News
Mon, 06/30/2025
KU-EHS July Safety Tip: Fireworks Safety
Recommended Safety Tips: Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks. Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
A responsible adult SHOULD supervise all firework activities. Never give fireworks to children.
Wed, 06/11/2025
KU-EHS June Safety Tip: Heat-Related Illnesses and First Aid
Heat stroke, the most serious form of heat-related illness, happens when the body becomes unable to regulate its core temperature. Sweating stops and the body can no longer rid itself of excess heat. Signs include confusion, loss of consciousness
Thu, 05/01/2025
KU-EHS May Safety Tip: Preventable Deaths
Your odds of dying from an accidental opioid overdose continue to be greater than dying in a motor-vehicle crash.
Fear is natural and healthy. It can help us respond to danger more quickly or avoid a dangerous situation altogether. It can also cause us to worry about the wrong things, especially when it comes to estimating our level of risk.
If we overestimate our risk in one area, it can lead to anxiety and interfere with carrying out our normal daily routine.
Mon, 03/31/2025
KU-EHS April Safety Tip: Driving Safely with Sun Glare
Peak sun glare season occurs when sunrise or sunset and rush hour coincide, and the sun hangs like a bright ball on the highway. It’s especially blinding when driving east in the morning and west in the afternoon. Peak sun glare season occurs when sunrise or sunset and rush hour coincide, and the sun hangs like a bright ball on the highway. It’s especially blinding when driving east in the morning and west in the afternoon.
Experts have analyzed large amounts of data to understand what ca
Fri, 02/28/2025
KU-EHS March Safety Tip: Fatigue
According to a new National Safety Council survey-based report, 43 percent of Americans say they do not get enough sleep to mitigate critical risks that can jeopardize safety at work and on the roads, including the ability to think clearly, make informed decisions and be productive.
Eighty-one percent of the probability-based survey respondents have jobs that are at high risk for fatigue– positions that require sustained attention or are physically or cognitively demanding, such as driving
Mon, 02/03/2025
KU-EHS February Safety Tip: Eye Protection at Home
Do you know home projects like these can be a major threat to eye safety? According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, nearly half of all serious eye injuries occur at home, yet only 35 percent of Americans wear protective eyewear during projects that could pose a threat to their eyes.
Hazardous activities at home include:
Wed, 01/08/2025
KU-EHS January Safety Tip: Carbon Monoxide Safety
Know the Symptoms of CO Poisoning
Because CO is odorless, colorless, and otherwise undetectable to the human senses, people may not know that they are being exposed. The initial symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the fever).
Mon, 12/02/2024
KU-EHS December Safety Tip: Cold Weather Safety
Anyone working (or playing) in cold weather needs to be aware of the effects that extremely low temperatures have on the body. Cases of cold stress, hypothermia, and frostbite have declined slightly in the past 20 years due to education and the availability of better types of outdoor clothing, but for employees who need to work outdoors in bad weather, the risk of these injuries is still very real.
Mon, 11/04/2024
KU-EHS November Safety Tip: How to Prevent Cold Stress
When Mother Nature whips up a wicked winter wind-chill factor it creates a real health risk for outdoor workers if they don’t take precautions against what OSHA calls “cold stress:” hypothermia, frostbite, and trench foot—a nonfreezing injury to wet, cold feet.
Hyperthermia occurs when body temperature dips from the normal 98.6 degrees to less than 95.
Tue, 10/01/2024
KU-EHS October Safety Tip: Autumn Health and Safety
Follow these tips to help you and your family stay safe and healthy this autumn!
Keep your kids safe and healthy.
Get involved with your kids’ activities at home and at
school to help ensure they are safe and healthy.
Mon, 09/30/2024
EHS Partners with Medicinal Chemistry Dept. for Fall Semester Fire Safety and Extinguisher Labs
KU LAWRENCE CAMPUS -- The Department of Environment, Health & Safety (KU-EHS) held two Fire Safety and Extinguisher Labs on September 26, 2024 with the Medicinal Chemistry Department students and postdocs. Professor Zarko Boskovic, Med. Chem. Safety Officer, coordinated the labs with EHS to further educate students how to handle fire emergency events and safe extinguisher usage while working in their labs.
Tue, 09/03/2024
KU-EHS September Safety Tip: National Safety Month
September marks National Preparedness Month, the annual campaign to remind everyone that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families and their communities safe.
While the resources and information shared during National Preparedness Month and on Ready.gov can be used by anyone at any time to get prepared for whatever may come their way, this year, the campaign is focused on preparing
Wed, 08/21/2024
KU-EHS August Safety Tip II: Back to School Safety Checklist
As summer draws to a close and children start heading back to school, family life can get pretty hectic. It's important to remember – and share with your children – some key tips that will help keep them safe and healthy throughout the school year.
Thu, 08/01/2024
KU-EHS August Safety Tip: Dangerous Drivers – The Nine Most Dangerous Things Drivers Do
We all know distracted driving is dangerous, but what about other dangerous activities drivers do? An article from Car and Driver has nine answers to this
question.
Mon, 07/01/2024
KU-EHS Releases 2023 Water Quality Report
KU LAWRENCE CAMPUS -- The Department of Environment, Health & Safety (KU-EHS) has announced that they have released a new report detailing water quality results on Lawrence campus for calendar year 2023. This report is generated from data collected by KU-EHS staff and reported on a periodic basis to the KU-campus community and general public.
