Environmental Health and Safety

The Environmental Health and Safety Office is here to assist faculty, staff and students maintain a safe place to work and study. We are a service organization that provides expertise and advice for compliance with federal, state and local safety and health regulations as well as current professional practices and guidelines. Our goal is to prevent injury, illnesses and environmental damage through the recognition, evaluation and control of potential hazards arising from university activities.

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New Researchers

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Safety Concerns & Accident Reporting

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Training Courses

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Hazardous Waste Pick Up

Auto-Pedestrian Safety Tips

Utah State University believes the safety of its community is of utmost importance. As our students and staff are driving, walking, or biking to campus in these darker and colder months, the Office of Environmental Health and Safety reminds everyone to take the appropriate measures to stay safe.

There has recently been a myriad of auto-pedestrian crashes in Utah. The Utah State Troopers have stated that this number exceeds 800 incidents year-to-date, 34 of which have been fatal. As we all commute to campus and travel to our classes this winter, the EH&S Office wants to give a few tips and reminders for staying safe as the weather and conditions begin to change.

winter driving with pedestrians at night

Auto-Pedestrian crashes are typically a result of one or both parties not giving adequate attention to their surroundings. As pedestrians, we are more vulnerable to injury due to the actions of a vehicle driver. Here are some ways to stay safe while traveling:

  • Prepare a safe walking route in advance
  • Use sidewalks if they are available
  • Obey all signs and signals
  • Only cross streets at designated areas
  • Stay on well-lit paths at night
  • Wear bright colors during the day and reflective tape at night
  • Do not assume other drivers see you or will stop when they should, walk defensively
The colder winter months bring more dangerous conditions. We are currently losing about two minutes of daylight each day. These minutes add up, and this means it is getting lighter later in the morning and darker earlier in the evening. Let’s all take this into account as we plan our outdoor activities and travels this season.

EHS Divisions