Maintaining a safe environment for teaching and research is our top priority for the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Safety for our students, faculty, and staff in our laboratories, classrooms, and buildings is essential. For more information, please refer to the safety and emergency resources below.
Emergencies
Immediate emergency: Dial 911; Others: contact campus police (814-863-1111)
The college strongly encourages everyone to make safety and well-being an integral part of their daily activity. Through mutual acceptance of these safety policies, we can collectively ensure a safe and healthy environment for the academic study, professional development, and research enterprises in our college, and serve as an exemplar for the University.
The college places the highest priority on ensuring the safety and well-being of students, employees, and visitors, with the goal of achieving zero work-related injuries and illnesses. Safety is an integral part our mission to advance knowledge, talent, and leadership. Every member of our college community has the responsibility to create a climate of safety and environmental awareness where the voicing of safety concerns is encouraged. We believe that most accidents can be prevented by taking simple precautions and promoting safe behaviors such as:
- Identifying safety problems and reporting them immediately
- Practicing good housekeeping in your workplace
- Being respectful of your work environment and the people within it
- Effectively communicating safety concerns to your supervisor
- Continuing to educate yourself on EHS Workplace Safety best practices
Administrators, supervisors, and principal investigators are responsible for maintaining safe work conditions, cultivating a safety culture, and promoting application of best safety practices in their respective units. The college administration and management will provide all resources necessary for an effective accident prevention program.
Safety leadership and oversight is performed by the Deans’ office, with overall responsibility delegated to the Associate Dean for Research and the College Safety Officer. Safety monitoring and process development is overseen by the College Safety Committee, composed of members from each of the academic departments and institutes in the college. Department and institute safety committees are tasked with recommending safety and health enhancements in their respective areas.
EMS strongly encourages everyone to make safety and well-being an integral part of their daily activity. Through mutual acceptance of these safety policies, we can collectively ensure a safe and healthy environment for the academic study, professional development, and research enterprises in our college, and serve as an exemplar for the University.
The EMS Safety Committee establishes procedures, responsibilities, and duties to promote planning and to establish training for employees and individuals in the college in the event of an emergency. Questions regarding safety issues in the college can be directed to safety@ems.psu.edu, or by contacting your local safety contact.
To find college and University safety contacts, view Safety Contact Information.
Call 911 for any life-threatening emergency such as:
- Fires
- Explosions
- Serious Injuries
- Any other incident which poses an immediate threat to life or the environment
If you have a chemical, biological, or radiological incident that does not pose a life-threatening emergency:
- Call (814) 865-6391 Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., on holidays or all other times call (814) 863-1111 (University Police). After hours, University Police will notify the appropriate EH&S staff member to provide assistance.
- If this involves the spill of a small quantity of a chemical, biological, or radioactive material you are familiar with, and you have been trained in proper clean-up procedures, follow those instructions.
The following informational sheets provide additional guidance for specific types of spills, releases, exposures, or injuries and appropriate recovery and reporting requirements.
- Asbestos
- Blood Spill Reporting Requirements
- Chemical Spills, Releases, or Explosions
- Contractor Spill Information
- Deaths or Serious Injuries Reporting
- Fire Reporting Requirements
- Infectious Substances Information
- Laser Accidents
- Mercury Spills
- Needle Stick Reporting Requirements
- Oil and Fuel Spills
- Radioactive Material Incidents
- Radiation Producing Equipment Exposures
The safety of employees, students, and visitors conducting research and working in labs is a priority. To learn more, visit the Lab and Research Safety webpage
Office environments are often overlooked when it comes to safety, but we all know that accidents happen. It is important to be aware of safety issues and policies regarding office settings on campus and in remote locations as well as taking the necessary steps to ensure everyone’s safety. Please visit the Office Safety webpage to learn more.
Every member of our college community has the responsibility to create a climate of safety and environmental awareness where the voicing of safety concerns is encouraged. Visit the Reporting Safety Incidents webpage to learn more.
Penn State is committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees, students, visitors and the environment. View the policies linked below.
- SY01 Environmental Health and Safety Policy
Policy describes the University-wide structure, responsibilities, and expectations regarding safety efforts. - Safety Policies
A comprehensive list of university safety policies.
The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences strongly encourages everyone to make safety and well-being an integral part of their daily activity.
Visit the Safety Resources webpage to learn more.
Successful planning is the best way to prevent further disaster during an emergency. Whether you are at class, home or at the office, it's important to have a plan. Visit the Emergency Management Planning webpage to learn more.