Procedures for accidents/near misses involving students

Established by the University Director on 20 April 2009, revised January 2010, November 2011, October 2024.

Accidents in study contexts involving students

• Study contexts include activities conducted on campus, during practical training and on excursions or in similar settings. These procedures should be followed in the event of an accident causing personal injury or material damage, and also in the case of near misses that could have resulted in similar damage.

• Administer first aid, secure the scene, ensure transport to a doctor or hospital. Responsibility: Everyone present.

• Send someone to meet the emergency services.

• Contact the faculty director/division director as soon as possible. The faculty director/division director will then contact the emergency management team at 38 14 22 20.

• Encourage and help the involved students to contact their relatives if the situation warrants it. Responsibility: Lecturer, other staff or students present. Relatives of those injured or seriously injured will be notified by the police, hospital or clergy – the university must not disclose any names!

• Assess the need for internal and external communication. Responsibility: Faculty director/division director, in consultation with the emergency management team.

• Assess the need for follow-up with individuals other than those directly involved. Responsibility: Faculty director/division director.

• Complete the form for HSE concerns. Responsibility: Lecturer or other staff present. If only students are present, one of them should write a brief summary of the incident and submit it to the faculty director/division director. The Division of Academic Affairs will receive copies of these HSE forms.

• For personal injuries requiring medical treatment: the 'Occupational injury or illness' form must be submitted to NAV within 3 days. Responsibility: Faculty director/division director. If the injury occurs while students are in a practice placement, the form should be completed by the practice site. Students are covered for occupational injuries sustained at the place of education during study hours, as per National Insurance Act § 13-10. For more information about occupational injury, visit HELFO's website (in Norwegian).

• Check if a risk assessment for the activity has been conducted and make adjustments, if possible, to prevent recurring injuries. If not, ensure that this is done. Responsibility: Faculty director/division director. 

• Provide training and safety information to participants as needed. Responsibility: Faculty director/division director. 

• Implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Responsibility: Faculty director/division director. 

• Conduct follow-up call(s) after about a week to ensure that the individual(s) involved have received the necessary assistance. Responsibility: Faculty director/division director. 

Accidents outside the study context

In the event of an accident outside the study context involving one or more of our students contact the faculty director/division director as soon as possible.

Responsibility: Any staff or students who becomes aware of the situation. The faculty director/division director will then contact the emergency management team to jointly assess further follow-up.

Death of a student

Each death is different and requires a unique approach. This note is intended to assist those responsible for managing a death involving students, staff and next of kin. The primary responsibility for handling the situation lies with the director of the student's faculty, or with the director of the Teacher Education Unit if the student was enrolled in one of its programmes. For further follow-up, contact the emergency management team at 38 14 22 20.

Information and follow-up of fellow students, staff and next of kin

The designated HSE officer, in cooperation with the emergency management team, will evaluate each situation to decide whether to hold an information meeting, set up support groups, organise a memorial service, or implement other measures for fellow students and/or staff.

If the faculty/division learns of the death before the funeral, a floral tribute should be sent. The university ought to be represented at the funeral, and flags should be flown at half-mast on that day. The faculty director/division director is responsible for notifying campus services and updating the intranet to indicate that UiA is marking the funeral og an employee/student. The faculty director/division director is also responsible for assessing the necessity of informing students about this.

The emergency management team must inform the Director of Academic Affairs as soon as possible about the death of a student. The Director of Academic Affairs is tasked with ensuring that a letter of condolence, signed by the Rector, is sent to the bereaved family. Any further contact with the family, either before or after the funeral, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.