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Recognizing and reporting safety concerns prior to an incident occurring is the university’s most effective way to avoid situations that can result in harm to faculty, staff or students. It’s not just safety officers and those who work in high-risk settings who can spot and report safety issues, and safety goes beyond simply the physical environment. 

Taking a collective approach to limiting safety issues, whether physical, psychological or cultural, is something that anyone at the U of A can do. The Dare to CARE: Speak up for Safety program’s goal is to make safety awareness and reporting a natural part of being part of the university community. Consider these steps:

C: Communicate concern
A: Ask questions
R: Respond respectfully
E: Encourage Action

Anyone who spots a safety issue or notices a colleague or student inadvertently engaged in a hazardous situation can report the issue as a “near miss” in the . The portal asks for the basics of the issue, including a description and the names and email addresses of those who identified it. 

Examples of safety issues include:

• working on a ladder from the top two rungs
• not wearing the appropriate PPE
• bypassing important safety steps as part of a procedure
• comments that are dismissive or disrespectful to a person or their culture
• Someone raising their voice or aggressively confronting a colleague instead of calmly and respectfully voicing concerns

Additionally, some physical hazards can also be addressed by submitting notice through the U of A’s maintenance channel (UAB.ca/Fixit). 

Each quarter, there will be a random draw from the names of all those who contributed to the Incident Management Portal and two employees will receive a small token of appreciation for their efforts. 

Please note: Imminent physical dangers may still be noted through the ß÷ßäÉçÇø Protective Services (UAPS) online reporting resources. In the case of emergencies, there are also a number of resources on the Emergency Information + Procedures page.