Reporting Accidents and Injuries

All accidents, injuries, or near-misses should be reported to your supervisor or Principal Investigator.

If medical attention is needed, go to McCosh Health Center or Princeton Medical Center, as appropriate. Contact Public Safety if an ambulance or transportation is needed. (911 in an emergency, 8-3134 for a non-emergency).

If a laboratory worker believes that he or she has been over-exposed to a chemical, the worker or supervisor should complete a Report of Possible Chemical Overexposure form, regardless of whether or not signs or symptoms are noted. Copies of the form must be forwarded to the Chemical Hygiene Officer, EHS and McCosh Health Center.

If an individual is at home and is unable to go to McCosh Health Center, he or she should notify the supervisor or Chemical Hygiene Officer and give relevant information. The supervisor or Chemical Hygiene Officer may contact McCosh Health Center (Employee Health - 258-5035) for referrals to approved medical care providers.

Laboratory workers, including, in some circumstances, graduate students, may be eligible for Workers' Compensation benefits. These benefits may not be awarded if the incident is not reported to Employee Health promptly.

Accident Investigation

In most cases, EHS or the Chemical Hygiene Officer will conduct an investigation of reported incidents. The purpose of the investigation is to determine the root cause and plan ways to minimize reoccurrence. The purpose is not to assign blame or recommend disciplinary measures.