emergency plan for fire

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How to make a home fire escape plan

Your ability to get out of your home during a fire depends on advance warning from smoke alarms and advance planning.

Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as one or two minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm  sounds. A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire. Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes. Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors.

Free escape planning tools

Escape grid.

Use our free fire escape grid to draw a floor plan of your home. Show all doors and windows and two ways out of every room. Mark two ways out of each room

Download free escape grid.

Safety tip sheet

Fire can spread rapidly leaving you as little as one or two minutes to escape your home safely once the alarm sounds.

Download free tip sheet.

Escape planning tips

• Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes.  Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Also, mark the location of each smoke alarm.
• A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire. Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.  NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code ® requires interconnected smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• When you walk through your plan, check to make sure the escape routes are clear and doors and windows can be opened easily.
• Choose an outside meeting place (i.e. neighbor's house, a light post, mailbox, or stop sign) a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet after they've escaped. Make sure to mark the location of the meeting place on your escape plan.
• Go outside to see if your street number is clearly visible from the road. If not, paint it on the curb or install house numbers to ensure that responding emergency personnel can find your home.
• Have everyone memorize the emergency phone number of the fire department. That way any member of the household can call from a neighbor's home or a cellular phone once safely outside.
• If there are infants,  older adults , or family members with mobility limitations, make sure that someone is assigned to assist them in the fire drill and in the event of an emergency. Assign a backup person too, in case the designee is not home during the emergency
• If windows or doors in your home have security bars, make sure that the bars have emergency release devices inside so that they can be opened immediately in an emergency. Emergency release devices won't compromise your security - but they will increase your chances of safely escaping a home fire.
• Tell guests or visitors to your home about your family's fire escape plan. When staying overnight at other people's homes, ask about their escape plan. If they don't have a plan in place, offer to help them make one. This is especially important when children are permitted to attend "sleepovers" at friends' homes.
• Be fully prepared for a real fire: when a smoke alarm sounds, get out immediately. Residents of  high-rise and apartment buildings  (PDF)  may be safer "defending in place."
• Once you're out, stay out! Under no circumstances should you ever go back into a burning building. If someone is missing, inform the fire department dispatcher when you call. Firefighters have the skills and equipment to perform rescues.

Put your plan to the test

• Practice your home fire escape plan twice a year, making the drill as realistic as possible.
• Make arrangements in your plan for anyone in your home who has a disability.
• Allow children to master fire escape planning and practice before holding a fire drill at night when they are sleeping. The objective is to practice, not to frighten, so telling children there will be a drill before they go to bed can be as effective as a surprise drill.
• It's important to determine during the drill whether children and others can readily waken to the sound of the smoke alarm. If they fail to awaken, make sure that someone is assigned to wake them up as part of the drill and in a real emergency situation.
• If your home has two floors, every family member (including children) must be able to escape from the second floor rooms. Escape ladders can be placed in or near windows to provide an additional escape route. Review the manufacturer's instructions carefully so you'll be able to use a safety ladder in an emergency. Practice setting up the ladder from a first floor window to make sure you can do it correctly and quickly. Children should only practice with a grown-up, and only from a first-story window. Store the ladder near the window, in an easily accessible location. You don't want to have to search for it during a fire.
• Always choose the escape route that is safest – the one with the least amount of smoke and heat – but be prepared to escape under toxic smoke if necessary. When you do your fire drill, everyone in the family should practice getting low and going under the smoke to your exit.
• Closing doors on your way out slows the spread of fire, giving you more time to safely escape.
• In some cases, smoke or fire may prevent you from exiting your home or apartment building. To prepare for an emergency like this, practice "sealing yourself in for safety" as part of your home fire escape plan. Close all doors between you and the fire. Use duct tape or towels to seal the door cracks and cover air vents to keep smoke from coming in. If possible, open your windows at the top and bottom so fresh air can get in. Call the fire department to report your exact location. Wave a flashlight or light-colored cloth at the window to let the fire department know where you are located.

Clear Your Escape Routes

Items that block doors and windows in your home could keep you from escaping in the event of a home fire. And that could mean the difference between life and death. So unblock your exits today! Key to your family’s safety is planning and practicing a home fire escape plan twice a year. Start by identifying two escape routes out of each room, if possible, then make sure that each of those escape routes can be used safely by everyone. Download the "Clear Your Escape Routes" brochure in  English  or  Spanish .

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7 Ways To Prepare For A Home Fire

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Home Fire Preparedness

Need Help Now?

