Welcome to the VRI student and community volunteer safety toolkit!
As a VRI student or community volunteer, you are visiting this web page to complete various action items to comply with federal, state and/or University health and safety requirements.
Please carefully read and make sure you understand this information. Your safety and that of your friends and colleagues depend on it.
Forms
Acknowledgement of Risk/Hold Harmless Form (AOR/HH)
Instructions: Please print, complete and sign this AOR/HH form. Bring it to the Engineering Technology Office in ET 204.
Volunteer Registration
If you are a student, and VRI faculty or staff has assigned you the responsibility of VRI Lab Manager and/or Vehicle Team Leader, or if you are a community volunteer, please complete the volunteer registration. As you will be serving a leadership role, you receive state liability insurance protection and limited medical benefits if you are injured in the course of performing your authorized volunteer duties.
Instructions: If this applies to you, please print, complete and sign the one-page Application and Volunteer Time Sheet and bring it to the Engineering Technology Office in ET 204 for further instructions. You will not need a criminal background check.
Safety Training
Hazardous Waste & Lab Safety Training
This training and quiz is for students and community volunteers who work with hazardous chemicals and generate hazardous waste.
Instructions:Read the presentation and take the quiz. Your quiz score is sent to the University’s Environmental Health & Safety Office (EHS) for review. EHS will forward it to the Engineering Technology Office Staff for documentation.
CPR/First Aid – Faculty, Staff and Volunteers
Hand Tool Safety
Please read and, if you wish, print a copy of this information for future reference.
Portable Power Tool Safety
Please read and, if you wish, print a copy of this information for future reference.
VRI faculty and staff will provide other specific safety training for its machines and equipment.
Vehicle Safety
Basic Driver Safety Program
If you will operate a vehicle (licensed or Viking research) on behalf of the University, the State of Washington regulations require that you to complete the state Basic Driver Safety Program.
Instructions: The link takes you to web-based tools. Please print, complete and sign the one-page Safety Checklist for State Drivers while you complete the online action items. Bring it to Engineering Technology Office in ET 204.
Trailer Towing Safety
VRI may ask you to tow a trailer. There is a lot more to towing a trailer than just hitching up and taking off down the road. This link takes you to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) information brochure that provides tips to help you make safe decisions when towing a trailer.
Van Training Program
If VRI asks you to drive a 12-passener van, visit the Engineering Technology Office in ET 204. Special training and document requirements apply. Use of 15-passenger vans is prohibited by the University.
Accident Prevention Plan
Accident Prevention Planning
The University’s Accident Prevention Program is contained in Western’s Safety Information Book in various sections.
Accident Reporting Requirements: Accidents should be reported withing 24 hours. Accident report forms are available on the EHS website. Accident reports should never be used to assign blame but should focus on improving processes and equipment use to mitigate hazards and protect people more effectively into the future.
Other Information
Student Health Insurance Coverage
Health insurance also called medical insurance is not provided by the University. Students are responsible for maintaining their own health insurance. As a student you have paid an annual fee to gain access to the Student Health Center for primary care medical treatment, but this is not health insurance. An injury caused by an accident that requires emergency medical treatment in a hospital would not be covered by this fee. This links takes you to information about the University’s voluntary student health insurance plan and others.
Field Trip Insurance (to be arranged by VRI faculty or staff only)
Student group/class going on WWU sponsored and supervised field trips or similar extra-curricular activities may purchase field trip insurance for limited medical expense benefits.
