Workplace and Community Safety

Accident and incident reporting

Accident and incident reporting and investigation

At ASU, our approach is to take every reasonable precaution to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses. Unfortunately, injuries and illnesses still occur and when they do, ASU wants to learn from these incidents and put measures in place to prevent future occurrences.

All employees must immediately report any injury or illness associated with an incident at work to their supervisor. This initiates a process to investigate the incident and put corrective action in place to prevent similar events from occurring in the future. All incidents resulting in an injury to an employee, student, visitor, or damage to ASU property in excess of $500 must be reported to EHS. Incidents may be reported online, or you may report the incident by calling 480-965-1823 or 480-727-9669.

Accident and incident reporting for supervisors

If an ASU employee is injured or becomes ill from a work-related incident, supervisors are responsible for completing and submitting documentation. If an accident or incident involves injuries that require medical attention, supervisors must complete and submit the workers' compensation forms packet. If an accident or incident involves injuries that do not require medical attention, complete an incident report online. 

If an ASU employee is injured or becomes ill from a work-related incident, the Arizona Department of Administration requires reporting and additional forms to be completed in order to process workers’ compensation claims.

Please be aware that the Arizona Department of Administration is adding an additional service to its workers’ compensation management system. A Nurse Triage Service is available to any employee who is unfortunate enough to be injured while on the job. If you experience a potential workplace injury or illness and have not already received medical treatment, please contact Corvel at 1-800-685-2877.

ASU vehicle accidents have the additional requirement for a written report despite the amount of damage, within 24 hours of the time of the accident. Use the forms supplied by the investigating officer at the scene of the accident or those provided by Insurance Services. Employees driving a state vehicle that are involved in a collision with another vehicle will exchange driver and insurance information to include:

1. Name of driver and occupants.
2. Telephone number of the drivers.
3. Insurance provider information to include the policy number and expiration date.
4. All names and contact information for any witnesses.

Photographs of the scene and vehicle damage are recommended and should be submitted with the incident report to Insurance Services. A driver involved in a traffic accident on university property must report the traffic accident to the ASU Police Department as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours after the accident.

We are available to assist with safety and health complaints including concerns related to lab and shop safety, indoor air quality, workstation set up and general safety concerns.

Please email EHS or call 480-965-1823 for assistance.

Asbestos management

For detailed information, please review the ASU asbestos management program. The Residential Hall Asbestos Information Guidance document includes information about the potential for asbestos in residence halls. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email EHS.

About asbestos

• Is a general term referring to six naturally occurring fibrous,, silicate minerals.
• Was used because of its high tensile strength, flexibility and resistance to heat and corrosive chemicals.
• Was used largely in manufacturing and building insulation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 

Asbestos at ASU

Where is asbestos at ASU? ASU asbestos policy is “management in place,” meaning that asbestos is removed only when necessary, such as when buildings are renovated or damaged. Many of ASU’s buildings constructed before 1985 contain asbestos in floor tiles, pipe insulation, roofing and ceiling textures. 

View the LA Herald Examiner Building Annual Asbestos Notice — Connelly Act.

Risks associated with asbestos

• Asbestos becomes a health risk when the materials are disturbed and microscopic asbestos fibers become airborne and are inhaled.  When left alone and remain undamaged, the materials present little to no health risk.
• Asbestos has no smell or taste and asbestos fibers are so small that they may not be visible to the naked eye. 
• Asbestos is a known carcinogen, or cancer-causing agent.
• Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, including mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, and asbestosis, a progressive disease of the lungs caused by heavy exposure to asbestos.
• The danger of asbestos exposure can occur when asbestos fibers are released into the air. The fibers can be inhaled or swallowed. The fibers can lodge in the lung or other body tissues and over time lead to the development of diseases.
• The symptoms of diseases associated with asbestos can take 30 to 40 years to appear.

Compliance Officer program

ASU's Environmental Health and Safety Management Policy calls for the university to be a model of quality in environmental health and safety. The Compliance Officer Program is a critical link in developing this quality level. COs are the principal safety liaison between EHS and departments, colleges and schools. By virtue of their special training and relationship with EHS, COs assist with coordinating activities that support the Environmental Health and Safety Management Policy and Policy and Operations Committees. They are the primary resource for conveying safety-related information and promoting safety culture to the ASU community. 

Chairs, deans, directors and provosts can designate an EHS Compliance Officer to be responsible for the coordination of safety operations within colleges, schools or departments. 

Learn more about the program and apply to be a CO on the Become a CO webform. View the current compliance officer roster.  

Safety coaching

Presentations

These condensed versions of the original trainings provide quick tips for all Sun Devils.

A review of these tips does not fulfill your position’s required training. Visit the training page to view all training courses provided by ASU EHS.

• Disinfect Biosafety cabinets.
• Hazardous waste disposal.
• Ladder safety.
• Preventing heat stress.
• Preventing needlesticks.
• Stacking boxes.
• Stinging insects.

Posters

EHS produces posters for students, faculty, staff and ASU researchers. 

Biosafety and biosecurity

• Biosafety begins with you.
• Icebox detox.

Emergency evacuation

• Building.
• Laboratory.
• Residence hall.

Hazardous waste disposal

• Proper biohazard disposal.
  • Landscape layout. 
• Proper chemical waste disposal.
• Proper universal waste disposal.

Personal protective equipment

• Eye promise. 

Occupational safety

• The gloves are off.

Sharps safety

• Community awareness.
• Lab-specific awareness.

Videos

AED awareness: ASU employee wellness program manager teaches the signs and symptoms of heart attack in this video. AED awareness and more first aid information is presented.

Biosafety cabinets: Learn how to use a biosafety cabinet.

Distracted walking: Don't text and walk or drive. Learn the consequences of distracted walking in this video.

Evacuation: Learn how to safely evacuate a building in the event of an emergency.

Respiratory safety: Learn about voluntary and mandatory respirator usage. Three types of respirators are presented in this video.

Sharps safety — general awareness: Learn about sharps use, disposal instructions and safety practices. Employees, including grounds, facilities and maintenance workers may find needles at ASU.

Sharps safety — lab specific: This lab-specific sharps video includes needle and sharps awareness instructions. It includes directions and best practices for researchers while conducting experiments. Researchers should conduct their experiments in a methodical, focused way.