Safety, security, health and environment
ETH Zurich promotes an exemplary safety culture based on honesty and responsibility towards society.
ETH Zurich promotes an exemplary safety and security culture that is based on honesty and responsibility towards society. An exemplary role in terms of safety, security, health and the environment (SSHE) means not only compliance with statutory requirements but also the application of new findings with regard to responsible approaches to risks.
At ETH Zurich, experts from the SSHE department give advice to all ETH members on matters related to safety, security, health and environmental protection and provide support in enforcing the necessary measures. SSHE regularly holds courses and workshops to train and further educate ETH members in these areas.
SSHE offers consultation to all supervisors who have questions arising within their scope of responsibility concerning safety, security, health and the environment.
The head of SSHE also acts as ETH Zurich’s safety officer. Additional officer functions (environmental officer, fire safety officer, hazardous goods officer, etc.) are assigned to various specialists in the SSHE team. The head of SSHE has the authority to prohibit individuals from entering the university and to file for prosecution.
SSHE represents ETH Zurich in safety-, security- and environment- related discussions with the relevant authorities (police, fire brigade, cantonal and federal offices, etc.), in close cooperation with the ETH Legal Office.
The heads of department are the contact persons for security within an academic department. They ensure that security figures on the agenda of the relevant departmental committees and promote compliance with the security standards in the department. They are also responsible for the timely involvement of SSHE in security issues.
Managers (professors, senior scientists, heads of the central administrative units or workshop managers) are accountable for security within the units they supervise. They must be aware of the legal provisions applicable to their work in terms of safety, security, health and the environment. They must observe the recommendations and directives of SSHE and their own managers in order to avoid occupational accidents and workplace health hazards and provide for safety in the laboratory. They ensure that their staff are trained and that the specified measures on occupational safety and health care are enforced. The issues of safety, security, health and the environment are discussed at regular unit meetings.
- Download vertical_align_bottom Ordinance Governing the Organisation of ETH Zurich (RSETHZ 201.021, ETH Zurich Organisation Ordinance)
- Download vertical_align_bottom Geschäftsordnung der Schulleitung ETH Zürich (Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board of ETH Zurich, RSETHZ 202.3); available only in German
- Download vertical_align_bottom ETH Professorial Ordinance (RSETHZ 501)
- Download vertical_align_bottom ETH Zurich Web Policy (RSETHZ 203.22)
- Define the particular dangers within your area of responsibility and make sure you know the legal provisions that apply in the areas of safety, security, health and environment.
- Clarify whether any permits are required for your activities. Nominate Group Safety Representatives in your group. Also specify a delegate for radiation protection, biosafety and laser protection if your research covers these areas.
- Note the ETH emergency telephone numbers and the numbers of the police, fire and ambulance services.
- Please study the information on the subject of evacuation on the SSHE website and make sure that your staff are also familiar with it.
- Take advantage of SSHE continuing education courses.
- Heed the information in the emergency brochure How to Play it Safe at ETH Zurich.
- Check the details you have provided to ensure that you can be alerted in an emergency.
- Consult SSHE for advice if necessary.
You can find the contact persons of SSHE here.