Campus Alert Archive
Lehigh

Infrastructure; at the Safety Bulletin sent on 15; later cleared

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Lehigh University Police issued a HawkWatch notification. Full text is preserved from the official AppArmor CAP alert page.

Alerts
1
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
Lehigh University
Private R1 · PA
All Lehigh cases →
~7,500 studentsHawkWatch
Official alert policy
Read when and how Lehigh says it will use HawkWatch: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

UPDATEMulti-channel
Verified verbatim2427 chars
Safety Bulletin: Mercury Update Following up on the Safety Bulletin sent on November 15 (https://lehigh.apparmor.com/Notifications/CAP/?id=131568&t=219351347), this communication provides information regarding the mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall. Since the discovery, the university has been consulting with a team of specialists to perform remediation and testing, and will continue to follow all provided guidance and recommended protocols. The health and safety of our Lehigh community members remain our top priority throughout this process. Over the last few days, we have received additional results from the swab testing of surfaces in labs in Iacocca C Wing. The results of the swab testing indicate a presence of mercury that is above OSHA limits. These spaces have been closed since the initial discovery of the mercury. The areas have been deep-cleaned by a team of remediation specialists. The cleaning was completed and additional swab testing was conducted on Tuesday. Additional labs near the original location where mercury was discovered will also undergo swab and air quality testing. As shared previously, air quality tests performed in the C Wing indicated levels below OSHA and NIOSH requirements. To accommodate the cleaning and retesting process, the areas that have been closed in Iacocca Hall's C Wing will remain closed until remediation is completed and further testing indicates that the area is safe. Please continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed. The primary route of mercury exposure is inhalation. Virtually no elemental mercury is absorbed through the skin or gastrointestinal tract. The lab spaces affected by mercury are all under negative pressure and well ventilated by building HVAC and exhaust hoods (preventing air in the affected areas from circulating). Air quality test results have consistently shown levels below OSHA and NIOSH requirements. Therefore, individuals who have accessed the C wing are considered at minimal to low risk of exposure and work in all rooms other than those that are closed is safe. To address questions from the community, a page will be published on the university website containing FAQs. This page will go live soon and be updated as remediation and testing continues. Thank you for your continued patience as we work to support the safety of our community. Jason Schiffer AVP, Campus Safety
Verify this quote
Lehigh HawkWatch AppArmor CAP notificationlehigh.apparmor.comfind archived copies
Transcribed from official lehigh.apparmor.com HawkWatch CAP page.
incident.date from Alert sent timestamp on CAP page.
B48 first-message queue 2026-08-16: first preserved message is type update (not 'initial'); no earlier official initial located on cited source at re-check. Record starts here; type left unchanged.
RESET SPRINT b3: stripped AppArmor/Rave vendor footer and trailing CRLF padding (2026 copyright page furniture on live CAP page). Body bytes otherwise unchanged.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude Opus 5 (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

Safety Bulletin: Mercury Update Following up on the Safety Bulletin sent on November 15 (https://lehigh.apparmor.com/Notifications/CAP/?id=131568&t=219351347), this communication provides information regarding the mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall. Since the discovery, the university has been consulting with a team of specialists to perform remediation and testing, and will continue to follow all provided guidance and recommended protocols. The health and safety of our Lehigh community members remain our top priority throughout this process. Over the last few days, we have received additional results from the swab testing of surfaces in labs in Iacocca C Wing. The results of the swab testing indicate a presence of mercury that is above OSHA limits. These spaces have been closed since the initial discovery of the mercury. The areas have been deep-cleaned by a team of remediation specialists. The cleaning was completed and additional swab testing was conducted on Tuesday. Additional labs near the original location where mercury was discovered will also undergo swab and air quality testing. As shared previously, air quality tests performed in the C Wing indicated levels below OSHA and NIOSH requirements. To accommodate the cleaning and retesting process, the areas that have been closed in Iacocca Hall's C Wing will remain closed until remediation is completed and further testing indicates that the area is safe. Please continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed. The primary route of mercury exposure is inhalation. Virtually no elemental mercury is absorbed through the skin or gastrointestinal tract. The lab spaces affected by mercury are all under negative pressure and well ventilated by building HVAC and exhaust hoods (preventing air in the affected areas from circulating). Air quality test results have consistently shown levels below OSHA and NIOSH requirements. Therefore, individuals who have accessed the C wing are considered at minimal to low risk of exposure and work in all rooms other than those that are closed is safe. To address questions from the community, a page will be published on the university website containing FAQs. This page will go live soon and be updated as remediation and testing continues. Thank you for your continued patience as we work to support the safety of our community. Jason Schiffer AVP, Campus Safety