If you need help after a home fire,  please contact your local Red Cross »

7 Ways to Prepare for a Home Fire

• Install the  right number of smoke alarms . Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year.         
• Teach children  what smoke alarms sound like  and what to do when they hear one. 
• Ensure that all household members know  two ways to escape  from every room of your home and know the family meeting spot outside of your home.
• Establish a family emergency communications plan and ensure that all household members know who to contact if they cannot find one another.
• Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year. Press the smoke alarm test button or yell “Fire“ to alert everyone that they must get out.
• Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.
• Teach household members to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes catch on fire. 

Develop More Fire-Safe Habits

Make & practice a home fire escape plan.

You know your entire family should practice your escape plan twice a year. But what is your escape plan? These guides will help you decide:

• If you live in a single family home »
• If you live in a multi-family home »
• If you live in a high-rise apartment complex »

Then, use our template to draw your home's unique escape routes:

• This printable worksheet will help you plan and practice home fire drills »

Remember These DOs and DON'Ts

• DO keep items that can catch on fire at least three feet away from anything that gets hot, such as space heaters.
• DO take precautions: Smoke outside; choose fire-safe cigarettes; use deep, sturdy ashtrays and douse cigarette and cigar butts with water before disposal.
• DON'T ever smoke in bed, when drowsy or medicated, or if anyone in the home is using oxygen.
• DO talk to children regularly about the dangers of fire, matches and lighters and keep them out of reach.
• DO turn portable heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• DO use flashlights when the power is out, not candles.
• DON'T leave a burning candle unattended, even for a minute.

Safeguard Your Home

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside every sleeping area. 
• Install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each separate sleeping area.  Download the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Fact Sheet .
• Make sure your house number is easily readable from the street, even at night.
• Make sure your  home heating sources  are clean and in working order. Many home fires are started by poorly maintained furnaces or stoves, cracked or rusted furnace parts, or chimneys with creosote buildup.  Download the Home Heating Fires Fact Sheet .
• Use kerosene heaters only if permitted by law. Refuel kerosene heaters only outdoors and after they have cooled.
• Fix or replace frayed extension cords, exposed wires, or loose plugs.
• Make sure wiring is not under rugs, attached by nails, or in high traffic areas.
• Make sure electrical outlets have cover plates and no exposed wiring.
• Avoid overloading outlets or extension cords.
• Purchase only appliances and electrical devices (including space heaters) that bear the label of an independent testing laboratory.
• Store combustible materials in open areas away from heat sources. Place rags used to apply flammable household chemicals in metal containers with tight-fitting lids.

Guard Against Kitchen Fires

• Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. Stay in the home while simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food.
• Keep pets off cooking surfaces and countertops.
• Keep the stove area clean and clear of things that can catch fire, such as pot holders, towels, curtains, bags, and other appliances.
• If you are cooking and a fire starts in a pan, slide a lid over the burning pan and turn off the burner. Leave the lid in place until the pan is completely cool. Moving the pan can cause serious injury or spread the fire. Never pour water on grease fires.  Download the Cooking Fires Fact Sheet .

Why Is Home Fire Preparedness so Important?

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Environmental Health & Safety Emergency Action Plan

Section navigation, emergency action plan.

Emergency Evacuation Training Requirements Emergency Exit Requirements Fire – Reporting Fire Extinguishers Fire Prevention Plan Rescue and First Aid Procedures First Aid Kits WHEN TO CALL FOR HELP

Employees of Amherst College are expected to know how to initially respond to an emergency situation. Appropriate responses may be as simple as evacuating the area, summoning additional assistance, mitigating the hazard, or assisting another member of the Amherst College community in cases of accident, fire, illness, or injury.

The Emergency Action Plan must be made available to all employees upon request. A copy of this particular plan will be posted in each shop and custodial area for ease of reference. Additional copies can be obtained from the Environmental Health and Safety Manager or from the Environmental Health and Safety Training

Emergency Evacuation Training Requirements

All Amherst College employees must be trained in safe evacuation and notification procedures in cases of actual or drill emergencies. Emergencies which may occur include, but are not limited to, a bomb threat, earthquake, explosion, fire, flood, gas leak, hazardous material incident, or personal injury accident.

Amherst College shall through the Environmental Health & Safety Committee, their representatives, or the Office of Environmental Health & Safety, review the Emergency Action Plan with all affected employees. The plan and appropriate training will be initially provided on or before March 20, 1999. After that date the plan will be provided:

• for each new employee of the College, as soon as possible
• whenever an employee's responsibilities or designated activities under the plan change
• whenever the plan is altered
• when it is apparent that refresher training should be provided

The training must address escape routes, notification of appropriate response agencies, instructions on activating a building fire alarm system, how and when to use a fire extinguisher, and what should be done after evacuating a building. At the appropriate times, under the direction of the Amherst College Campus Police Chief or his/her designee, fire drills will be carried out in the academic buildings and the residential facilities. The drills shall be conducted to familiarize the staff and occupants with the sound of the fire alarm and to initiate the appropriate, desired response. Since each building at Amherst College is different in construction, design, occupancy, and purpose, the plan may need to be slightly modified to expedite evacuation and aid in the mitigation of the hazard.

