Facilities and Services - Safety and Security
- Environmental Health and Public Safety
- Purdue University Safety Policy
- Employer Responsibilites
- Employee Responsibilities and Rights
- Parking and Traffic Regulations
- Adverse Weather Conditions
- Emergency Perparedness
- University Police
- University Fire Department
- Emergencies and First Aid
- Fire Protection Engineering and Special Services
- Radiological and Enviromnetal Management
- Bicycles
- Lost and Found
Environmental Health and Public Safety
All emergencies DIAL 911.
Purdue University Safety Policy
Purdue University promotes a safe and healthful environment for all employees, students, and visitors. The University is committed to complying with two significant legislative acts dealing with safety. First, the Federal Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act was signed into law in 1971. Second, in 1973, the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Act brought all state institutions under the safety and health guidelines set forth by the federal OSHA laws. See additional information about Purdue’s environmental health and safety compliance policy, Executive Memorandum No. C-36, at www.purdue.edu/policies/pages/facilities_lands/c_36.html
Employer Responsibilities
Purdue supervisors will establish and maintain conditions of work that are reasonably safe and healthful for employees and free from recognized hazards that cause, or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.
Employee Responsibilities and Rights
Employees must comply with safety and health standards, rules, regulations, policies and procedures applicable to their conduct. An employee may not be discharged or discriminated against for filing safety and health complaints or otherwise exercising his or her rights under the act. See also the Grievance Policy for Administrative/Professional and Clerical/Service Staff Members (IV.8.1) at www.purdue.edu/policies/pages/human_resources/iv_8_1.html.
Requests for additional information on the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Act and its application and for information on Purdue University’s activities to comply with the law should be directed to your supervisor or to the Radiological and Environmental Management Department, www.purdue.edu/rem.
Parking and Traffic Regulations
All parking on the West Lafayette campus requires a permit from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday unless posted otherwise. Some parking spaces are enforced 24/7. Eligible staff members may purchase either an “A” or “B” permit. “A” permit holders may park in “A,” “B,” or “C” lot spaces. Holders of “B” permits may park in “B” or “C” lot areas. A “C” permit allows for parking in “C” lot areas only. Regular staff members may purchase their permits through pre-tax payroll deduction in 10 equal installments per year. Limited numbers of parking garage specific “C” permits are sold each year to qualifying commuter students. These permits are priced the same as staff “A” permits. Staff members paying cash for their permits must pay for both years in advance.
A 10 mile-per-hour speed limit is enforced in the parking garages. For driving on the West Lafayette Campus, the speed limit is 20 miles-per-hour unless otherwise posted.
Campus visitors may park in metered parking spaces, the Grant Street garage for an hourly fee, or purchase a daily visitor permit from the Visitor Information Center located in the Northwestern Avenue Parking Garage at 504 Northwestern Avenue.
All persons operating motor vehicles within the boundaries of the West Lafayette campus shall observe and obey all applicable Indiana laws and shall hold valid driver’s licenses.
Moving and parking violations may be appealed or paid at the Parking Facilities Office located at 504 Northwestern Avenue. For additional information, visit the Parking Facilities Web site at www.purdue.edu/parking.
On campus CityBus service is available free of charge to all Purdue employees and students that display a current University identification card. Schedule information may be found at www.gocitybus.com.
Adverse Weather Conditions
Purdue’s primary concern during adverse weather conditions is its employees’ safety. The University’s secondary concern is ensuring that its facilities are maintained during adverse weather conditions. The following sections summarize the University’s policies relating to adverse weather conditions. For more details, see Executive Memorandum No. C-35, “Adverse Weather Conditions,” dated December 12, 1994.
Hazardous Driving Conditions
If an employee is absent from work, arrives late, or leaves early due to hazardous driving conditions (e.g., fog, ice, or snow), the employee must request authorization for their absence under a University paid leave of absence policy, unpaid leave policy, or the personal holiday policy. Under these conditions, there will be no change in regularly scheduled activities or parking regulations.
Snow Emergency
After an unusually heavy snowfall, severe drifting, or when either of the foregoing is certain and imminent, the vice president for physical facilities may declare a “snow emergency.” If an employee is absent from work, arrives late, or leaves early during a snow emergency, the employee must request authorization for his or her absence under a University paid leave of absence policy, unpaid leave policy, or the personal holiday policy.
Snow Recess
If most roads and streets are virtually impassable, the University president or, in her absence, the executive vice president and treasurer and the provost, may declare a “snow recess.”
When the University declares a snow recess, students should return to their residences and not report for classes until further notice. The University will ask most staff members to leave the University and not to report for work until further notice. However, the University will request that essential personnel report for work or remain at work to ensure the continued operation of the University’s essential services. The Department of Human Resource Services will notify departments of pay practices during a snow recess. The University will provide emergency housing and meal facilities at University expense to essential personnel.
