Safety Expectations

Industrial facilities present hazards that classroom and office environments do not. Every student participating in an onsite assessment is expected to treat safety as the highest priority, ahead of data collection, schedule, or scope. The expectations below apply to every visit, regardless of the size of the host facility or the perceived risk of the work area.

Following Host Facility Rules

Students must follow all safety rules of the host facility, even when those rules are more restrictive than university policy or ITAC procedure. If the facility requires safety glasses in the front office, you wear safety glasses in the front office. If they restrict cell phone use on the production floor, your phone stays in your pocket. The host's rules reflect hazards and incident history that we are not always privy to, and compliance is a condition of our being there.

When host policy and ITAC policy conflict, follow the stricter of the two.

Restricted Areas and Escorts

Do not enter areas marked as restricted, confined, or off-limits without explicit authorization from the host and an assigned escort. This includes electrical rooms, rooftop equipment, confined spaces, elevated platforms, and any area gated, taped off, or signed as restricted. Curiosity is not a justification for crossing a barrier.

If a piece of equipment you need to assess is in a restricted area, ask the host's point of contact to arrange access. They will either escort you, assign someone who can, or provide the information another way.

Right to Withdraw from Unsafe Situations

Every student has the right to remove themselves from a situation they believe to be unsafe, without penalty and without needing to justify the decision in the moment. If you are uncomfortable entering an area, operating near a piece of equipment, climbing a ladder, or proceeding with any task, step back and tell the assessment lead. We will find another way to gather the information, or we will note that the measurement could not be taken safely.

Exercising this right will never affect your standing, hours, or advancement at ITAC. A student who pauses an unsafe task is doing the job correctly.