Emergency Exit Requirements

In addition to OSHA requirements, Massachusetts Building and Fire Prevention Regulations dictate how exits are to be constructed and maintained. These regulations apply to not only exit doors but also to the exit access (corridors and stairwells that lead to the exit) and the exit discharge (the area past the exit doors which may include exterior ramps, steps, fire escapes and sidewalks.)

Exits are permanent, unobstructed means of egress that must lead to a street, walkway, or other open space outside the building. They can, under certain circumstances, lead directly into another building or area of refuge provided that they then lead directly to the outside. Exits must be adequate in number and shall be clearly visible to all occupants in the building - academic or residential. Exit signs are usually red in color but are permitted to be green. The signs are required to be self-illuminated or may be lit by battery pack or generator in case of power outage.

Exits’ accesses and discharges must be maintained and unobstructed. Exits provide a safe and easily identifiable route out of a building in cases of emergency and allow swift and unhampered ingress for firefighters or other emergency personnel in the event of a fire or rescue. Therefore, designated exits must meet the following criteria:

• All illuminated “EXIT” signs must be maintained. Custodial or electric shop staff must change bulbs as soon as they are found to be out.
• All emergency lights powered by battery or emergency generator must be maintained. Custodial, electrical, and EH&S staff should test accessible emergency lights weekly. The electrical shop staff must check those lights that are not accessible at least annually.
• Exception - Corridor and stairwell fire/smoke doors that are held open by a magnet do not have to be kept in the closed position. If a smoke detector is activated or the fire alarm sounds within the building, the doors will automatically close.
• recycling and trash containers
• cardboard boxes and paper
• combustible or flammable decorations, including Christmas trees and wreaths
• gases, oils, fuels, or other combustible and flammable liquids
• stuffed chairs, couches, and other furnishings that are capable of burning or smoldering
• Exit doors cannot be chained or locked from the inside except in those cases where the facility is being renovated or otherwise labeled to prevent initial entry.
• Doors that are located within the means of egress that may be mistaken as part of the means of egress must be labeled “Not an Exit” or otherwise identified.
• Doors, partitions, or other effective means to prevent occupants from going past the exit and exit discharge must interrupt stairways that continue beyond the level of exit discharge (such as those stairwells in Frost Library and Webster).
• for the evacuation of the disabled by fire or police personnel
• as otherwise permitted by the Amherst Fire Department and the Amherst College Campus Police
• All exits and signage must be maintained during alteration, construction, demolition, and repair of a building. If an exit is to be blocked temporarily or the exit is part of the construction project, an alternate means of egress must be approved by the office of Environmental Health & Safety.

In order to ensure that all occupants of the building have evacuated safely, the Facilities Safety Committee has instituted the following requirements:

• If the Amherst College Campus Police Department receives a report of an active fire or other serious hazard within a building they shall notify the Facilities Service Desk.
• The Facilities Service Desk will notify employees by radio about the fire or other hazardous situation and the building involved.
• Custodians assigned to the building involved in the emergency shall evacuate the building through the closest available exit. Once outside of the building, they should proceed to the front of the building so that their supervisor can locate them. When notified of the emergency, the Custodial Supervisor or designee shall immediately report to the front of the affected building to ensure that staff has evacuated safely. The supervisor should report his/her findings to the Amherst College Campus Police as soon as possible for accountability reasons.
• Trades Workers, Delivery, and Special Services Staff shall report to their main office or shop to be accounted for by the department or shop supervisor. If a carpenter, electrician, or plumber has been asked to go to the scene of the emergency, he/she must let their supervisor know his/her location before they initiate work activity at the building. Once the trade's person arrives at the scene of the emergency, they should report to the front of the building to the person in charge (i.e., Fire or Police Department representative) for instructions.
• Outside Contractors assigned permanently or temporarily to the building involved in the emergency shall evacuate the building through the closest available exit. Once outside of the building, they should report to the front of the building to the appropriate shop supervisor.
• The Facilities Supervisor or designee , after hearing the report from the Facilities Service Desk, shall immediately report to the front of the affected building to ensure that all employees have evacuated safely. He/she should report his/her findings to the Amherst College Campus Police as soon as possible for accountability reasons.
• After the Facilities employees have evacuated the building and gone to their assigned location in front of the building, they should remain there until they speak with their supervisors. They should not reenter the building until the fire alarm or other audible warning has been silenced and the Amherst Fire Department or Campus Police has granted permission.