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. It is signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety' and written throughout in the university's voice about its own remediation work.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety' for the university.
    2. present: Signed Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety, and attributed to the university.
    3. present: Signed by Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety.
    4. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety' on behalf of the university.
    5. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety'.
    6. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety' for the university.
    7. present: Signed by the AVP of Campus Safety for the university.
    8. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety' on behalf of the university.
    9. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety' for the university.
    10. present: Signed by Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety.
    11. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety' for the university.
    12. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety' for the university.
    13. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety' for the university.
    14. present: Signed Jason Schiffer, AVP Campus Safety, for the university.
    15. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety' for the university.
    16. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety' for the university.
    17. present: Signed Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety, with the university as speaker.
    18. present: Signed "Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety", identifying the issuing office.
    19. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety'.
    20. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety'.
    21. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety' for the university.
    22. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety' for the university.
    23. present: Signed by Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety, for the university.
    24. present: Signed "Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety" for the university.
    25. present: Signed 'Jason Schiffer, AVP, Campus Safety' for the university.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. Mercury contamination is named plainly, 'the mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall', and tracked through swab and air quality testing.

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Mercury contamination is the named hazard.
    2. present: Mercury contamination discovered in lab spaces is the named hazard.
    3. present: Mercury contamination in lab spaces is the named hazard.
    4. present: 'mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall' is a specific chemical hazard.
    5. present: Mercury contamination is the specific hazard.
    6. present: 'mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall' names the hazardous substance.
    7. present: Mercury contamination is the named hazard.
    8. present: 'mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall' names the contaminant.
    9. present: 'the mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall' is a specific hazmat threat.
    10. present: 'the mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall' is a specific hazardous substance.
    11. present: 'mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall' is a specific hazmat hazard.
    12. present: Mercury contamination in lab spaces is the named hazard.
    13. present: 'mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall' names a specific hazardous substance.
    14. present: 'the mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall' names a specific contaminant hazard.
    15. present: 'mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall' names the hazardous substance.
    16. present: Mercury contamination is the named hazard.
    17. present: "the mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall" names a hazardous substance.
    18. present: "the mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall" names a specific chemical hazard.
    19. present: 'the mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall' names the hazardous substance.
    20. present: 'the mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall' names the hazardous substance.
    21. present: 'mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall' is a specific hazard.
    22. present: 'mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall' names the hazardous substance.
    23. present: "the mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall" names the hazard.
    24. present: "the mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall" is a specific chemical hazard.
    25. present: 'mercury discovered in Iacocca Hall' is a specific hazmat threat.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. The affected spaces are specified as labs in Iacocca Hall's C Wing, plus additional labs near the original discovery point.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: 'Iacocca Hall' and its 'C Wing' labs are specified.
