Incidents & Emergencies
Incidents
Lab incident reporting is necessary to ensure the safety of students and staff, prevent future incidents, and maintain a safe working environment. It helps identify and address potential hazards before they escalate into more serious problems. Reporting incidents is also a regulatory requirement and promotes a culture of safety within the lab. By documenting and reporting incidents, labs can improve their processes, reduce errors, and enhance the quality of research.
A laboratory incident report is a formal document that records any unexpected events in a lab, detailing the incident, actions taken, and recommendations for future prevention. At UND, this reporting process is divided into two parts. The Incident Report is typically filled out by the injured person, a witness to the indicident, or a supervisor and details what happened and the immediate response. The Incident Investigation is completed by a supervisor or other leader, address why the incident occurred and how to prevent it from happening again.
Emergencies
Knowing how to respond quickly and effectively to various emergencies, such as fires or chemical spills, can minimize potential injuries, property damage, and laboratory downtime.
Spill Cleanup
When a hazardous material spill occurs, it is necessary to take prompt and appropriate action. The type of response to a spill will depend on the quantity and nature of the material spilled and the severity of the hazards presented.
- The first action to take is to alert others in your lab or work area that a spill has occurred.
- Then you must determine if you can safely clean up the spill yourself. Incidental spills can be safely cleaned up without the help of the Office of Safety.
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If you need assistance or someone is contaminated with radioactivity:
- Call 701.777.3341 for the UND Office of Safety
- Call 701.777.2591 for the UND Op Center (they can also contact 911)
- Call 911 for local emergency dispatch of Grand Forks Fire Department
- In case of fire, activate the building fire alarm using a manual fire alarm pull-station.
A release to the outside environment may require the University file a report with the EPA, or other regulatory agency. If the spilled material goes down a drain or releases hazardous vapors, or gases, call the Office of Safety to initiate a regulatory reporting determination.
Severe Weather
As our weather patterns and seasons change, severe weather can develop quickly. To understand the severity of extreme weather and how to prepare, refer to the UND Emergency Management Severe Weather page.
The Office of Emergency Management is responible for coordinating preparation for, response to, and recovery from any major emergency, including explosions, gas leaks and power outages.