Parking Regulations for Snow Emergency or Snow Recess
- When a “snow emergency” or “snow recess” is declared, parking on campus will be restricted to facilitate snow removal.
- Signs will be posted in parking lots where parking is prohibited. The lots will be reopened as soon as snow removal is completed.
- Parking will be permitted in the parking garages under normal parking regulations applying to the use of garages.
Tornadoes or Other Outdoor Hazards
The University’s exterior all hazards warning sirens are an integral part of the Tippecanoe Emergency Management Agency’s siren system and the Purdue Alert Emergency Notification system. As such, they are used to alert people to not only tornado warnings, but also other potentially life-threatening disasters (i.e., chemical releases). Consequently, when the sirens are activated for other than test purposes, employees should take shelter and quickly tune to local TV and radio stations, or access the Purdue home page at www.purdue.edu for further information as to what action is required.
Employees should be familiar with the terminology related to tornado activity as used on weather bulletins broadcast by radio and television stations. A “tornado watch” is issued when atmospheric conditions are favorable for the formation of tornadoes in a given area. Under these conditions, keep informed by listening to radio or television. A “tornado warning” indicates that a tornado has been sighted and poses a definite threat to a given area.
When a tornado warning has been announced for Tippecanoe County, or the all hazard sirens are activated, the following activities should be interrupted and the necessary safeguards initiated immediately. Employees may have only a few minutes in which to act and take shelter.
- Classes should cease immediately. Students and faculty should shut off lab equipment for which they are responsible and proceed to the closest sheltered area.
- All University business and activities, except for emergency services, will terminate. Students, staff, and faculty should proceed to the closest sheltered area until the warning expires.
- All normal activities in University Residences will cease. The building occupants should proceed to sheltered areas.
In seeking a sheltered area, you should:
- Proceed to the basement of any building that has a basement or subwalk. Position yourself in the safest portion of the area away from glass. Be prepared to kneel facing the wall and cover your head.
- In high-rise buildings (four stories or more), vacate the top floor and move to a lower floor or to the basement. Position yourself in an interior corridor away from glass. Be prepared
to kneel facing the wall and cover your head. - Occupants of wood-frame buildings or brick buildings with wood floors should leave the building and go directly to a more substantial concrete building, preferably with a basement.
Wind Chill
When existing or predicted low temperatures and wind conditions pose a severe health threat to students walking to and from class, the University president or, in her absence, the designee may declare a “severe weather emergency.” When a severe weather emergency has been declared, classes will be suspended. However, because most employees have short walks from the parking lots or garages to their buildings, all University employees who can do so safely should report to work. Those who do not report to work when scheduled must request authorization for the absence under a University paid leave of absence policy, unpaid leave policy, or a personal holiday.
Emergency Preparedness
The Campus Emergency Preparedness and Planning Office is the focal point to oversee emergency preparedness and planning activities on Purdue University Campus. The office is tasked with the oversight of the University’s “All Hazards” Integrated Emergency Operations Plan that will be used in the event a natural disaster or a human-made incident strikes the campus.
A key part to Purdue’s campus preparedness is the Purdue alert, or the Emergency Warning Notification System. We have instituted a multi-layered communication approach to spread the word on emergency events.
The Emergency Preparedness Office also provides technical assistance and direction for Building Emergency Plan (BEP) development. Each university building must have a BEP that plans for possible emergency incidents. The Building Deputy or an individual designated by the department head will develop the BEP and submit it to the Campus Emergency Preparedness and Planning Office for review, distribution to the Fire Department, and posting to the Emergency Operations Center building binder.
Additionally, the Emergency Preparedness Office annually revises and coordinates the Purdue Emergency Procedures Handbook. All Purdue faculty and staff should be familiar with the handbook and use the detailed procedures when responding to emergencies.
Lastly, faculty and staff should periodically review Purdue’s emergency preparedness Web site (www.purdue.edu/emergency_preparedness) for any new preparedness and planning information and as a source for current emergency preparedness material.
University Police
The men and women of the Purdue University Police Department are here to assist members of the Purdue community with crime prevention, personal protection training, and crime investigation. Sworn officers have full police authority from the state of Indiana so that they can carry out duties and responsibilities of enforcing state and local laws as well as University regulations.
Purdue Police offers a variety of scheduled and requested training sessions including a 10-week Citizen’s Police Academy. Additional information may be found at www.purdue.edu/police.
The Police Department, located in Terry House on S. Martin Jischke Dr., is open 24 hours a day. In case of an emergency, dial 911. For non-emergency calls, dial 49-48221.
University Fire Department
The men and women of Purdue University’s Fire Department serve the campus with fire, emergency medical, and hazardous materials response service. The University Fire Department is housed in the DeMent Fire Station on Third Street, west of the Recreational Sports Center.
The fire department is responsible for fire prevention and response, aircraft rescue fire fighting, hazardous materials response, and emergency medical services including transport to area hospitals. CPR and other classes are available upon request. Additional information may be found at www.purdue.edu/fire. In case of an emergency, dial 911. For non-emergency calls, dial 49-46919.
