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Both the Maine State Department of Labor and the Federal Government Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) require employers to record work-related injuries and illnesses. Both of these regulations and HIPAA rules expressly permit disclosure of this protected information (45 CFR 164.512). UNE employees with access to this report must treat it as private and should not disclose it to others unless authorized by statute. An employee may not be discriminated against for reporting a work-related fatality, injury, or illness.

Please be as detailed as possible on the UNE Accident Report and include all relevant details and witness accounts. Employees should forward the UNE Accident Report Form to Human Resources and their direct supervisor. If the accident involves a student, please call UNE Security to file a report with their department.

UNE Accident Reporting Form (PDF)

If you experience a needle stick, cut, puncture, mucous membrane, or open wound exposure to human blood or other potentially infectious materials (such as body fluids, HIV/HBV/HBC–containing cultures, HIV/HBV/HBC–infected animals, human cell and/or tissue lines), please follow the UNE Safety Manual BBP procedures, notify UNE Safety and Security and your supervisor, and immediately seek medical attention.

For motor vehicle accidents, please see Risk Management for assistance.

An incidental or minor spill is considered to have low toxicity, low combustibility, a small amount, a distinctive and tolerable odor, and/or weak or no acute symptoms of exposure. To manage an incidental spill:

• Alert people in the immediate area of the spill. Isolate the area of contamination.
• Call the Office of Safety and Security at (207) 602-0176 to alert them of the incident and request EHS assistance.
• Turn on or adjust (open sash fully) the chemical fume hood to increase exhaust ventilation. If the spill lies outside the hood, open the sash fully.
• Clean the spill only after familiarizing yourself with the chemical’s physical and health hazards described on the product label, Safety Data Sheet (SDS), certificate of analysis, etc.
• Find an EHS incidental spill kit.
  • Wear protective equipment available in each spill kit (splash goggles and gloves at a minimum).
• Block the release of hazardous chemicals and oil to the floor, sink, sewer, or storm drains. If spilled material reaches an environmental receptor, call the Office of Safety and Security at (207) 602-0716.
• Control any spreading with a dike or absorbent spill materials. Absorb the spill with appropriate spill pads, socks, a pillow, vermiculite (Speedy-Dri), dry sand, or diatomaceous earth — not with paper towels or incompatible materials. Avoid walking through the spill or breathing its vapors.
• Use an appropriate cleanup kit to neutralize inorganic acids and bases. Use a mercury spill kit for elemental mercury (thermometer) spills. Use activated charcoal for most organic solvent spills. Follow the instructions on the spill kit for the amount of chemicals that can be absorbed or neutralized by that kit.
• Discard broken glass and other contaminated objects using forceps or appropriate tools, not gloved hands alone.
• Collect residue, place it in a container, affix and complete a hazardous waste label, and place waste in your hazardous waste accumulation area.
• After the spill is thoroughly absorbed, neutralized, and cleaned up, wash the area with soap and water. UNE Housekeeping may assist after this point to clean the area.
• EHS will take all spilled materials, absorbents, contaminated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and waste to the appropriate storage location.

EHS will issue the lab a new incidental spill kit after the incident has been managed.

Major spills are considered to have high toxicity, flammability, a large amount, a repelling odor or one without warning properties, acute symptoms of exposure, or a chemical that cannot be identified.

Do not attempt to clean up major, unmanageable chemical spills.

• Alert the laboratory to evacuate to a safe distance or the assigned assembly area.
• Raise the sash to the chemical fume hood (unless the spill occurred in the hood) while evacuating, if possible.
• Turn off open heat sources — including Bunsen burners, hot plates, heat guns, etc. — if the spilled material is flammable and in large quantity, and if this can be accomplished safely and with haste as you exit the space.
• If necessary, pull the closest fire alarm pull station to evacuate the building.

Once necessary evacuations have taken place, call (207) 602-0176 to notify the Office of Safety and Security of the situation so they can properly communicate with emergency services.

In case of a chemical splash to your eyes:

• Immediately flush skin or eyes with water. Do not rub.
• Hold your eyelids open with your hands and roll your eyes while using the eyewash to be sure water reaches the eyes and under your eyelids.
• Keep your eyes in the water stream for 15 minutes.
• Don’t let contaminated water run into the non-contaminated eye.
• Immediately wash off even small amounts of chemicals.
• Seek medical assistance immediately following flushing.
• If possible, continue flushing while on your way to medical help.
• Know the effects of chemicals with which you are working. Read, ask questions about, and understand Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for each chemical with which you work. Bring the SDS with you when going for medical help.
• Know how to help others reach showers or eyewashes and how to help them get medical assistance.
• Report all chemical contamination incidents immediately:
  • Contact the Office of Safety and Security at (207) 602-0176.

* Use chemical splash goggles when working with corrosive liquids and chemicals with an “eye” hazard or “SKIN” designation. Safety glasses are effective for incidental exposures but will not protect from splashes. Use a face shield with chemical splash goggles under the shield when pouring corrosives greater than 1 liter or filling/dispensing liquid nitrogen. Contact EHS for more information on protective eyewear or other lab safety issues.

Use the Eyewash Checklist (PDF) during regular inspection of your eyewash stations.

• Make sure that everyone who works in the lab knows where the emergency eyewash and shower are located and how to use them.
• Test the eyewash weekly by running the water for at least three minutes. This will ensure there is sufficient water flow and no sediment buildup in the plumbing lines.
• Check eyewash bottles weekly for the expiration date. Discard any opened bottles.
• Let Facilities Management know your eyewash is not working by using the work order system.
• Always use protective eyewear* when working with chemicals.

Fire extinguishers are serviced annually through Facilities Management. If you have a fire extinguisher that needs to be serviced, please place a Facilities work order to have it replaced or evaluated.

Facilities Management must be contacted if the heating system is incapable of meeting temperature standards or if a space heater is to be used to offset excessive air-cooling in the surrounding area. State regulations require that the University follow ASHRAE Standard 90.1, disallowing simultaneous heating and cooling in the same space for the sole purpose of achieving comfort. It is prudent to report excessive cooling below the summertime temperature standard so staff can make adjustments.

Space heaters are discouraged in campus buildings as they are both a fire safety risk and a high energy user. We require that all such units be approved by Facilities Management before they are first operated. To be approved for use, a space heater must meet the following four specifications: 

• be UL approved, 
• elements must be protected from physical contact, 
• be tilt-proof (when tipped over, the heater goes off), and 
• be thermostat-controlled

Liquid-fueled space heaters (e.g., kerosene heaters) are strictly prohibited.

If you would like to schedule a fire drill for your building or need fire extinguisher training, please contact the Office of Safety and Security.