Workplace Safety

Safety at Work

  • If you're working late, let someone know where you are and how long you expect to be; or better yet, plan in advance to have a co-worker stay with you.
  • Keep your purse or wallet locked in a drawer or filing cabinet at all times.
  • Politely ask strangers who they are visiting and offer to help find the person; if you are suspicious of the person contact Public Safety or the Police.
  • Check the identification of any maintenance or repair personnel.
  • Keep emergency phone numbers posted near your phone.
  • Know your office emergency evacuation plan.
  • If possible, employees should wear IDs.
  • Be cautious if using restrooms, elevators or stairwells that are isolated or poorly lit; or go with a friend.
  • Keep money, check books, or other valuable items out of sight.
  • Report any suspicious, threatening or alarming behavior of others to your supervisor or Public Safety/Police immediately.




Office Equipment

  • Record the serial numbers, brand names and descriptions of property or valuables that are kept in your office. Keep a duplicate copy of this information and a photo of the item at another location. It can be used later to recover stolen property.
  • Insure that all university property is properly engraved; for personal items, engrave your driver's license number and home state on the item.
  • Ask strangers in your office to identify themselves.


Active Shooter (Workplace Violence)

If you are involved in a situation where someone has entered the area and started shooting; the following are a list of actions that are recommended:

  • If possible exit the building/area immediately, but only if it can be done safely.
  • Notify anyone you may encounter to exit the building immediately.
  • Notify Police.
  • Give the following information:
    • Your name
    • Your phone number
    • Location of the incident (be as specific as possible)
    • Number of shooters
    • Identification of shooter
    • Number of persons who may be involved
    • Your location

If exiting the building / area is not possible, the following actions are recommended:

  • Go to the nearest room or office.
  • Close and lock the door.
  • If unable to lock the door, use a wedge device or heavy furniture to block the door; a belt or other objects may be able to wedge the door shut.
  • Cover the door windows.
  • Depending upon the shooters location, exit out the window quietly and quickly.
  • Stay low, move away from the door, keep quiet and act as if no one is in the room.
  • DO not answer the door.
  • Notify the Public Safety or Police.
  • Provide information as needed.
  • Wait for the Police to assist your exit from the building.

Follow all instructions by police officers, Police may not know if the shooter is hiding among you, therefore police may search you and your belongings and/or do other thing for everyone's safety.


If you are trapped with the shooter, you need to decide whether to:

  • Stay still and play dead
  • Run for an exit in a zigzagging pattern, or
  • Attack the shooter