Occupational Safety Program

Report injuries or illnesses related to university employment or activities to ensure that individuals receive appropriate medical care, the causes are identified, and proper documentation is completed. For employees seeking medical attention due to an accident, the report must be submitted directly through CorVel at 844-213-2099. CorVel promptly notifies University of Idaho of all employee injuries, eliminating the need for additional reporting through the EHS website. Once EHS receives a notification from CorVel, an investigation will be initiated. EHS will contact you to review the incident, discuss contributing factors, identify the root cause, and brainstorm potential mitigation efforts. For more information, refer to Workers Compensation.  

Reporting injuries or illnesses involving non-employees or students during university activities is essential to ensure appropriate care, identify causes, and maintain proper documentation. For non-employee injuries, please submit an accident/incident report.

A near miss is an unplanned event or unsafe condition that did not result in injury, illness, or damage, but had the potential to do so. Report near-miss incidents related to university activities to identify potential hazards, prevent future injuries, and ensure proper documentation. Please submit a near-miss accident/incident report.

University of Idaho is committed to providing a healthy and safe workplace, and EHS coordinates annual building safety inspections with state inspectors for every university building. These inspections aim to raise safety awareness, identify unsafe conditions, and make recommendations for corrective actions.

If you receive notification that your building will be inspected, please follow the instructions provided. If you have concerns about building safety, do not wait for the annual inspection to report them to safety@uidaho.edu.

Resources:

• Building Self-Inspection Checklist (PDF)
• Corridor Use Exemption Form (PDF)
• Most Frequently Noted Discrepancies (PDF)
• Idaho Current Statutes, Rules, and Guidance
• State Fire Marshal
• Unit Safety Program
• Architectural and Engineering Services to request building floor plans 

EHS evaluates all confined spaces at University of Idaho and provides essential training for confined space entry, along with assistance in establishing area-specific entry programs. Additionally, EHS has a confined space rescue team ready to perform rescue operations in the event of an accident.

All employees expected to work within a confined space must complete confined space entry training before entering. Supervisors are responsible for maintaining the confined space entry paperwork and ensuring that employees receive the necessary training.

Regulations

• OSHA J 1910.146: Confined Space

Resources

• Confined Space Permit/Checklist (PDF)
• Confined Space Program (PDF)

Whether you use a personal vehicle or a University of Idaho vehicle for work, resources are available to ensure a safe driving experience. These resources include training and checklists for documenting required and pre-trip inspections. More information on insurance and vehicle accident reporting is available through Risk Management.

Before driving university-owned, rented, or leased vehicles, employees, students, and volunteers must complete a defensive driving course. This course reviews policies outlined in APM 05.08 and the necessary forms to be completed prior to using a university vehicle.

Drivers must conduct a pre-trip inspection before driving to ensure the vehicle is safe. Any issues found during the inspection need to be reported before operating the vehicle. Additional monthly and annual inspections should be carried out by designated personnel.

Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that drivers complete the defensive driving course every three years, submit a satisfactory driver record check every three years, and have a signed Vehicle Use Agreement on file before driving.

Vehicle checklists

• Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist (PDF)
• Monthly Vehicle Inspection Checklist (PDF)
• Annual Vehicle Inspection Checklist (PDF)

Driver safety resources

• APM 05.08: Vehicle Coverage and Use
• Vehicle Use Agreement (PDF)
• Driver Record Request
• Idaho Driver's Manual — English (PDF)
• Idaho Drivers Manual — Spanish (PDF)
• Idaho Drivers Manual — Audio

EHS helps employees recognize and correct unsafe working positions. Our team assists in evaluating workspaces and developing ergonomically sound environments to minimize the risk of repetitive motion injuries. We provide recommendations on products and alterations to enhance workstations and create ergonomic workplaces.

Since the workplace can be dynamic, it is important to assess your situation whenever you experience aches or pains to identify potential causes. For assistance, please contact our office at safety@uidaho.edu to schedule an ergonomics evaluation.

