Everyday student safety

Tidiness and safe passageways

Keep bags and backpacks out of passageways. Watch out for wet floors, stairs and vehicle traffic. Do not block doors, fire extinguishers, first aid kits or electrical distribution boards. Report spills or damaged flooring; until the problem is resolved, warn people approaching the area.

Recognise the signs

• Green signs indicate things such as evacuation routes, exits and first aid equipment.
• Red square or rectangular signs help you locate firefighting equipment.
• Blue circular signs indicate a mandatory action, such as wearing eye protection.
• Yellow triangular signs warn of hazards. Circular signs with a red border and diagonal line indicate a prohibition.

Before working with a device

• Familiarise yourself with the instructions, how to stop the device and the activities you are allowed to perform.
• Check the condition of the equipment and required safeguards. Report faults to the instructor.
• Secure loose clothing and hair if they could be caught by moving parts.
• Do not clean or adjust mechanisms while they are running. Follow the instructions and the instructor's directions.
• Do not repair electrical installations or devices yourself.

Set up your computer workstation

• Sit with your back supported. Adjust the chair so that your feet have stable support.
• Place the monitor in front of you, with its top edge at eye level. Adjust the distance and text size so that you do not have to bend your head towards the screen.
• Keep the keyboard and mouse close. Support your forearms and avoid bending your wrists.
• Reduce glare; position the screen at right angles to the window. For longer periods of laptop work, use a stand and a separate keyboard and mouse.
• Change position regularly, look away from the screen and alternate computer work with brief movement breaks.

Before leaving the laboratory or workshop

Finish work as specified in the instructions. Tidy your workstation and return equipment to its designated place. Separate waste according to the laboratory or workshop rules; do not treat chemical and biological waste as ordinary rubbish. Inform the instructor of any faults you have noticed.

Routes, stairs and doors

Use designated pedestrian routes. Hold the handrail on stairs; do not read your phone while walking. Keep clear of moving vehicles and do not walk under a suspended load. Report damaged steps, slippery surfaces, poor lighting and missing guards. Do not wedge fire doors open. Yellow and black stripes draw attention to an obstacle or dangerous area; they do not replace a barrier. Do not cross worksite fencing.

Technical requirements — what users should notice

Routes should have load-bearing, even, non-slip surfaces, adequate width, lighting and signs. Pedestrians and transport must be separated, and dangerous changes in level must be protected. Gates must be secured against uncontrolled movement, and stairs and platforms must have the required guardrails. The designer and building manager are responsible for selecting the dimensions of routes, stairs, exits and protective measures, depending on the building's use. Students must not narrow passageways and should report deviations; they must not alter the building's protective measures themselves.

Manual handling: plan first

Check the weight, dimensions, handholds and route. Use a trolley or ask for help if the load is heavy, unstable or blocks your view. Do not judge safety by weight alone: distance from the body, twisting, height, frequency and health all matter. Polish regulations for adult employees set basic lifting and carrying limits: 12 kg for women in regular work and 20 kg in occasional work, and 30 and 50 kg respectively for men. Other, lower limits apply to matters including lifting above shoulder height, stairs, distance and groups entitled to special protection. These values are not an instruction to lift such a weight during classes.

Lifting and setting down step by step

• 1. Move close to the object. Place your feet firmly, one slightly ahead of the other; remove obstacles from the route.
• 2. Bend at your hips and knees, keeping your back in its natural position. Grip firmly with both hands.
• 3. Lift smoothly using your legs. Keep the load close to your torso; do not jerk or twist your back under load.
• 4. Change direction by moving your feet. When setting the load down, bend your legs again and protect your fingers from being crushed.
• 5. Agree on team handling before lifting: one person gives the commands. If the grip is insecure, stop and improve the arrangements.

Use a ladder instead of a chair

Use an undamaged ladder suitable for the task, placed on stable ground. Open and lock it according to the instructions. Climb facing the ladder, maintain three points of contact and do not lean your torso beyond its sides. Do not place the ladder on boxes, move it with someone on the rungs or stand on steps the manufacturer has not intended for that purpose. Protect the area against opening doors and people passing through. If the task requires prolonged work, considerable force or both hands without support, other equipment may be needed.

Medical waste — choose the correct container

• Red: infectious waste. Yellow: hazardous waste other than infectious waste, such as cytotoxic and cytostatic waste. A colour other than red or yellow: other medical waste. Separation depends on the correct waste category and code, not appearance alone.
• Place needles and other sharps in a rigid, puncture-resistant container labelled for the waste category. Do not put them loose in a bag.
• Do not fill containers and bags beyond 2/3 of their capacity. Do not compress the contents, reopen closed packages or transfer waste by hand.
• Check the container label, waste code and time-of-use marking. Replacement and storage have specified time limits; highly infectious waste is subject to a special procedure. Follow the facility's procedure and report the absence of a suitable container before the procedure begins.
• Colours used for other waste and municipal waste also depend on the institution’s arrangements. A purple or black bag shown in an example table is not a universal instruction for every UBB laboratory. Check the waste category, label and local procedure; ask the instructor before disposal if anything is unclear.

Ergonomics: symptoms and a short movement break

Neck, back and wrist pain, burning eyes and recurring headaches may indicate a poorly adjusted workstation or prolonged strain. Adjust the equipment and alternate tasks. During a break, stand up, walk a few steps, gently draw your shoulders back and relax them, open and close your hands and look into the distance. Move gently, without pain or sudden bending. Do not try to resolve recurring symptoms through exercise alone — consult an appropriate specialist.

Hygiene in shared spaces

Cover your mouth and nose with the crook of your elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then clean your hands. Use ventilation according to the building's rules. If you have symptoms of infection, follow the facility's current guidance on attending classes and contact with patients. Former temporary requirements from the COVID-19 period do not automatically remain permanent rules. Observe smoking and electronic cigarette bans in marked areas and places covered by a ban. Report missing hygiene supplies, faulty sanitary equipment or barriers to safe use of a room to your instructor or the responsible university unit. Do not substitute an improvised repair for reporting the problem.

Check your knowledge

Work through these short scenarios. Check each answer separately.