General Safety

Locations of AEDs throughout campus.
AED Location Map

Animals on Campus Policy

There are several campus playgrounds located around the University's apartments. These playgrounds are intended for use by the children living in UND Housing. All playground activities must be supervised by, and are the sole responsibility of, parents or guardians of the children occupying University apartments. When bringing a child or children to a playground, be sure to observe the following guidelines:

• Encourage children to share playground equipment by "taking turns."
• Be aware of the "toys" your children bring into the play area. Sticks, matches, glass, knives, or weapons are not allowed.
• Do not allow children to climb on trees, roofs, dumpsters, etc.
• Report any damaged equipment or hazardous conditions to your Resident Manager.
• Threatening actions, fighting, name-calling, or inappropriate language are not acceptable playground behavior.
• Teach your children that dumpsters, autos, roadways, and parking lots are "OFF LIMITS" as play areas.
• Be aware of the noise levels that your children or their playgroup is producing. Remember that others are trying to relax, study, or sleep.
• Rocks, mud balls, clay balls, sand, etc. should not be thrown.

Consequences for not abiding by these policies may include the temporary loss or permanent loss of playground privileges and/or being billed for broken or damaged equipment.

The Facilities Department Family Housing Maintenance Crew is responsible for maintaining all University apartment playgrounds. The maintenance crew performs a thorough inspection of each playground in the fall and spring of the year. Ongoing visual inspections are performed throughout the active seasons. Each apartment resident manager will perform ongoing visual inspections of the playground equipment and report any hazards to the Family Housing Maintenance Crew, 701.777.2591.

All persons who enter publicly accessible buildings or grounds owned or controlled by the University are required to wear clothing at least consisting of shoes, pants or skirt, and shirt or the equivalent of such clothing combinations as a precaution against health, safety, and sanitation issues.

Exemptions may apply to this requirement as they pertain to University-approved functions. Refer to the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) section J-1 of the Safety and Loss Control Manual for more information on clothing requirements for specific areas and activities.

The following alcohol/drug policy statements are University wide policies. Some University departments may have more stringent policies due to the nature of the occupation. Consult your supervisor to determine what alcohol/drug policy you are to follow.

Medication Use

Be careful to follow all directions on usage/dosage for prescription and non-prescription medications. Adhere to all warning labels on medications. Never take any prescription medication, whether internally or externally, that has been prescribed to another person.

Notify a supervisor, professor, or department head if one's ability to perform work safely becomes affected by taking any prescription or non-prescription medication, whether internally or externally.

Using good judgment is the key to safely lifting objects. If the object is too heavy to lift, seek assistance or use mechanical equipment to move the object.

When lifting heavy objects, follow these guidelines to ensure your safety:

• Face and stand as close as possible to the object with feet wide apart and with good footing.
• Bend at the knees, keeping the back as straight as possible.
• Get a firm, balanced grip on the object and pull it in towards you, keeping the center of gravity of the object close to you.
• Keeping your back as straight as possible, make the lift smoothly and under control as you begin straightening your legs.
• When moving the object, keep the load evenly balanced and proceed with caution through doors and around corners.
• Avoid twisting your body while lifting, moving, or setting down an object.
• When setting the load down, squat down, bending at the hips and knees, keeping your back as straight as possible.

Removing objects from overhead storage also requires special attention. Before bringing an object down from above, test its weight by pushing up on it. If the only way you can reach an object is by standing on the tips of your toes and reaching way over your head, do not move the object. If the object is too high, use a ladder or other appropriate means to safely reach it.

Improper moving, handling, and storing of materials can lead to accidents and injuries. When moving, handling, and storing materials follow these guidelines to ensure your safety:

• Seek help when a load is so bulky it cannot be properly grasped or lifted.
• When placing blocks under a raised load, ensure that the load is not released until hands are removed from under the load.
• Blocking materials and timbers must be large and strong enough to support the load safely. Do not use materials with evidence of cracks, rounded corners, splintered pieces, or dry rot for blocking.
• Attach handles or holders to loads to reduce the chances of getting fingers pinched or smashed. For loads with sharp or rough edges, wear gloves or other hand and forearm protection. To avoid injuries to the eyes, use eye protection. Use other appropriate protective equipment as needed.
• All materials handling equipment has rated capacities that determine the maximum weight the equipment can safely handle and the conditions under which it can handle that weight. Never exceed the equipment's rated capacity.
• When picking up items with a forklift, the load must be centered on the forks and as close to the mast as possible to minimize the potential for the truck tipping or the load falling. Never overload a forklift. The load must be at the lowest position for traveling and the truck manufacturer's operational requirements must be followed. All stacked loads must be correctly piled and cross-tiered.
• Stored materials must not create a hazard. Keep storage areas free from accumulated materials that cause tripping, fires, or explosions, or that may contribute to the harboring of pests. When stacking and piling materials, it is important to be aware of such factors as the materials' height and weight, how accessible the stored materials are to the user, and the condition of the containers where the materials are being stored.
• Separately store non-compatible materials.
• Never exceed floor load ratings.
• When stacking materials, maintain eighteen inches from the plane of sprinkler heads and twenty-four inches from the ceiling in non-sprinkler areas.

Hazard signs and warning labels are intended to provide advance notification of potential hazards. When a hazard exists appropriate signage must be utilized. They can be any form of written, printed or graphic material displayed for your protection.

Some common signs that denote physical hazards and may require personal protective equipment are: eye protection, hearing protection, head protection and hardhat areas.

A "Danger" sign indicates that there is an immediate hazard. "Caution" signs are used to warn against potential hazards or to caution you in high-risk areas. A "Warning" sign is used to represent a hazard level between "Caution" and "Danger."

Never deface or obscure existing signs, container labels or hazard warnings.

