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Personal safety tips
General safety tips on campus or when you are out and about…
Working Alone/Working at Night
- Keep doors between you and the public locked when working alone
- Review with your supervisor and follow established working alone check-in procedures.
- When leaving your office for the night, proceed cautiously and look and listen for suspicious persons or situations before leaving the security of your office.
- Remain cautious as you are leaving.
- If you have any concerns stay in/immediately return to your office with the door locked and call Security at Local 2400.
Campus Escort
Employees and students may arrange for an on-campus security escort (e.g. to vehicle in parkade/surface lot, within buildings or to perimeter of property) either by phoning Security or requesting in person at the Security Kiosk.
Vehicle/Parking Lot Safety
- Close the windows and sunroof; lock the doors and activate any security devices when leaving your car unattended.
- Never leave cash, credit cards, chequebook, cell phones, sunglasses, vehicle documents or other valuables in the car.
- Never leave your keys in the car, even for a second - treat them as you would your cash and credit cards.
- Park with care, particularly at night; if possible, park in a busy, well-lit area, park near classmates/colleagues.
- Be aware of your surroundings as you approach your vehicle, even looking underneath as you approach it.
- Have your keys in your hand as you approach your vehicle.
- Check the backseat and floor before entering your vehicle.
- If you notice something unusual in or around your vehicle, keep walking to a safe place and call Security if you are on campus; if you are off campus call the police.
- Arrange for a campus security escort to your vehicle.
Using Public Transportation
- Check your route schedule in advance.
- Keep a copy of the transit schedule for reference should you need to leave earlier or later than usual.
- Be aware of your surroundings walking to and from the transit station/stop.
- Remember that cell phones and mp3 players limit your ability to hear what is going on around you and could prevent you from being alert to potential signs of danger.
- Walk with purpose and a confident stride.
- Plan to arrive at the bus stop/station only a few minutes before departure time.
- Sit near the front of the bus.
- If you are on the bus and someone bothers you, tell the driver immediately.
- If you are on SkyTrain sit in a car occupied with others – avoid empty cars; if you feel uncomfortable – move to another car.
- Be aware of Request A Stop Service on buses: If you feel safer getting off the bus at a point between two regular bus stops, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. you can "Request A Stop". The bus driver will let you off if he or she believes it's safe to do so. Note: You cannot "Request A Stop" along an express or limited-stop portion of a route.
- Where possible, and especially at night, coordinate your transit travel with companions you know and trust.
Encountering Strangers in the Workplace
Many visitors come to our campuses every day seeking information about programs and services. However, you may encounter a person who appears to have no purpose or legitimate reason for being on campus. Here are some tips for this situation:
If you encounter a stranger:
- Project calmness and confidence. Be friendly but professional. Challenge persons only when you can do so safely and never alone.
- Never jeopardize your safety by acting alone when challenging or even approaching a person, regardless of how unthreatening the person may appear.
- Never provide personal information to someone you don’t know. If you are concerned about a person, call *Security at Local 2400.
Why challenge a stranger?
- The stranger will become aware he/she has been recognized and can be identified; which may cause a change of mind if criminal activity was the intent.
How to challenge a stranger:
Be alert to people entering your work or learning area. Approach a stranger only when safe to do so, without risking your safety, or the safety of others. Greet people with a friendly and professional tone of voice:
- “Good morning. I’m with the . . . . Department. May I help you?”
- “Are you looking for someone, perhaps I can help?”
- “Are you looking for a particular room?” Perhaps I can direct you.”
Things to look for:
If people have no legitimate reason for being on campus, they may react in a variety of ways:
- Mumble and quickly leave.
- Provide an explanation for their presence that causes you to feel doubtful or suspicious.
- Reply defensively e.g. “Why are you bothering me?” “This is a public place.”
- Stare at you in an attempt to intimidate.
- React negatively and show no apparent intention to leave.
If an unauthorized person refuses your request to leave your area, you can say, “If you don’t leave, I’ll have to call Security.” If your request is not followed, call Security at Local 2400. If the person does follow your request to leave, and you still believe he/she has no legitimate purpose on campus, call Security to alert them to the individual.
If you do not feel comfortable to ask the stranger to leave or he/she does not leave upon request and you do not feel comfortable saying you’ll call Security, have someone keep an eye on the person, if possible, while you discreetly call Security.
As soon as you can, write down a description of the person and details of the incident to pass on to Security.
Never try to physically remove someone yourself.
Trust your intuition. It’s important to remember if a situation feels wrong, it probably is. If you feel uncomfortable or threatened in any way, remove yourself from the situation as soon as possible and call Security at Local 2400. Do not feel embarrassed to ask for help or to report an incident, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Any situation that causes you fear or concern is a legitimate reason for contacting Security.
Establish a “code” word/phrase in your department that is distinct and everyone understands is a flag for them to call Security.
*For campuses without Security – call local police.
If you encounter a stranger in your path and you are unable to avoid them:
- Do not confront them.
- Do not block their exit route.
- Act unconcerned and confidently continue on your way.
- As soon as you can do so safely, call Security to alert them.
- If the stranger speaks to you or insists on asking you a question you may keep walking and reply that you are “meeting Mr. Jones and must hurry” or that “Mr. Jones in office 123 can answer that question (and point the stranger in the direction opposite of your path of travel); or “I have to go, Security is waiting for me”.
- Be assertive. Do not worry about being rude. Assertiveness is not rudeness.
- Lead the stranger to believe that there are others in the area.
Elevator Safety
- Look inside an elevator before entering.
- If there is someone in the elevator that makes you uncomfortable do not get in, wait for the next one.
- When you are in the elevator, stand beside the control panel. Most College elevators have emergency call buttons on the control panel.
- If a suspicious person enters the elevator, get out before the doors close.
The Social Scene
- Plan ahead. Let someone know where you are going, who you are going/meeting with and when you plan to return. Plan in advance how you are going to get home. Stick to your plan.
- Use a buddy system, go out with friends you trust and keep an eye out for each other.
- Know your limits. Alcohol can affect your judgment and cause you to make poor decisions.
- If you drink, never let your drink out of your sight; don’t sample drinks from other people – even if you know them.
- Do not drink and drive.
If you are threatened:
- If you are threatened anywhere or at anytime, you should notify the police immediately. If the threat occurs on campus or pertains to your work or study at the College, or could impact your safety, and/or the safety of others, at the College, report the situation immediately to Security and your Administrator.
