Revision Date: July 1, 2025
Contents
2. Reporting an Accident or Injury
4. Reporting Other Accidents and Incidents
1. Overview
This procedure supports Policy 4302 Student-Access Shop and Tool Safety Policy and outlines the process and requirements for reporting injuries, near misses, and accidents in Student-Access Shops. Tool users, buddies, monitors and Shop Supervisors are responsible for reporting all safety issues, incidents, unsafe conditions, concerns and injuries. In the event of a fire, serious injury or other life-threatening situation, immediately call 911. Follow the guidelines below for other reporting.
2. Reporting an Accident or Injury
When a member of the Yale community suffers a work-related injury or there is an accident, the following steps should be taken:
- Call 911 if it is a medical emergency.
- Follow appropriate initial response procedures, if trained and qualified to do so. EHS procedures can be found at https://ehs.yale.edu/emergency-procedures.
- Ensure the employee’s supervisor is promptly informed of the incident.
- Contact Yale EHS (203-785-3555) if 911 was called and/or if the incident involves a fatality, hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) has specific reporting requirements for certain severe work-related injuries. Timely reporting is required (in as little as eight hours depending on the injury).
Contact Yale EHS with any questions at 203-785-3550 or ehs@yale.edu or contact your safety advisor.
Shop Supervisors are to keep a record of all minor injuries (e.g., a pinch, a bruise or a tiny cut), including whenever supplies in the first aid kit are accessed.
3. Reporting a Near Miss
Report a near miss to the Shop Supervisor to log the event. A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or damage – but had the potential to do so. Only a fortunate break in the chain of events prevented an injury, fatality or damage; in other words, a miss that was nonetheless very near. A faulty process or management system invariably is the root cause for the increased risk that leads to the near miss and should be the focus of improvement. Other familiar terms for these events are a “close call,” a “narrow escape,” or in the case of moving objects, “near collision” or a “near hit.”
4. Reporting Other Accidents and Incidents
Telephone Contact
Report other accidents and incidents (e.g., spills) to EHS immediately (but no later than 24 hours) via 203-785-3550 or 203-785-3555 (emergency line).
Anonymous Reporting
Anyone who wishes to report an unsafe condition anonymously may do so using the Yale Hotline: 1-877-360-YALE (1-877-360-9253) or the University Hotline page.