If you need assistance or have questions concerning the proper interpretations of any signs or warning labels, please contact Office of Safety.

The University of North Dakota has two swimming pools, one located in the Hyslop Sports Center and the other in the University's Gallery Apartment Complex. Specific rules for using these pools are posted within each pool facility. It is each person's responsibility to follow these rules. Specific rules for using the pool in the Gallery Apartment Complex can also be found in the University of North Dakota Apartment Policy Handbook.

The Athletic and Housing departments are responsible, respectively, for the operation of the Hyslop Sports Center pool and the Gallery Apartment pool in compliance with all applicable standards.

The thermal (heat or cold) stress of any given working situation is the combination of all of those factors which result in heat gains or losses relative to the body or which prevent the body's temperature regulating mechanisms from working efficiently.

Heat Stress

People may suffer from heat stress during hot, humid conditions. To prevent heat stress, employees should limit strenuous physical activity during the hottest portion of the day, wear a brimmed hat when in the sun, take frequent breaks, and drink plenty of fluids.

Heat stress occurs in two forms: heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is usually caused by strenuous physical activity and hot, humid conditions. Because heat exhaustion is the body's response to insufficient water and salt, it should be treated as quickly as possible.

Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include the following:

• Exhaustion and restlessness
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Cold, clammy, moist skin
• Pale face
• Cramps in abdomen and lower limbs
• Fast, shallow breathing
• Rapid, weak pulse
• Falling body temperature
• Fainting

Take the following steps to administer first aid for heat exhaustion:

1. Have the victim lie down in a cool or shaded place.
2. If the victim is conscious, have the victim slowly sip cool water, not cold water. If the victim is unconscious or is conscious but does not improve, seek medical aid as soon as possible.
3. If the victim is sweating profusely, have the victim sip cool water that contains one teaspoon of table salt per pint of water.

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is usually caused by exposure to extreme heat and humidity and/or a feverish illness. Heat stoke occurs when the body can no longer control its temperature by sweating. Heat stroke is extremely dangerous and may be fatal if not treated immediately.

The signs and symptoms of heat stroke include the following:

• Hot, dry skin
• Headache
• Dizziness
• High temperature
• Strong pulse
• Noisy breathing
• Unconsciousness

Immediately take the following steps to administer first aid for heat stroke:

1. If possible, move the victim to a cool place.
2. Seek medical attention immediately.
3. Remove the victim's clothing.
4. If the victim is conscious, place the victim in a half-sitting position and support the head and shoulders. If unconscious, place the victim on the side with the head facing sideways.
5. Fan the victim and sponge the body with cool water.

Cold Stress

When your body temperature drops even a few degrees below normal (which is about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit), you can begin to shiver uncontrollably, become weak, drowsy, disorientated, unconscious, even fatally ill. This loss of body heat is known as "cold stress" or hypothermia. It is important that persons who work outdoors or in cold indoor environments (e.g. coal storage bunker, warehouses, etc.) learn about how to protect against hypothermia. The following guidelines can help you keep your body warm and avoid the dangerous consequences of hypothermia:

• Dress in Layers

Outdoors, indoors, in mild weather or in cold, it pays to dress in layers. Layering your clothes allows you to adjust what you're wearing to suit the temperature conditions. In cold weather, wear cotton, polypropylene, or lightweight wool next to the skin, and wool layers over your undergarments. In warm weather, stick to loose fitting, cotton clothing. For outdoor activities, choose outer garments made of waterproof, wind resistant fabrics such as nylon. And, since a great deal of body heat is lost through the head, always wear a hat for added protection.

• Keep Dry

Water chills your body far more rapidly than air or wind. Even in the heat of the summer, falling into a 40-degree lake can be fatal in a matter of minutes. Always take along a dry set of clothing whenever you are working outdoors. Wear waterproof boots in damp or snowy weather, and always pack rain gear.

• Take a Companion

The effects of hypothermia can be gradual and often go unnoticed until it's too late. If you know you'll be outdoors for an extended period of time, take along a companion. (At the very least, let someone know where you'll be and at what time you expect to return.) Ask your companion to check you frequently for overexposure to the cold—do the same for your companion. Check for shivering, slurred speech, mental confusion, drowsiness, and weakness. If either of you shows any of the above signs, get indoors as soon as possible and warm up.

• Warmth and Understanding

The key ingredients to preventing loss of body heat are staying warm, and understanding what you can do to protect against conditions that can cause hypothermia. Hypothermia can be fatal, but it can be prevented.

University employees are provided training necessary to perform their assigned duties in a safe, competent, and responsible manner. This is accomplished by:

• New employees attending the "New Employee Orientation".
• Position specific training, as a follow-on to the New Employee Orientation.
• Additional training required by law, regulation, or department requirements based on the employee's assigned duties, for example, annual refresher training.
• Additional training as requested by the employee, supervisor, or department.

Training is documented by the use of "Sign In" sheets. After the training is completed, the original sheet is retained by the employee's department and a copy is forwarded to the Office of Safety.

Lighting, or the lack of it, can be a safety hazard. The University of North Dakota follows the American National Standards Institute's (ANSI) recommendations for illuminance values in offices, industrial areas, and classrooms. If you feel the lighting in your work area is not appropriate, contact Facilities at 701-777-2591.

The use of temporary lighting, ordinary incandescent bulbs suspended from electrical cords, can be an electrical problem. Cords and lights that are suspended in this way must be designed for this purpose. All electric cords for temporary lighting must be heavy-duty and insulation must be maintained in a safe condition. To prevent accidental contact with bulbs, the bulbs must be guarded, unless the construction of the reflector is such that the bulbs are deeply recessed.

Every exit sign should be suitably illuminated by a reliable light source giving a value of at least 5 foot candles on the illuminated surface.