Health and Safety Instructions
October 2020~

Assoc. Prof. Gregory TRENCHER
Graduate School of Environmental
Studies, Tohoku University

Hazards in campus life
１．Mental hazards
Disappointment: different from expectations
Impatience: difficulties in life and study
Isolation, loneliness: no friends or familiar persons
２．Physical hazards
Commuting: car/bike/foot commute
Diet: nutrition management, halal food, etc.
Private life: public safety, sanitary affairs
Campus life, safety in experiments, traffic accident

1. Psychological problems- Mental Health Stress and pressure from school life can negatively
affect mental health. Typical symptoms are:
••
•••
•
•

Waking up tired or restless at night
Suppression of mental activity (difficulty thinking)Lack of motivation for class/research
Anxiety, impatience
Depression
Loss of appetite
Restlessness

How to consult about problems
Be sure to communicate with:• Friends• Teachers and/or staff in lab• Family and/or relatives• Health care center, consulting• Physical doctor (mental health)
Prevention• Work life balance
Work, exercise, rest, socializing
It is not a shameful thing to consult with others.
About 10% students have mental issues.

Common accidents at Tohoku University
1. Traffic
Motorcycle faults, collisions
More than 20 accidents per year on campus
1. Experiments and field survey
1. Sport event and/or clubs: Injuries
1. Alcohol: Overdrinking

Causes
1. Lack of safety information
Machinery, experimental apparatus
Hazardous chemicals, high pressure gases
1. Lack of protection items
Safety glasses, gloves, emergency shower
1. Inadequate measures against accidents
Emergency treatment, wash out chemicals
1. Insufficient health and diet conditionLack of good sleep, nutrition and foodNo smoking in Campus !

Anticipating hazards
What are possible hazards?
• Electrical（high voltage, magnetism, laser, appliances）• Mechanical（machinery, equipment, noise,high pressure，robotics）• Chemical（hazardous chemicals, toxicity, bio-hazards）• Wildlife (bears on campus)
Prevention• Understand evacuation method/route• Maintain equipment, power cords• Follow rules of laboratory• Attend training workshops

In case of fire•

Inform others immediately•

If possible, extinguish source offlames•

If uncontrollable, telephone 119
Address/building is required

Prevention:•

Know location of fire extinguisher
and evacuation•

Know types of hazardous materials•

Careful of foreign adapters for electric appliances

How to communicate in emergency

2011.3.11
Tohoku Earthquake
Megaquake &Tsunami
M. 9.0Earthquakes are almost a daily occurrence
Date/time

Seismic
intensity
震度

Magnitude

Location (prefecture)

２０１９/９/３０
０１時０２分

３4.4

Ibaraki 茨城

２０１９/９/２９１６時４７分

３3.9

Kumamoto 熊本

２０１９/９/２８
０２時３３分

３4.1２０１９/９/２５
１７時２８分

３

4.4

Kumamoto 熊本
Iwate 岩手 (near Sendai)
https://www.jma.go.jp/jp/quake/quake_singen_index.html

Cell phones will often give alarm around 10 seconds
before quakeIn case of earthquake
1. Extinguish all flames
2. Secure open evacuation route (open door)
3. Keep safe position under desk…
4. Go to outside meeting point (carpark) after shaking stops
5. Check the well-being of colleagues
6. Take emergency belongings (water, jacket, phone, wallet,laptop, charger) and leave building in accord with instructions> Keep list of items to take in your lab or on phone

7. Careful of broken glass
8. Assume that you will not re-enter the building
9. Respond to automated email. Contact supervisor

Emergency email response systemwww.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/somu/saigaitaisaku/pdf/poster-eng2019.pdf

Accident and liability insurancePersonal Accident Insurance for Students(PAS) Pursuing Education and Research
学生教育研究災害傷害保険（学研災）
TargetFor both foreign & Japanese students
Objective
Insure against personal injuries
Scope of activities• Mainly on-campus or university related activities• E.g. Study, research, exercise• Events and clubs• Commuting• Moving between activities
Most students are enrolled• If not, consult with Educational affairs

必ず加入！
Mandatory

Liability Insurance (coupled with PAS)
学研災付帯賠償責任保険（学研賠）
TargetJapanese students only (already with PAS)
Objective
Insure against liability from damage to others
Scope of activities• Study, Research• School events• Commute, moving• Internship• Volunteering
Enquiries
Consult with educational affairs

必ず加入！
Mandatory

Comprehensive Personal Insurance
coupled with “GAKKENSAI” (PAS)(Inbound futai‐gakuso)
外国人留学生向け学研災付帯学生生活総合保険（インバウンド付帯学総）Target: Foreign students only (already with PAS)
Objective: Provide more comprehensive personal insurance
Scope (A Type)• Death, Residual Disability• Medical Treatment Expense• Relief Expenses• Hospitalization, surgery, hospital visits• Personal liability
How to join:• Complete form provided from office• Send payment from Japan Post ATM

必ず加入！

Mandatory