AccidentReporting

June/00 Recording accident information to protect people's privacy:

Information for minor accidents may be recorded on the Accident Report Book stored with the Departmental first aid kits OR a person can fill out the Accident Report Form and deliver it to the Safety Officer in Room CW315A where it will be filed.

Guidelines for Reporting Injury Accidents, Incidents and Occupational Illness in the Department of Biological Sciences

Contents

A. Minor Accidents
B. Serious Accidents
Location of Departmental First Aid Kits
Department Contacts
Accident Response Summary

The purpose of this guideline is to enhance workplace safety by centralizing the reporting procedures in the department to help:

minimize or eliminate hazards
inform others of potential hazard
ensure proper accident reporting to the Alberta Workers' Compensation Board

The following procedures are designed to cover the response and reporting requirements for situations that result in (or have the potential to result in) personal injury including:

accidents
incidents (near misses)
occupational illnesses

These guidelines apply to departmental employees, students and volunteers when engaged in a work-related activity inside or outside of the building as well as to visitors to our building.

Three aspects to consider in dealing with an accident are:

first response: treating the injured person
recording details of the accident (who, where, when, treatment)
notifying the department safety officer, APO, and possibly the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB).

The Alberta WCB requires notification of serious accidents within 72h. This applies both to salaried employees as well as to undergraduate students in teaching labs.

The nature of the accident affects the response:

A. Minor accident: back to top

e.g. a small cut that is unlikely to become infected, skin contact with a dilute chemical solution (low toxicity), or something that is unlikely to cause any loss of work time.

A1.  in a teaching lab:
    1.     notify the TA
    2.     treat injury with supplies from the lab first aid kit
    3.     record information in Accident log (or use a Form) stored in the first aid kit
    4.     TA should inform the Lab Coordinator as soon as possible

A2.   in research lab/other area:
    1.     locate a first aid kit (see below for locations of departmental kits)
    2.     treat the injury
    3.     record information in Accident log (or form) stored in the first aid kit,
    4.     inform your supervisor

Note: you should record basic accident information even for a minor accident in case problems develop later and we have to complete the WCB forms.

B. More serious injury: back to top

e.g. a larger cut (may require stitches), higher possibility of infection, chemical spill involving eyes, severe allergic reaction, person will likely need treatment at a medical facility, person may be unable to work after the accident.

B1.     summon appropriate help:
    Ø     ambulance - phone the UofA Control Centre at 5555
    Ø     transport to a medical facility - phone Campus Security at 5050
    Ø     contact people in the building who have first aid training (lists in the departmental first aid kits)

Note: pay telephones on campus have a free auto-dial button direct to Campus Security. We recommend calling Campus Security since they will call the ambulance and guide it to your location (unlike a direct 911 call).

B2. locate a first aid kit and treat the injury

B3.     as soon as possible, contact:
    Ø     the lab coordinator (if accident occurs in a teaching lab) or your supervisor
           AND
    Ø     the Department safety officer (if not available, inform the APO or Chair).

C. Potentially Serious Incident: (a close call that could have resulted in serious injury)

}

contact the Department Safety Officer (if not available, see the APO or Department Chair)

D. Occupational Health Concerns:

Workers Compensation Board reporting:

The WCB-Alberta is a mutual insurance organization that is funded by employers in the province. It's role is to provide workplace liability and disability insurance for it's members. All university of Alberta employees are covered under the WCB if they are injured while doing their work but in addition, students are also covered if they are injured while engaged in activities related to their educational program (i.e. in a class or a laboratory or while on a field trip). If a university employee is injured at work, the WCB may reimburse the university for the employee's wages while recovering. For students injured while engaged in some aspect of their program, the WCB may reimburse them for wages lost because they could not continue a part-time job or for an ambulance or prescription drugs (this coverage for students is paid for by the Alberta Department of Higher Education, not the University of Alberta).

The Workers' Compensation Board requires notification of all worker accidents in which:
·       a worker requires medical attention, or
·       a worker cannot continue working after the injury.
WCB report forms (available in the main office) are required from both the worker and the employer. Students or workers should submit their completed form to the APO who will complete the employer form and send both over to the Human Resource Services.   Also, if the injured person seeks medical attention, inform the doctor that the accident occurred at work so that a report can be submitted within 48h.

Location of Departmental First Aid Kits: back to top

(all kits have an accident log book / form for recording information on minor injuries)

- during business hours:

Z207 - Biological Sciences Storeroom
CW229 - Instrument Repair Shop
CW312 - Student Services Office
CW405 - Department Office
ESB218 - Strickland Museum (Earth Sciences Building)

- after hours:
two plywood cabinets located in elevator lobbies:

Z203 (near the Biological Sciences Storeroom)
M425 ( near entrance to Microbiology wing)

Note: these cabinets are alarmed with buzzers that sound when door is open.

Departmental Contacts: back to top

Safety Officer	Administrative Officer	Chair
Barry McCashin	Laraine Strafford	Gregory Taylor
CW315A tel: 2399	CW405 tel: 1256	CW405 tel: 0672

Department of Biological Sciences - Accident Response Summary: back to top

	Minor Accident	Serious Accident	Potentially Serious Incident
	§ no additional medical attention § no time off work	§ requires medical attention § not able to continue work	§ a "close call"
*Response*	§ supply first aid	§ call for medical help/transportation § supply first aid	.
*Record*	§ notes in accident log/form in 1^st Aid kit	§ notes made by Safety Officer	§ notes made by Safety Officer
*Report*	§ contact lab coordinator or your supervisor	§ contact lab coordinator or your supervisor AND § Department Safety Officer or APO or Chair § complete WCB forms if required and submit to Department APO.	§ contact Department Safety Officer or APO or Chair

reviewed: June 01, 2000

Safety Information