Safety
Safety culture at HAMK
Safety concerns us all!
HAMK university safety activities are based on the Finnish legislation for the occupational and educational safety. The main goal of university safety is to ensure and enhance the well-being of all the members of the university community,in accordance to the HAMK Strategy. The university safety is being developed in the close cooperation with the occupational safety representatives, health and well-being services and other stakeholders. A strong safety culture is based on strong sense of community, and everyone is invited to take part in the safety work.
HAMK’s corporate safety and preparedness team (TURVA-team) works to improve the safety culture and sense of safety in HAMK and HAMI together with campus safety committees on each campus. The committees also prepare for crisis situations, and can support the management in case an exceptional situation emerges.
Anyone can contact the committee to share their ideas, concerns or observations about the safety issues in HAMK. The contact information are below.
In this page you can find safety and emergency instructions and information about safety work in HAMK.
Power outage on campus – how to react?
When an unexpected power outage occurs, Property services will start to investigate the scope and duration of the outage. At campus, preparations to suspend education and other activities will begin immediately. The teachers and other staff will give you further information and ionstructions as soon as possible. If the outage last longer campus will be closed and studying will continue online.
During an outage many things stop working at the campus:
- The lights go out. Only the emergency exit lights will work.
- Campus internet and intranet connections go offline.
- Mobile data transfer slows down quickly.
- Elevators stop working.
- Toilets and water tabs stop working.
- Restaurants and cafés are closed.
- Air conditioning and central heating are shut down.
- Electric locks have a battery backup, but they work only a limited time. You can always exit the building but may not get back in during an outage.
The IT services are limited during an outage:
- HAMK IT systems work for about 2 hours.
- If outage lasts for more then 2 hours, many system go offline. some services remain available:
- Microsoft 365 services (Outlook, Teams, etc)
- hamk.fi web pages.
You should prepare for unexpected power at least with this measures:
- Follow the weather forecasts. Cold weather and snowfall increase the risk for power outages.
- Learn to use your mobile phone as a flashlight. Burning candles is strictly forbidden in all campus premises.
- Keep you r mobile and laptop always fully charged. If you take your work phone home in the evening, you will be able to get the notifications on outages before coming to campus.
- Learn the routes and stairwells to exit from your workstation. Elevators wont work during the outage.
- Remeber that the power will return at some point. Swich all electrical devices, including lamps, coffee makers, lab equipment, power tools etc., to safe mode. Also remember to close the water tabs.
Preparing for an outage at home
It is advisable to prepaper for an outage also at home and while working there. Please follow the links below for general information on how to prepare for an outage at home:
Additional preparations to power outage during the days can include:
- Making sure your mobile phone and laptop has a full battery
- Learning how to use your mobile phone as a wifi hotspot for your laptop.
Notification about an power outage
If an outage is expected to occur, you will receive a notification on the following channels:
- Tuudo
- Student and campus groups on Yammer
- Info screens at campuses
In an unexpected or sudden situation, information about the ongoing outage will be available on the forementioned channels, if it is possible. If these channels remain offline for a longer period of time, staf and students may receive information with SMS message.
Reporting safety issues and ideas
If you observe or find out about a safety issues or problem, have a near-miss situation or experience threatening, harassing or otherwise inappropriate behavior in campus, you should always report it to resolve the situation and stop it from repeating. You can also give ideas how to improve and enhance the safety in the campuses.eita.
You can use the link below to report a general observation or idea to the HAMK University Safety Officer:
Observation or Idea Concerning Safety Form (non-secure)
The staff must report all accidents, threats and close-call situation to occupational safety representatives with secure forms in the Staff Intra.
The secure reporting form for the student will be available in autumn 2022.
REPORTING AN EMERGENCY
If you notice a situation that threatens someone’s life, health or property, or is a risk to the environment, call the national emergency number 112 and after than immediately report your observations to a HAMK or HAMI staff member or to your superior.
112 can response to all emergency situation that require the fire department, ambulance and police. When calling the emergency number 112
- say who you are;
- say what has happened and where;
- tell them whether anyone is in danger;
- answer the operator’s questions;
- do not hang up before being instructed to do so.
After hanging up, follow the instructions you received on the phone, warn others of the danger and prevent further accidents.
Other emergency number are:
Poison Information Centre (09) 471 977
National helpline of the Finnish Association for Mental Health 010 195 202
Swiftly assess the situation and find out what has happened:
Is the patient conscious? If so, ask what has happened and if necessary request expert assistance by calling 112. If the patient is unconscious, call the emergency number 112 and follow the instructions given by the operator.