Resources

• Basic Safety Rules (PDF)
• Office Ergonomics Pamphlet (PDF)

EHS offers resources to help departments create fall protection plans for work areas with a fall hazard of six feet or more and where guardrails or barriers are not present. When employees need to work in an unprotected area, appropriate fall protection systems must be implemented.

Supervisors are responsible for establishing necessary written procedures and ensuring that employees are adequately trained and equipped before using fall protection equipment or monitoring work in these areas.

Related training

• Fall Protection — Competent Person
• Fall Protection — Operations
• Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWP) (Aerial Work Platforms)
• Ladder Safety

Regulations

OSHA Fall Protection Standards

Resources

• Fall Protection Workplace Template (PDF)
• Fall Protection Standard Checklist (PDF)

EHS offers First Aid and CPR/AED training for university employees, following American Heart Association (AHA) certification standards. You can choose between two options: 1) an in-person, instructor-led 4-hour class, or 2) a hybrid option that includes online training through the AHA followed by a half-hour hands-on skills test with EHS. Both options incur a small fee, payable to EHS by index number, to cover the certification card, while the online course has an additional fee paid directly to the AHA.

If the scheduled classes on our training calendar do not fit your needs, please contact us to discuss scheduling a special class for your group of at least six people but no more than eight.

Departments at University of Idaho are responsible for purchasing and maintaining first aid kits. Each department should ensure that fully stocked kits are accessible to all employees, with contents determined by the specific hazards of the workplace. The First Aid Kit Contents (PDF) lists standard items, and additional items that may be necessary for certain environments, such as chemical cold packs. For questions about suitable items for specific occupations, please contact EHS.

Due to potential allergic reactions or drug interactions, allowable ingestible medications are limited to aspirin, glucose, and nasal Narcan. Departments using these medications must monitor their quality and expiration dates, promptly removing any expired items. 

EHS provides the means to evaluate and develop hazard energy control programs tailored to your specific area. Lock out/tag out is a process that employs locks and tags to isolate and prevent the release of hazardous energy during the service, maintenance, and modification of machines, motors, and electrical equipment. Hazardous energy can include electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, chemical, moving parts, and any other form of energy that presents a physical hazard.

Supervisors are responsible for establishing a lock out/tag out program, ensuring that procedures are followed and that employees are properly trained. All employees who service or repair equipment with hazardous energy must adhere to lock out/tag out procedures and complete lock out/tag out training before working on equipment or practicing lock out/tag out. Additionally, lock out/tag out refresher training is required annually.

Regulations

• OSHA standard

Resources

• Training offered
  • Lock out/tag out awareness
  • Lock out/tag out for authorized employees

Hazardous Energy Control (Lock out/Tag out) Program Template

• Written Logout/Tagout Procedure Template (PDF)
• Lockout Tagout Written Program Cover Page (PDF)
• Lockout/Tagout Checklist (PDF)
• Complex Lockout/Tagout Quick Reference Guide (PDF) 

EHS encourages all supervisors to understand the hazards faced by their employees. A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is a systematic process for identifying hazards related to specific job tasks and determining the best ways to perform those tasks to eliminate or reduce risks. Completing JHAs is one of the most effective ways to prevent workplace injuries, as they help establish and document safe job procedures that can be referenced when compiling standard operating procedures and training employees on how to safely accomplish specific tasks.

Supervisors whose employees who may operate or service equipment or perform tasks with the potential for serious injury are encouraged to utilize the methods and materials provided to conduct a JHA related to their work.

Resources

• OSHA's JHA booklet (PDF) (2002)
• UC Berkeley's JHA Library
• Instructions for Completing JHA (PDF) 

Environmental Health and Safety, in conjunction with the University Safety and Loss Control Committee (USLCC), developed a template for units to create and implement a unit-specific safety program. This template consists of nine essential elements aimed at ensuring a safe learning and working environment for all employees, students, and members of the public who interact with the university.

In addition to the Unit Safety Program Template, tools and resources are available to assist unit administrators and safety committees in addressing and monitoring the status of each element by emailing safety@uidaho.edu.