News and Announcements

Annual Safety Notice

Posted: 2026-01-23 15:05:21   Expiration: 2026-12-31 15:05:21

The 2026 Annual Safety Notice will assist employees in preparation for annual building inspections.

The University Police & Safety Office (UP&SO) is preparing for annual building inspections.  To assist employees in preparation for these inspections, as well as to keep employees safe throughout the year, the following is a list of the most common violations reported:

  • Surge Protector Power Strips: All surge protector power strips must be plugged into their own electrical outlet and cannot be plugged into an extension cord or into another power strip. Electrical cords should be checked often, and frayed or damaged cords must be taken out of service immediately.
  • Extension Cords: Extension cords are only permitted for temporary use with portable appliances (vacuum cleaners, electric hand tools, temp. use of fans) and are not allowed as a substitute for permanent wiring. When not in temporary use, they must be unplugged and stored neatly.
  • Defrost Freezers: Frost build-up in a freezer may cause the motor to overheat, potentially causing a fire. Freezers should be checked monthly and defrosted as needed.
  • Clutter: Keep office, storage, and work areas free of clutter. Remember to recycle old magazines and papers; do not stack them in the corner of your office. General housekeeping can help facilitate a sanitary and clutter-free work area. If an area seems to be neglected, report it to a supervisor. All walkways must be kept clear for egress purposes, and storage in hallways or blocking doorways is strictly prohibited. All eye washes, safety showers, fire extinguishers and fire blankets must be visible and kept clear to allow for easy access.
  • Electrical and Telephone Panels: A clearance of three feet in front of and a clear pathway to all electrical panels is required to provide quick and easy access. Panels are also required to be properly labeled. If the electrical panel contains any open breaker spaces, contact Facilities Management to have it filled with a blank.
  • Space Heaters: If you use a space heater it must be approved by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and equipped with an automatic shut-off device in the event the heater tips over. Use of a space heater with an extension cord or power strip is prohibited. All space heaters must be plugged into their own electrical outlet. The University Police & Safety Office highly recommends that all space heaters be purchased through Facilities Management Central Stores. 
  • Appliances: All office or break room appliances are required to be approved by a NRTL (e.g. UL listed).   Items include, but are not limited to microwaves, refrigerators, coffee pots, freezers, radios, etc. Coffee pots must have a 2-hour automatic shut-off feature. Check with Facilities Management Central Stores for the availability of these appliances.  Any appliances brought from home will be inspected and must meet the same safety standards that NDSU property is held to.
  • First Aid Kits: If your department provides a first aid kit, it must be checked for oral medications. If any oral medications are present, they must be removed from the first aid kit and disposed of properly. Expired materials in First Aid kits need to be removed and replaced as needed. First aid kits can be purchased at Facilities Management Central Stores. 
  • Slip & Trip Hazards: Constantly wet surfaces, loose rugs, broken tile, using a shortcut instead of a designated walkway, these are all hazards that can result in slips and falls. Take the initiative to report areas that may be slippery due to spills, damaged floor covering, or even ice and snow to Facilities Management. Use proper signage, slow down, wear proper footwear, take smaller loads, and keep your work area free of clutter. Remember to report areas that have poor lighting, take stairs one at a time, and use the handrails.  For more information review the Slips, Trips & Falls Program. 
  • Sanitary Conditions: Keep your area clear and free of clutter, clean up spills immediately, maintain sanitary conditions in all areas as dust and dirt can pose a significant health hazard for some people. Restrooms, break rooms, microwaves and other appliances must be kept clean and sanitary.
  • Custodial Closets: Mops and buckets must be cleaned and stored properly when not in use. Keep closets organized and free of clutter. All chemical containers must be clearly labeled. Used fluorescent bulbs must be boxed, closed, labeled “used lamps” including a start date and then be disposed of through the Safety Office within 9 months.
  • Open Flames: Candles, incense, recreational fires, or similar devices with open flames are prohibited on all University property.  This includes residence halls, residence apartments, Research Extension Centers and campus offices.
  • Fire Doors: All designated fire doors are part of the passive fire protection system within a building and should not be propped open. To function properly, fire doors must be kept shut when not actively in use. If there is need or desire to have a fire door propped open, the following solution is permitted. A magnetic door hold may be installed that is connected to the fire alarm. Upon activation of the fire alarm, the door hold will disengage and the door closer will shut the door.
  • Ceiling Clearance: Storage needs to be maintained 2 feet or more below the ceiling in areas of buildings without sprinklers or a minimum of 18 inches below the ceiling in areas of buildings with sprinklers. This requirement does not apply to storage adjacent to and within 30 inches of the wall area, but sprinkler heads must be kept clear.
  • Building Infrastructure: Due to the age of some buildings at NDSU and the way they are constructed, unseen hazards may be present underneath the visible surfaces of the buildings. Facilities Management personnel have access to building plans and reports to help locate these hazards and manage their work processes appropriately in order to minimize the potential for exposure incidents. For this reason, only Facilities Management personnel should perform any maintenance or alteration work associated with modifications to the building infrastructure. This would include any drilling, sanding, cutting or other manipulations of the walls, floors, and ceilings within the buildings. Hazards present include electrical wiring; plumbing lines; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment; environmental hazards such as lead paint and/or asbestos, etc.
  • Asbestos Awareness: Locations of asbestos-containing material (ACM) are available on the Safety Office website.  ACM that is in good condition presents only a very slight hazard; however, attaching decorative items to the ACM may disturb the material and should be avoided.
  • Waste Accumulation: Any area that uses hazardous waste accumulation containers MUST keep them closed except when adding more waste material to them. No funnels in the neck or uncapped containers are allowed. The container must also be clearly labeled with the contents, in addition to the words “Hazardous Waste.” The Hazard Class must be indicated for any hazardous waste within a hazardous waste container. A start date must be added to a hazardous waste container as soon as it begins to accumulate waste. Hazardous waste must then be disposed of through the Safety Office within 9 months.  Surplus chemicals or chemicals past their shelf life should be disposed of as soon as possible through the Safety Office.
  • Safety Data Sheets: Work areas that contain chemicals or hazardous materials are required to have updated Safety Data Sheets available. Any and all containers within the lab space that are not empty must be properly labeled as to their contents.
  • Emergency Contact Signs: Laboratory and other high hazard areas need to have contact information included on an exterior entry sign to the area that can be used in the event of an emergency. The contact information should be checked periodically to make sure it is accurate. Templates are available on the NDSU forms page under the University Police and Safety Office tab and the headings Safety-Biosafety and Safety-Chemical.
    • Alternatively, if your chemical inventory is in the CHIMERA chemical inventory system, you may generate a Hazard Sign which is the equivalent of the Emergency Contact Sign.
  • Security: Areas of campus that contain hazardous materials and substances must be secured (locked) when unattended.
  • Biological Safety Cabinets: Operational integrity of a Bio-Safety Cabinet must be validated before it is placed into service and after it has been repaired or relocated. Each Bio-Safety Cabinet should be tested and certified at least annually to ensure continued proper operation.

The violations mentioned above are some of the most common violations noted during inspections. For more information on the inspection process, refer to the Safety Inspection checklist. 

-- Academic Affairs: Melissa Lamp