As the end of another academic year comes to a close, the Safety/Hazard Prevention department would like to thank you all for another great (and safe!) school year. As you prepare to leave for the summer or begin to make vacation plans, please take some time to check your offices and workspaces for the following safety hazards.
Extension Cords and Multi-Plug Adaptors
As you are getting ready to wrap up the semester take a few minutes to look and see if your office has any extension cords or multi-plug adaptors in use. These devices are prohibited on campus and taking them home now can prevent issues later, if they are discovered during a fire inspection. Extension cords can cause fires when they are improperly used or overloaded, especially when cords have multiple outlets. Overloading usually occurs when multiple devices are plugged into one cord or when cords are “daisy chained” (plugging multiple extension cords together). If you notice these items around your office, please remove them and replace them with surge protectors.
Electrical Panels
Electrical panels can be found in offices, hallways, and even classrooms. Do you have one of these in your area? If so, please take a minute to look and see if there is anything obstructing the electrical panel. Electrical panels contain circuit breakers that control the electricity used inside the building. If there is an electrical problem, the circuit breakers are essential to cut the flow of electricity and troubleshoot issues. Therefore, it is very important that electrical panels are accessible at all times. New York State requires that electrical panels not be blocked in any way and have at least three feet of clearance on all sides.
Space Heaters
During the winter months I know that many of you use space heaters to try and keep warm in your offices. Now that things are starting to heat up, (especially if you are going to be in one of the areas affected by the HVAC project over the summer) - it is a good time to check to make sure that your space heater is safe to use. Any space heater that is going to be used on campus should be equipped with a tip over switch. This switch will turn off a space heater in the event it is tipped over, making it much safer. Another concern about space heaters is how they are plugged in. Space heaters must be plugged directly to a wall outlet (no power strips or extension cords). Also, please keep in mind where you place your space heater while in use. Space heaters should be kept at least one foot away from all combustibles (such as books, paper, or plastic).
Chemical Waste
While cleaning up your area have you found any old chemicals that are no longer in use? Contact the Safety/Hazard Prevention Office and we will be happy to assist you with getting them disposed of in a safe manner.
Also, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I will be happy to assist you in any way that I can.
Thanks!
David Blackburn
Safety/Hazard Prevention
05/23/2012 |