I-Safety
Spotlight Tip of the Week
Environmental Health and Safety wants you to safely enjoy your barbeque. Please submit a BBQ/Grilling Authorization form as early as possible before your event. We can provide assistance in planning a safe location and meeting other university requirements listed below. At a minimum, we need to know a barbecue is taking place on campus. We receive many calls regarding billowing smoke from concerned members of the Vandal community. Bonfires and open burning on campus is prohibited.
The following requirements must be met for every barbecue event on campus:
- Grills are allowed only when used a minimum of 10 feet from buildings, flammable landscaping or other readily ignitable fuel sources.
- Grills must be placed on a hard, noncombustible surface (concrete, asphalt, etc.).
- Grills must always be attended when lit.
- Always keep a fire extinguisher handy. Loaners are available from EHS.
- A metal drip pan is required to be used under the barbecue to catch grease.
- Grills are limited to propane, pellet or charcoal fuels, no deep frying allowed.
- Ensure charcoal remains (for charcoal grills) are completely extinguished when finished.
- Do not dispose of charcoal in university dumpsters, trash containers or on the landscaping.
- Do not dispose of spent fuel canisters in dumpsters or other trash containers.
- Do not bring grills into buildings until cooled.
- Propane tanks are not allowed in university buildings.
- Lighter fluid must be properly stored as a flammable liquid.
Outdoor grilling on campus is restricted to university-affiliated departments and recognized student groups. Individuals and unauthorized groups may not conduct grilling on campus, except for tailgating during football games in designated parking lots. If you live on campus, University Housing has guidelines related to university apartments and residence halls; please contact them directly for this information.
University of Idaho Emergency Response Team
The University of Idaho maintains an Emergency Response Team (UIERT) through the office of Environmental Health and Safety. This team’s purpose is to provide rapid response to incidents that threaten lives, property and/or the environment, including chemical, radiological and biohazardous incidents.
The UIERT, comprised of all members of EHS, is trained and equipped to handle most incidents that may occur on campus. All team members have completed, at a minimum, a 40-hour hazardous waste operations and emergency response (HAZWOPER) course as well as FEMA training in Incident Command and are ready to respond to small and major incidents. The UIERT maintains an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) which is fully stocked and ready to use at a moment’s notice.
The team responds to about 9 incidents of any size per year; these are mostly small incidents. The last major response was in June 2018 for a major oil spill at the dairy farm. A dump truck caught on overhead lines, pulling down two attached power poles which had 3 transformers on each and resulted in a spill of approximately 100 gallons total of mineral oil. The team worked long hours in the sun to capture the spilled oil from the pavement and dig up barrels of contaminated soil to protect the environment.
The team also has an agreement with the City of Moscow to respond to other incidents in the city as requested. This service is activated as needed by the Incident Commander acting for the City of Moscow and may be initiated by calling 911.The team continuously collaborates with the state of Idaho Fire Marshal, Moscow Volunteer Fire Department, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, and Washington State University to share information, plan incident responses and participate in training.
Campus Contacts
Emergency Numbers for: Boise, Coeur d’Alene and Idaho Falls Campuses
Moscow
- Campus Security (24/7): 208-885-7054 | campus-security@buzoianu.net
- Environmental Health and Safety: 208-885-6524
- Facilities (office hours): 208-885-6246
- Facilities (after hours): 208-885-7233
- Parking and Transportation Services: 208-885-6424
- Public Safety and Security: 208-885-2254
- Recorded Emergency Updates: 208-885-1010
- Safe Walk (24/7): 208-885-7233
- Vehicle Assistance (Pit Crew) Monday-Friday: (office hours) 208-885-6424 or (4:30-9 p.m.) 208-885-7054