    2. present: "Iacocca Hall" and its C Wing labs are specified.
    3. present: Specifies Iacocca Hall, C Wing labs.
    4. present: 'Iacocca Hall's C Wing' and its labs are precisely named.
    5. present: 'Iacocca Hall' and its 'C Wing' labs.
    6. present: 'Iacocca Hall's C Wing' and its labs are specified.
    7. present: Iacocca Hall C Wing labs.
    8. present: 'Iacocca Hall's C Wing' labs are specified.
    9. present: 'Iacocca Hall's C Wing' labs are named precisely.
    10. present: Iacocca Hall C Wing labs are named precisely.
    11. present: 'Iacocca Hall's C Wing' labs are named.
    12. present: 'Iacocca Hall' C Wing labs are specified.
    13. present: 'Iacocca Hall's C Wing' and its labs are identified.
    14. present: Iacocca Hall C Wing labs are named repeatedly.
    15. present: 'Iacocca Hall's C Wing' labs are specified.
    16. present: 'Iacocca Hall' C Wing labs are specified.
    17. present: Iacocca Hall C Wing labs are precisely identified.
    18. present: "Iacocca Hall's C Wing" and its labs are specified.
    19. present: 'Iacocca Hall's C Wing' labs are specified.
    20. present: 'Iacocca Hall' and 'C Wing' labs are specified.
    21. present: Iacocca Hall's C Wing labs are specified.
    22. present: 'Iacocca Hall's C Wing' and its labs are specified.
    23. present: Iacocca Hall C Wing labs are identified.
    24. present: Iacocca Hall's C Wing labs are named precisely.
    25. present: 'Iacocca Hall's C Wing' and its labs are named.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. Readers are told to 'continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed' while closures stay in force.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: 'observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    2. present: "continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed".
    3. present: Asks readers to observe signage and "remain out of areas marked closed".
    4. present: 'continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    5. present: 'observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    6. present: 'Please continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    7. present: Asks people to observe signage and remain out of closed areas.
    8. present: 'continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    9. present: 'continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    10. present: 'observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    11. present: 'observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    12. present: 'continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    13. present: 'continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    14. present: 'observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    15. present: 'observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    16. present: 'observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    17. present: "continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed".
    18. present: "observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed" instructs recipients.
    19. present: 'continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    20. present: 'Please continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    21. present: 'observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    22. present: 'continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
    23. present: "observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed".
    24. present: "observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed".
    25. present: 'continue to observe all directional signage and remain out of areas marked closed'.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. It anchors to the November 15 bulletin, cleaning and retesting completed 'on Tuesday', and closures lasting 'until remediation is completed'.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: 'November 15', 'Over the last few days', 'on Tuesday', 'until remediation is completed'.
    2. present: Cites November 15, testing "on Tuesday", and closure "until remediation is completed".
    3. present: References November 15, testing "on Tuesday", and closure until remediation ends.
    4. present: Cites the 'November 15' bulletin, testing 'on Tuesday', and closure 'until remediation is completed'.
    5. present: References the November 15 bulletin and testing done 'on Tuesday'.
    6. present: References the 'November 15' bulletin and testing 'on Tuesday'.
    7. present: References November 15, Tuesday testing and closure until remediation is complete.
    8. present: 'swab testing was conducted on Tuesday' and closures 'until remediation is completed'.
    9. present: 'November 15', 'on Tuesday', 'until remediation is completed' anchor timing.
    10. present: References the November 15 bulletin and closure 'until remediation is completed'.
    11. present: References November 15, 'Since the discovery', and testing 'on Tuesday'.
    12. present: 'sent on November 15', testing 'on Tuesday', closed 'until remediation is completed'.