Mon, 07/01/2024
KU-EHS July Safety Tip: Hot Car Child Safety Awareness
Since 1998, more than 960 children have died from vehicular heatstroke - an average of 37 per year - and 53% of incidents involve a parent or caregiver forgetting the child was in the vehicle. Parents and caregivers can act immediately to end these preventable deaths. ...
Thu, 05/23/2024
KU-EHS June Safety Tip: NSC's June National Safety Month-SafeAtWork Pledge
Workplace fatalities are unacceptable. According to Injury Facts, preventable workplace deaths totaled 4,695 in 2022, and an additional 791 workplace homicide and suicide deaths occurred. Also, work-related medically consulted injuries totaled 4.3 million in 2022.
Wed, 05/01/2024
KU-EHS May Safety Tip: Tick and Lyme Disease Prevention
Tick-borne pathogens can be passed to humans by the bite of infected ticks. Ticks can be infected with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Some of the most common tick-borne diseases in the United States include: Lyme disease, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, anaplasmosis, Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, and tularemia. Other tick-borne diseases in the United States include:
Wed, 03/27/2024
KU-EHS April Safety Tip: Tornado and Severe Weather Preparedness
Each person has a role to play in preparedness. Here are several ways to prepare yourself and your family for tornadoes and severe weather season.
Develop Your Plan: We encourage everyone to create a personal severe weather plan before severe weather strikes, so you are alerted and know what to do.
Tue, 03/26/2024
KU-EHS Releases Public Notice of Chlorine Residual Violation
KU LAWRENCE CAMPUS -- The Department of Environment, Health & Safety (KU-EHS) has announced that they have released a Public Notice of Chlorine Residual Violation for Lawrence campus.
During a routine inspection in July 2023 of the University of Kansas Public Water Supply (KU PWS), the Kansas Department of Environment and Health (KDHE) determined that KU PWS incurred a Significant Deficiency violation for failure to make a daily determination of the chlorine residual in the drinking water within its distribution system. KU had been measuring the chlorine residual during weekdays, but not on weekends or Holidays. Although this is not an emergency, you as users have a right to know about this violation.
Mon, 01/01/2024
KU-EHS January Safety Tip: OSHA 2022 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker issued a statement regarding today’s release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of its 2022 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:
“Today’s announcement by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of a 5.7 percent increase in fatal occupational injuries is a sobering reminder of the important work we must do, especially for Black and Hispanic workers who saw the largest increase in workplace fatalities.
Fri, 12/01/2023
KU-EHS December Safety Tip: Carbon Monoxide Safety
Carbon monoxide, also known as CO, is a deadly gas. It's colorless, odorless and tasteless, making it impossible to detect by human senses. When Co is breathed in, it quickly replaces the oxygen in the bloodstream. Various stages of illness can easily lead up to unconsciousness and death. ...
Wed, 11/01/2023
KU-EHS November Safety Tip: Working in Cold Weather
Anyone working (or playing) in cold weather needs to be aware of the effects that extremely low temperatures have on the body. Cases of cold stress, hypothermia, and frostbite have declined slightly in the past 20 years due to education and the availability of better types of outdoor clothing, but for employees who need to work outdoors in bad weather, the risk of these injuries is still very real.
Mon, 10/02/2023
KU-EHS October Safety Tip: Halloween Safety for Motorists
This month many will celebrate Halloween where young children dress up in costumes to go from door to door throughout the neighborhood getting treats and candy from neighbors. It is all in fun, but fun can turn to tragedy very quickly as the dark streets are flocked with young children. Motorists have to take special precautions during this time to protect your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews during the festivities.
Thu, 08/31/2023
KU-EHS September Safety Tip: Eye Protection at Home
Do you know home projects like these can be a major threat to eye safety? According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, nearly half of all serious eye injuries occur at home, yet only 35 percent of Americans wear protective eyewear during projects that could pose a threat to their eyes.
Hazardous activities at home include:
Mon, 07/31/2023
KU-EHS August Safety Tip: Eye Injury Emergencies
What should be done in an eye emergency?
Seek medical attention as soon as possible following an injury, particularly if you have pain in the eye, blurred vision or loss of any vision. Several simple first aid steps can and should be taken until medical assistance is obtained.
First aid for chemicals in the eye:
Mon, 07/03/2023
KU-EHS July Safety Tip: Heat Stroke, What You Don’t Know Might Just Kill You
Unless you’re Superman, you’re not tougher than the sun. Heat stroke happens when the body is overwhelmed and unable to regulate its core temperature due to overheating and loss of fluids and salts. High temperatures, bulky clothing, and a lack of heat acclimatization are just a few factors that can cause a worker to develop heat stroke. But your employees might not realize just how destructive heat stroke can be to their bodies or how simple strategies can help them save a life.
Wed, 06/28/2023
KU-EHS Releases 2022 Water Quality Report
KU LAWRENCE CAMPUS -- The Department of Environment, Health & Safety (KU-EHS) has announced that they have released a new report detailing water quality results on Lawrence campus for calendar year 2022. This report is generated from data collected by KU-EHS staff and reported on a periodic basis to the KU-campus community and general public.
Thu, 06/01/2023
KU-EHS June Safety Tip: Most Falls Occur on the Same Level, Not From Heights
Slips happen where there is too little friction or traction between the footwear and the walking surface. According to the CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety), common causes of slips are:
Thu, 05/04/2023
Protecting Yourself from Poisonous Plants
Any person working outdoors is at risk of exposure to poisonous plants, such as poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. When in contact with skin, the sap oil (urushiol) of these plants can cause an allergic reaction. Burning these poisonous plants produces smoke that, when inhaled, can cause lung...