How to Report a Safety Concern or Emergency Through the KU-EHS Website

Updated

The KU Department of Environment, Health & Safety (KU-EHS) website provides a dedicated entry point labeled "Report A Safety Concern, Unsafe Situation, or Emergency," alongside links to KU Alert, the KU Police Department, KU Emergency Management, and a KU-EHS emergency contact. Use the report link for non-immediate hazards and unsafe conditions; for an active emergency, contact official emergency services first rather than relying on a web form.

What the KU-EHS site offers

The EHS home page groups its reporting and emergency resources together. According to the page, these include:

  • Report A Safety Concern, Unsafe Situation, or Emergency — the site's reporting entry point
  • KU EHS Emergency Contact — a direct emergency contact for EHS matters
  • KU Alert Website — the university's alert/notification channel
  • KU Police Department — campus law enforcement
  • KU Emergency Management — the university's emergency management office

The site frames its overall purpose as helping the KU community "become an environmentally responsible and safe Jayhawk," so these links cover both routine safety reporting and emergency escalation.

Choosing the right channel

Match the channel to the situation:

Situation Appropriate channel
Immediate danger, injury, fire, or crime in progress Call 911 / official emergency services first, then KU Police
Active campus emergency or threat KU Alert / KU Emergency Management, plus emergency services
EHS-specific emergency (hazardous materials, environmental release, lab safety) KU EHS Emergency Contact
Non-urgent unsafe condition or safety concern "Report A Safety Concern, Unsafe Situation, or Emergency"

The key distinction: the website's report link is for concerns and unsafe situations you observe, while the emergency contacts and KU Police are for situations requiring immediate response.

Steps to report a concern

  1. Go to the KU-EHS home page (ehs.ku.edu).
  2. Locate the "Report A Safety Concern, Unsafe Situation, or Emergency" link in the site's resource list.
  3. Follow that link to the reporting form or instructions.
  4. Provide a clear description of the concern: what it is, where it is, and any immediate risk.
  5. If the situation is urgent or life-threatening, stop and use the emergency channels (911, KU Police, or the KU EHS Emergency Contact) instead of or in addition to the web report.

Expected result: Your concern reaches the appropriate KU office for follow-up. For genuine emergencies, the emergency channels trigger an immediate response, which a web form cannot guarantee.

Common pitfalls

  • Treating the web report as an emergency line. A form submission may not be monitored in real time. For anything urgent, use the emergency contacts or call emergency services.
  • Reporting to the wrong office. Environmental, health, and safety hazards (chemicals, waste, lab conditions) belong with KU-EHS; crimes and immediate threats belong with KU Police.
  • Vague reports. Include location and specifics so the responding office can act without back-and-forth.

Quick reference

  • Non-urgent safety concern: use the "Report A Safety Concern, Unsafe Situation, or Emergency" link on ehs.ku.edu.
  • EHS emergency: use the KU EHS Emergency Contact.
  • Campus-wide emergency: use KU Alert, KU Emergency Management, and KU Police.
  • Life-threatening emergency: call 911 first.

The KU-EHS site is the right starting point for routing a safety issue, but the channel you pick should match how urgent the situation is.