Emergencies and First Aid
In an emergency, you may summon help by calling 911. Purdue ambulance service is available for transport to Greater Lafayette hospital emergency rooms.
Fire Protection Engineering & Special Services
The Fire Protection and Special Services (FPSS) Department serves the University through the application and enforcement of building codes, fire codes, and other nationally-recognized standards for new construction and the alteration or renovation of existing university facilities. The department provides technical assistance and direction on fire protection and life safety issues within the University community for research, special projects, unique activities, and contract consultants. Life safety hazard analysis and approval for unique events such as fireworks displays, indoor pyrotechnics, theater events, temporary structures, and events involving high occupant loads are provided by this group. FPSS is the first point of contact for insurance recovery service resulting from fire, flood, or accidents. Questions can be directed to 49-41424.
Radiological and Environmental Management
The Radiological and Environmental Management (REM) Department serves the university community in the areas of radiation safety, chemical safety, biological safety, health hazard evaluation, hazardous materials management, fire protection maintenance, and safety compliance. Working in cooperation with the Hazards Oversight, Radiation Safety, Chemical Management, Laser Safety, Institutional Review Board (Human Subjects) Purdue Animal Care and Use and Institutional Biosafety Committees, REM helps ensure compliance with university policy and procedure and governmental rules, regulations, and guidelines related to health, safety, and the environment through the Integrated Safety Program (ISP). The ISP rewards active participation in safety by indemnification from regulatory fines outlined in Executive Memorandum C-36, www.purdue.edu/policies/pages/facilities_lands/c_36.html
Before initiating any work with radioactive materials or radiation-producing devices, approval must be obtained from the Radiation Safety Committee through REM. REM provides for the acquisition of radioactive materials and disposal of radioactive waste, calibration of survey instruments, routine contamination surveys of facilities, training of radioisotope and radiation-producing device users, personnel monitoring and consultation in the area of radiation protection, and use of radioactive material.
For assistance with the various hazardous material regulations, REM provides support in the recognition, evaluation, and control of physical, chemical, and biological hazards in the work environment. REM administers the Hazard Communication Program also known as Right-to-Know, the Chemical Hygiene Plan for laboratories, the indoor air quality program, the confined space program and the respiratory protection program. In addition, REM can provide technical assistance with heat stress recognition and avoidance, ventilation concerns, noise exposure, and hazardous materials exposure.
REM is responsible for routine safety inspections of buildings and grounds, ergonomics, safety training, safety at student events, and worker compensation and general liability investigations. REM also assists departments in forming safety committees and facilitating their involvement in safety-related issues.
REM provides for chemical, biological, and other hazardous material disposal, and assists waste generators in compliance with waste regulations. Additionally, the group provides safety and regulatory training, consultation, and audits supporting safe management of hazardous materials including off-campus shipments; pesticide management; and the safe handling, use, and storage of hazardous and reactive materials. Lastly, REM provides hazardous material spill response services.
REM is responsible for safety issues related to biologically hazardous materials. This includes programs for bloodborne pathogens, tuberculosis awareness, food safety, public health, potable water, DEA controlled substances, and biohazards. In addition, REM manages the Institutional Biosafety Committee Office, which reviews research protocol applications for the use of recombinant material, unfixed human fluids and tissues, select agents, and Class II or above biohazardous agents.
REM is responsible for health and safety at multi-employer worksites, as well as asbestos and lead abatement in University-owned facilities.
For information and service, call 49-46371 or visit us online at www.purdue.edu/rem.
Bicycles
Indiana state law requires bicycle riders to observe stop signs and other traffic signals, to observe proper direction of travel on one-way streets, and to be properly lighted at night. The law restricts carrying any other person or carrying any article that prevents the rider from using both hands on the handlebars, and prohibits cyclists riding more than two abreast.
Under University regulations, riders may not take bicycles inside University buildings. Bicycles must be parked in the racks and on the pads provided. Registration of bicycles is recommended. Contact Purdue Police at 49-48221 for information about bicycle registration.
For more detailed information, see Traffic and Parking Regulations, issued by Parking Facilities, at www.purdue.edu/parking/pdf/ParkingRegs.pdf.
Lost and Found
A central lost-and-found facility at the Visitor Information Center in the Northwestern Avenue Parking Garage is responsible for centrally processing all lost and found articles on campus. The Lost and Found Web site is located at www.purdue.edu/parking/lostnfnd.htm.
If you find articles in a building, turn them in to that building’s lost-and-found facility (see building bulletin board). If you find articles outside, turn them in to the central lost and found or to the Purdue Police Department. Finders may claim unclaimed articles after two months but before three months elapse.
If you lose an article, first check the building in which you believe the loss occurred. If unsuccessful, report the loss to the central lost and found, which is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Call 49-42125.