Important Information to Get Started

Accidents

Accidents happen suddenly and unintentionally. Rapid response is useful in any case. In the event of an accident, please immediately alert the internal emergency number 888 or +41 44 342 11 88 if you are calling from a mobile phone.

Reporting accidents

To report an accident to SUVA, please complete the accident report in the reporting portal under “employment and work”: link to the reporting form.
In the event of accidents in laboratories and workshops, SSHE carries out an accident investigation. This investigation is not about looking for culprits. Instead, its aim is to avoid similar events in future and to improve the operational safety system.

Damage management at ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich has concluded a property insurance policy that covers damage to moveables (moveable objects that are not considered part of a building or structure). This policy provides protection against massive damage or damage to expensive equipment, as the deductible of CHF 500,000 demonstrates.

ETH Zurich has an internal solution for minor property damage: submit a claim to the SSHE Department. SSHE then initiates investigations to assess the damage together with the Financial Services Department (FD). It is up to FD to decide whether the expenses will be reimbursed (the deductible is CHF 1,500) or not. A prerequisite for this, however, is that the damaged parties comply with the required safety regulations. If they act negligently, for example by performing potentially dangerous laboratory tests without prior risk analysis, or if they disregard the applicable regulations such as ETH Zurich legal bases, SSHE leaflets, etc., reimbursement may be refused.

Incidents causing damage

Investigating the reason for an incident causing damage represents an opportunity for all concerned: the aim is to learn from mistakes. As a result, measures will be implemented to improve safety at ETH Zurich.

It is important that SSHE is informed about incidents causing damage. Once it is reported, the incident will be recorded and may be investigated and analysed. Where appropriate, suitable measures may be recommended or guidelines drawn up.

Reporting damage

Incidents causing damage are reported using the relevant Downloadreporting form (PDF, 398 KB)vertical_align_bottom. The correspondingDownloaduser manua (PDF, 88 KB)vertical_align_bottoml gives important information regarding the whole process.

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The film on correct conduct during evacuation details how you should react in the event of an evacuation.

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SSHE cares for a healthy and safe working environment at ETH and advises you in health protection issues.

Consultation in Ergonomics:

Sitting for long periods at the office, working in front of screens and at computers, repetitive movements and one-sided stresses can sometimes lead to tension and pain in the musculoskeletal system. Headaches, neck pain or pain in the shoulders and arms are such symptoms. An evaluation of the personal work/study space and the associated adjustments according to ergonomic aspects can help to reduce such complaints or even make them disappear completely. A major effect can be achieved with only minor changes, for example adjusting the desk height or the office chair. Using the Download«Factsheet ergonomics at computer workstations» (DOCX, 373 KB)vertical_align_bottom, you can carry out an initial evaluation of your computer workstation and make small adjustments on your own.

For further information, you can find a course on “Ergonomics at computer workstations” at SSHE’s overview of courses. In this session, the experts from the Occupational Medicine and Health Protection Section teach the basics of ergonomics at computer workstations and explain how you can work in front of a screen in a healthy, fatigue-free way.

Personal consultation and/or workstation evaluation is carried out in individual cases and as required. For example, this is the case if employees suffer from complaints that cannot be reduced by adapting the existing ergonomic conditions. After consulting with your supervisor, contact SSHE Occupational Medicine and Health Protection via email.

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Maternity Protection

As an expectant mother, you and your child have the right to special health protection. Please contact the Safety, Security, Health and Environment Department (SSHE) already if you plan to become pregnant, at the latest if you become aware of your pregnancy so that they can carry out an individual risk assessment of your work/study space at an early stage. The purpose of a risk assessment is to exclude any possible health risks for mother and child by taking the appropriate protective measures. Upon request, the risk assessment is carried out confidentially.

Health risks for mother and child

The SSHE Downloadleaflet on pregnancy and breastfeeding (PDF, 174 KB)vertical_align_bottom provides detailed information on the possible health hazards and risks during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you are exposed to such a risk, contact the SSHE Department. You can also find a list of prohibited tasks in the external pagematernity protection brochurecall_made of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

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The goal of occupational safety is to prevent injuries, accidents and illnesses at ETH Zurich. Whether in the laboratory or workshop, during practical

These are the most important occupational health and safety tasks and responsibilities of supervisors (at ETH Zurich, this means in particular every workshop supervisor, institute director, department head, office director, et al.):

• Taking measures to protect the health of students and employees which are necessary according to experience, applicable according to the state of the art and appropriate to the operating circumstances
  
• Assessing the working conditions (hazard assessment, risk assessment)
  
• Arranging for recurring inspections, setting inspection intervals and appointing inspectors with suitable qualifications
  
• Instructing others
  
• Monitoring compliance with occupational health and safety instructions
  
• Providing personal protective equipment (PPE)
  
• Consulting with experts in occupational safety (ASA)

SSHE supports and advises teaching, research and administration staff on all issues relating to safety in the workplace. Contact SSHE whenever you have a question, be it about handling a substance, setting up an experiment, clarifying legal requirements, your protective equipment, etc. You are also welcome to contact CABS if you are unsure about a topic, for example “Do I need an official licence for this kind of activity?” or “Is wood dust really dangerous?”

