Office of Student Life
Dining Services

Building and Emergency Safety

Ohio State Dining Services incorporates weather safety, building safety, and active aggressor preparedness into its overall campus safety approach.

Weather

During severe weather watches and warnings, dining teams follow university‑issued alerts, adjust operations, and guide guests to designated shelter areas inside each facility.

University Closures 

In the event of a university closure due to severe weather or other conditions, Dining Services remain open, as we provide essential services to maintain the health and wellbeing of over 10,000 students and guests. You are expected to report to work (in some situations, you may be asked to work at another operation). If you do not need to come to work, you will be notified by the management team of your operation. Students employed at Regional Campus should contact supervisor in the event of a Regional Campus closure. 

Building Safety

Building safety procedures ensure staff can quickly direct students to secure interior spaces, maintain clear exits, and respond to structural or environmental hazards. During your onboarding and training, Management will cover your Buildings Emergency Action Plan, also known as BEAP. 

Key and Keywatcher

Read more information in the Student Life Employment Policy Guidebook: Building and Mechanical Services. Student employees may be given access to Student Life facilities and/or use of keys/cards from the keywatcher system. It is a shared responsibility to protect the personal safety of residents, guests, employees, facilities and property. Access to keys/cards require adherence to all policies outlined in the “Responsibilities for Keys, Access Cards and Locks” form.

The policies include, but are not limited to: 

  • Must return keys back to appropriate key box or key watcher daily
  • Duty keys are never taken home.
  • Never tamper with the ring and fob provided by Student Life
  • Never remove keys/cards for someone or lend keys to anyone
  • Must immediately report to supervisor and the access control coordinator if observed problems with any Student Life keys/cards or locks
  • Stolen, lost or misplaced keys/cards
  • Found keys
  • Damage to keys or fobs

Individuals who lose, misplace or misuse keys or the key watcher system may be subject to corrective action. 

Robbery / Theft

  • Theft: is depriving the owner of property or services without permission; for example, stealing a sandwich. 
  • Robbery is committing or attempting theft while using force or the threat of force or harm.

If there is an active Robbery or Theft taking place:

  • DO NOT physically try to stop or interfere with the theft.
  • Call campus police at 614-292-2121 or regional campus security as soon as possible if a theft is suspected. If the theft is in progress, make sure to tell the police that the thief is still at the scene.
  • Record as much descriptive information as possible about the person and the item that is being taken. Be prepared to give information to the first officer who responds.
  • DO NOT resist or interfere. Provide any cash or property asked for, but do not offer anything the robber has not requested. 
  • As soon as it is safe to do so, hit the emergency distress alarm or call the police at 9-1-1. Explain exactly where you are, what has taken place, if a weapon has been seen or a threat made, and the direction of travel of the robber. Be specific and provide as much descriptive information about the robber as possible. 
  • Do not try to follow the robber or place yourself or others in danger.
  • Close operations and preserve any evidence.
  • Go to a secure place and await the police. Do not discuss the event with ANYONE until the police arrive. 

All employees are advised to complete Ohio State’s Active Aggressor training, which teaches the Run‑Hide‑Fight framework and prepares them to act decisively in high‑risk situations to protect the campus community.