal and state legislation and codes, our comprehensive program includes job hazard analysis, fall protection, confined space work, and training, among other areas. The occupational safety specialist, assisted by the occupational safety technician, develops and maintains this program for the university.

The university’s radiation safety program is managed by the radiation safety officer who provides technical assistance in handling, use, storage, and characteristics of radioactive material and radiation-producing equipment; and responds to emergencies involving radioactive and hazardous materials.

Learn more about the radiation safety program