AGU:

• Advises on questions of occupational health and safety and accident prevention in the planning, execution, maintenance and operation of workplaces, as well as on the procedures / work processes
  
• Identifies risks at the workplace through audits, inspections and checks and advises on the elimination of safety-related deficiencies identified in the process
  
• Participates in the assessment of workplace working conditions (e.g., ventilation, hazardous substances, biological material/organisms) and consults external experts if necessary
  
• Offers courses on various occupational health and safety topics
  
• Assists in the selection of suitable personal protective equipment (PPE)
  
• Investigates and evaluates occupational accidents and develops measures to prevent them
  
• Acts as your interface with authorities

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Tasks of the operational environmental protection include implementation of environmental laws, in particular with regard to water protection, air pollution control, avoidance and disposal of hazardous waste. The topics industrial (chemical wastewater, process / chemical exhaust air, hazardous waste, storage of hazardous substances, extinguishing water retention and protection of cargo handling areas are key tasks. Operational environmental protection is subject to numerous legal requirements. Important legal bases are the Environmental Protection Act, the Major Accidents Ordinance, the Waters Protection Act, the Ordinance on Air Pollution Control, the Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance and the Waste Ordinance, Ordinance for Handling Waste. In terms of content this means e.g. that hazardous waste is reduced to a minimum and the amount of radioactive waste is kept as low as possible or in principle, chemicals are not released into the environment via wastewater or exhaust air. All ETH members – specifically professors, workshop managers, institute directors, department managers, staff directors, employees, apprentices and students – make their contribution to fulfill that requirement.

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Chemical Wastewater and Water Protection

The key water pollution control tasks and responsibilities for supervisors (at ETH basically every professor, workshop manager, institute director, department head, staff manager, etc.) are

• Being familiar with the DownloadETH Waste Disposal Guideline (PDF, 307 KB)vertical_align_bottom
  
• You perform briefings in accordance with the disposal guidelines of ETH Zurich or have these performed by a qualified employee
  
• Monitoring adherence to this directive
  
• Initiating action to implement any necessary technical and/or organizational measures

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Hazardous waste

The key hazardous waste disposal tasks and responsibilities for supervisors (at ETH basically every professor, workshop manager, institute director, department head, staff manager, etc.) are

• Being familiar with the DownloadETH Waste Disposal Guideline (PDF, 307 KB)vertical_align_bottom
  
• You perform briefings in accordance with the disposal guidelines of ETH Zurich or have these performed by a qualified employee
  
• Monitoring adherence to these instructions
  
• Ensuring that hazardous waste is avoided wherever possible and that low-pollutant and low-emission products are being used
  
• Checking quantities used and ensuring that not more than necessary is purchased
  
• Being aware that the responsibility for hazardous waste rests with the supervisor until final disposal

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Transport of Dangerous Goods

Transporting dangerous goods requires special safety precautions that are regulated by law. Dangerous goods are substances and items that pose a threat for people, animals or the environment and whose transport is only allowed according to Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods on the Road (ADR). It is not permitted to transport dangerous goods via public transportation or bicycle.

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Advice concerning threats

The security of all students and employees is an important concern for ETH Zurich. The Threat Management Team offers you advice concerning threats, stalking or violence.
It is important that you report any concerning behavior, even if you are not sure whether your observation is relevant – it's better to speak up once too many times than not at all. The Threat Management Team takes every report seriously and will advise you accordingly. Every contact is treated confidentially.
Further information is available here: Threats and violence

The Threat Management Team consists of members from:

• Safety, Security, Health and Environment (SSHE)
  
• Personnel and Organizational Development Team from ETH Zurich and the UZH/ETH Psychological Counseling Services
  
• Academic Services
  
• Human Resources
  
• Corporate Communications
  
• Legal Office

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«The Respect Code of Conduct»

The «Respect» campaign is revised and relaunched regularly. With this campaign, ETH Zurich is setting a clear stand against inappropriate behavior such as discrimination, sexual harassment, mobbing/bullying, threats and violence at the university.

The campaign resulted from a collaboration between SSHE, Human Resources, the Psychological Counseling Services of the two universities, the Rector’s Office, the Legal Office and Corporate Communications. Members of ETH Zurich can find information on the topic and the points of contact at: www.respekt.ethz.ch/en
Further information (Swiss crime prevention): external pageSchweizerische Kriminalprävention (SKPPSC)call_made

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