Residential Life Policy: Health and Safety Inspections
Health and Safety Inspections are conducted by the staff of Residential Life. These inspections are designed to seek out and correct potentially dangerous situations before they cause damage or harm. Notices are posted in advance of the inspections. All inspections are conducted under the guidelines as described in Student Rights and Responsibilities at www.brown.edu/randr.
The University reserves the right to enter residence hall rooms without the consent of the occupant in order to provide for the general well being and protection of the community, its members and property.
The inspectors look for such hazards as hanging canopies, torchière style halogen lamps, toaster ovens, multiple wall plugs, and candles. Any violations will be documented. A copy of the documentation left in the room for the student will include a deadline for correcting violations, after which time the room will be re-inspected. Items that are not allowed in the residence halls and which are judged to constitute an IMMEDIATE HAZARD (e.g., gasoline, halogen torchière lamps) will be confiscated.
If in the reasonable course of such an inspection other violations of University rules are observed, they may be reported to the appropriate Dean(s). This report may be a basis for a search of the room, but may not be directly submitted as evidence in a disciplinary hearing. All staff members conducting these searches have been thoroughly briefed on the University Policy on Room Entry, which is available from the Office of Student Life.