    13. present: 'sent on November 15' and testing 'on Tuesday' anchor the timeline.
    14. present: 'November 15', 'Over the last few days', 'completed on Tuesday'.
    15. present: 'November 15', 'on Tuesday', 'until remediation is completed'.
    16. present: 'November 15', 'Tuesday', and closure 'until remediation is completed'.
    17. present: References November 15, "Over the last few days" and testing done Tuesday.
    18. present: References "November 15", testing "on Tuesday", and closure "until remediation is completed".
    19. present: 'November 15', 'Tuesday', and closures 'until remediation is completed'.
    20. present: 'November 15', 'Over the last few days', 'completed... on Tuesday'.
    21. present: References November 15, testing 'on Tuesday', and 'until remediation is completed'.
    22. present: 'November 15', 'Over the last few days', 'on Tuesday' anchor the timeline.
    23. present: References November 15, testing "on Tuesday" and closure "until remediation is completed".
    24. present: References November 15, "Tuesday" testing, and closure "until remediation is completed".
    25. present: References November 15, testing 'on Tuesday', and closure 'until remediation is completed'.
  • Impactpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. Severity is quantified: swab results show mercury 'above OSHA limits', inhalation is the primary exposure route, and others are at 'minimal to low risk of exposure'.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: States mercury 'above OSHA limits', inhalation as exposure route, and 'minimal to low risk of exposure'.
    2. present: Swabs above OSHA limits, inhalation exposure route, and minimal to low risk stated.
    3. present: Notes levels "above OSHA limits", inhalation exposure route, and low exposure risk.
    4. present: Notes mercury levels 'above OSHA limits', inhalation as exposure route, and 'minimal to low risk of exposure'.
    5. present: Notes mercury 'above OSHA limits', inhalation exposure route and 'minimal to low risk of exposure'.
    6. present: Reports mercury 'above OSHA limits', inhalation as the exposure route, and 'minimal to low risk'.
    7. present: Says swabs show mercury above OSHA limits and describes inhalation exposure risk.
    8. present: Reports mercury 'above OSHA limits', inhalation as the exposure route, and low exposure risk.
    9. present: Says swabs show mercury 'above OSHA limits' and describes inhalation exposure risk.
    10. present: States mercury 'above OSHA limits' and that inhalation is the primary exposure route with risk levels.
    11. present: 'presence of mercury that is above OSHA limits' and 'primary route of exposure is inhalation' convey health risk.
    12. present: Notes levels 'above OSHA limits' and inhalation exposure risk.
    13. present: 'presence of mercury that is above OSHA limits' and 'risk of exposure' by inhalation state the harm.
    14. present: Swabs show mercury 'above OSHA limits' and inhalation is the exposure route, stating risk.
    15. present: 'above OSHA limits', inhalation exposure route and 'minimal to low risk' state severity.
    16. present: 'presence of mercury that is above OSHA limits' and inhalation exposure risk state the danger.
    17. present: Swab results "above OSHA limits" and discussion of inhalation exposure risk state severity.
    18. present: States levels "above OSHA limits", inhalation as exposure route, and "minimal to low risk of exposure".
    19. present: 'presence of mercury that is above OSHA limits' and inhalation exposure risk described.
    20. present: Notes mercury 'above OSHA limits' and inhalation exposure risk, stating potential harm.
    21. present: Levels 'above OSHA limits' and inhalation exposure risk are stated.
    22. present: 'above OSHA limits' and 'primary route of mercury exposure is inhalation' state the health consequence.
    23. present: Swab results "above OSHA limits" and inhalation exposure risk state the potential harm.
    24. present: Swabs "above OSHA limits" and inhalation as the exposure route convey health risk.
    25. present: States mercury 'above OSHA limits' and discusses inhalation exposure risk levels.

Coded by Claude Opus 5

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

Lehigh University HawkWatch notification series via AppArmor CAP archive.
Analysis

Key Findings

Official HawkWatch CAP page preserves the Event and Description of the campus notification.
Outcome
See official HawkWatch alert for operational status.
Provenance

Sources

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  1. Official
    Safety Bulletin: Mercury Update
    lehigh.apparmor.com
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Lehigh University: Infrastructure; at the Safety Bulletin sent on 15; later cleared." Incident of November 22, 2023. Added July 2026; last updated August 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/lehigh-university-mercury-update-on-lehigh-campus-area-2023-11-22/

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Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
lehighhawkwatchinfrastructure
Added July 2026Updated August 2026Via ingestion