Is the patient breathing? If so, turn the patient onto his/her side. If not, call 112 (or shout for help) and start resuscitation, following the instructions of the emergency response centre.
When reporting an emergency, tell the operator who you are, what has happened and where, and whether anyone is in danger. Do not hang up before being instructed to do so. Arrange for the emergency response unit to be shown to the scene. Do not leave the patient alone.
We have a zero-tolerance approach towards violence and threats. All threats are taken seriously.
In the immediate threat of violence:
- Contact the police and follow their instructions.
- Contact a HAMK or HAMI staff member or the safety management team, who will convene to assess the situation and agree on the necessary measures (reprimanding the person in question or processing the matter in student/staff groups).
- Collect all the necessary information for your report.
- If you feel harassed, you can contact the HAMKO harassment officers, head of the degree programme or Saija Silvennoinen, Manager of Educational Development.
THEFT OR RAID/HOLD-UP
- In the case of a robbery or hold-up, remain calm and do not resist the perpetrator. Do not be a hero. Try to memorise the description of the perpetrator. Pay attention to the escape method and to any collaborators. Summon help as soon as it is safe to do so.
- If you observe signs of theft or burglary, inform property management personnel or the police. Do not touch anything on the scene or start cleaning up before officers arrive.
DEALING WITH A THREATENING OR DISTURBED PERSON
When you encounter a threatening or disturbed person:
- protect yourself, assess the situation
- strive to keep a sufficient distance from the person
- ask them to sit down
- summon help if necessary, stay calm
- speak clearly and concisely
- introduce yourself with your name to show fellow feeling
- observe and recognise the person’s feelings; don’t tell them to calm down
- do not downplay or belittle their situation
- avoid staring or making sudden movements
- ask the person what their alternatives are
- do not become aggravated or provoke the person
If the situation becomes violent, call the emergency number (112) and act according to instructions. Assist those who may be in danger, warn others and protect yourself.
- Take all hints seriously.
- Talk about things with the person and find out what is going on.
- Do not leave the person alone.
- Recognise your limitations as a psychological advisor; if necessary request assistance from a member of the safety management team, the student psychologist, a student nurse or the occupational health care provider.
- If someone evidently needs professional assistance, follow the instructions for directing people to proper care.
Crisis communication supports safety work as it prevents the deepening of the crisis. This is achieved by factual, honest, up-to-date and sufficient communication. The principle of crisis communication is to disseminate sufficient, prompt and timely information in compliance with the law and ethical principles. Communication is factual and does not conceal the negative information.
The people responsible for crisis communication are the rector, strategic communication team, student counselling psychologist, safety work coordinator and dean of the school where the crisis has occurred.
The rector or his deputy decides on how disseminate information to the staff and outside the university community. The rector or vice rector is immediately informed of the crisis that has occurred in a school and together the decision is made on how to communicate this information.
It should be noted that in emergencies, the dissemination of information is the responsibility of the authority in charge of the rescue work.
The support of family, friends, colleagues and fellow students is important for persons in a crisis situation. Most people manage to deal with crisis situations and devastating experiences on their own with the help of their close ones. However, sometimes professional help is needed.
In a crisis situation you can contact the occupational health care provider or any member of the campus safety management group. Students can contact the student counselling psychologist, student welfare officer, school nurse or a member of the campus safety management group.
TURVA-team contact persons:
Head of Administrative Services Jyrki Miettunen, Chair
University Safety Officer Reima Kallinen
Campus safety committees contact persons:
Evo:
Head of Degree Programme Juha Mäkelä
Head of Degree Programme Antti Sipilä
Forssa:
Head of Degree Programme Tero Ahvenharju
Lehtori Kirsi Puhtimäki
Lepaa:
Head of Degree Programme Heikki Peltoniemi
Head of Degree Programme Soile Viljakka
Mustiala:
Head of Degree Programme Jukka Korhonen
IT Support Person Marko Rantanen
Riihimäki:
Dean, School of Technology johtaja Lassi Martikainen
Senior Lecturer Jyrki Hapulahti
Sairio:
Head of Degree Programme Jari Latva-Koivisto
Senior Lecturer Pekka Puputti
Valkeakoski:
Head of Degree Programme Jussi Horelli
Senior Lecturer Timo Viitala
Hämeenlinna University Centre:
Head of Faculties Tuomas Salonen
Service Coordinator Sara Kaloinen
