STUDENT SAFETY
Inclement Weather
Announcements regarding inclement weather emergencies are made on the Rutgers SHP website. Students are required to adhere to SHP inclement weather policy 60.1.29 and should use his or her judgment concerning safe travel to fieldwork when weather conditions are inclement. Some key points of the policy are listed below:
Safety
Safety for the clients, other staff, and for students is of utmost importance. Each student is expected to adhere consistently to safety regulations, policies and procedures at the assigned fieldwork site. Fieldwork Educators must provide information about safety procedures, emergencies, fire, and patient incidents (or the student must ask). Each student must review and follow the fieldwork site’s policies and procedures.
How to address safety concerns:
Safety is also a critical component of the Fieldwork Performance evaluation. See the Fieldwork Performance Evaluation section for information on safety and the FWPE.
Incident Reports
If an accident occurs at a fieldwork site, the incident must be reported using the facility’s incident report form, and a copy must be submitted to the Office of Risk and Claims Management, ADMC 1313, Newark campus, with a copy to the Office of the SHP Dean, and OTD Program Director. The Office of Risk and Claims Management should be contacted immediately if the accident involves injury, at (973) 972-6277. The Occupational Therapy Program Director should be contacted at (908) 889-2474 and/or the Occupational Therapy Assistant Academic Fieldwork Coordinator should be contacted at (908) 889-2525.
Inclement Weather
Announcements regarding inclement weather emergencies are made on the Rutgers SHP website. Students are required to adhere to SHP inclement weather policy 60.1.29 and should use his or her judgment concerning safe travel to fieldwork when weather conditions are inclement. Some key points of the policy are listed below:
- If Rutgers’ University declares a school closure due to weather emergency, students whose clinical placement is within the same geographic area are not required to attend clinical.
- Students in other geographic areas where a weather/state of emergency has been declared are not required to attend clinical rotation.
- In cases where the University does not declare an adverse weather emergency, cancel classes, and/or cancel outpatient services, students should follow the adverse weather procedures announced by their assigned clinical affiliate.
Safety
Safety for the clients, other staff, and for students is of utmost importance. Each student is expected to adhere consistently to safety regulations, policies and procedures at the assigned fieldwork site. Fieldwork Educators must provide information about safety procedures, emergencies, fire, and patient incidents (or the student must ask). Each student must review and follow the fieldwork site’s policies and procedures.
How to address safety concerns:
- Fieldwork Educators: If the fieldwork educator has a concern of the student’s safety during any part of the clinical experience, the fieldwork educator should contact the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator to set up a meeting to discuss safety concerns, and to create a remediation plan for the student. Depending on the severity of safety concerns, students have the potential to fail fieldwork.
- Students: If the student has a safety concern regarding the fieldwork educator or the facility they are placed at, they should immediately contact the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. The student and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator will work together to create a plan to ensure a safe environment, or the student will be transferred to another facility, as needed.
Safety is also a critical component of the Fieldwork Performance evaluation. See the Fieldwork Performance Evaluation section for information on safety and the FWPE.
Incident Reports
If an accident occurs at a fieldwork site, the incident must be reported using the facility’s incident report form, and a copy must be submitted to the Office of Risk and Claims Management, ADMC 1313, Newark campus, with a copy to the Office of the SHP Dean, and OTD Program Director. The Office of Risk and Claims Management should be contacted immediately if the accident involves injury, at (973) 972-6277. The Occupational Therapy Program Director should be contacted at (908) 889-2474 and/or the Occupational Therapy Assistant Academic Fieldwork Coordinator should be contacted at (908) 889-2525.