Fire - Reporting

The following procedures shall be followed when someone discovers a fire in a building, regardless of how large the fire is:

1) Close the door to the room where the fire is located . This will confine the fire to a smaller area.

2) Activate the closest fire alarm system . Pull stations are usually located next to an exit or stairwell door

3) Phone 2111 to report the location of the fire . You or someone you designate must make the telephone call from a safe location as quickly as possible. Once you have given the dispatcher the information, wait until the dispatcher hangs up before you hang up because the dispatcher may need more information. The Amherst Fire Department through the Campus Police will know from your call that this is an active fire and not “burned food” or a malicious false alarm.

4) Extinguish or Evacuate

• If the fire is small and you have been trained to use the fire extinguisher, you may attempt to put the fire out. (Refer to the Fire Extinguisher Section of this plan.)
• Go to the closest exit and proceed directly to your assigned area away from the building. You should have a pre-designated area to meet for accountability reasons.
• Notify others on your way out that this is a real fire but do not stop to force their evacuation.
• When you get to your assigned area, wait to be accounted for and stay with your class, department or office so that the fire department or campus police officer can ask questions about the building or fire.
• If you have knowledge of the fire, such as location, size, cause, or you are aware of a person trapped, immediately notify the Campus Police Officer who will provide the fire department with this information
• Remain calm.
• Close the door to the room you are in and call the Amherst College Campus Police at 2111 to report your position so that you can be rescued.
• If smoke begins to come in under the door, stuff blankets or towels (preferably wet) under the door to prevent the smoke from coming in. Wave a brightly colored article of clothing or similar material in the window to attract attention;
• do not break the window unless absolutely necessary . Breaking the window may result in falling glass injuring people below or smoke entering the window making it more difficult to breath.

5) Do not re-enter the building, until:

• The fire alarm has been silenced, and
• The fire or police department has indicated that it is acceptable to re-enter.

Fire Extinguishers

The fire extinguishers around the campus have been strategically placed by potential hazard, size, and type. In most cases fire extinguishers should be located next to the main door of a room, near an exit door (i.e., a stairwell) or every 50’ – 75’ in the corridor of a building depending on the criteria of the Massachusetts Building Code. Fire extinguishers should not be located on the opposite side of the room away from your only means of egress.

For health and safety reasons as required by OSHA, only persons who have been trained in the handling, selection, and use of a fire extinguisher shall operate them. The use of the wrong type of extinguisher could cause the fire to spread or the user to become seriously injured.

TYPES OF EXTINGUISHERS :

• Pressurized Water (P/W)- These are normally found in residence halls where cloth, paper, and wood are the most common hazards. They are metallic colored and hold approximately 2 ½ gallons of water. They are capable of discharging a distance of 25’ – 30’ for approximately 1 minute.
• Dry Chemical (ABC) or (BC) – These are normally found in cars, laboratories, and other places where gasoline, oil, and other combustible/flammable liquids are used. They are usually red in color and are capable of spraying 10’ – 15’ for approximately 30 seconds.
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) – These are normally found only in electrical or mechanical rooms where electricity is the hazard. They are used to put out electrical fires while the equipment is still energized. The carbon dioxide extinguishers are red in color, have no gauge to indicate amount of contents, and are limited to a spray distance of 5’ – 10’ for about 10 seconds.
• Halon - These extinguishers were used for computer room fires in the past, but there use now is questionable because of health risks associated with the halon agents in a fire situation. Amherst College no longer uses this type of extinguisher or extinguishing agent.

TYPES OF FIRES – A, B , & C :

• Type A - Cloth, paper and wood that produce A sh
• Type B - Gasoline, oil, and other combustible/flammable material placed in a B arrel.
• Type C - Electrically energized fires involving equipment and C ircuits or C urrent

FIRE EXTINGUISHER – USE :

• Is it the right type for the fire involved? Check the side of the extinguisher to determine type.
• Does the extinguisher have an inspection tag, plastic tie, and pin in place?
• Does the pressure gauge needle point straight up, indicating fully charged?
• P ull the pin. – Test the extinguisher to see if it works.
• A im the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
• S queeze the handle to activate the agent.
• S weep across or at the base of the fire depending on the fire type.
• Never turn your back towards the fire, even if you think it is out.

Fire Prevention Plan

It is the responsibility of each Facilites employee to correct or report unsafe conditions that could cause a fire, hamper emergency egress, or result in a personal injury accident. Therefore, it is the responsibility of each employee to:

• Correct certain hazards at the time of discovery , such as replacing bulbs in exit signs, removing cardboard, paper, and other combustible material from corridors, or taking out chocks from fire and smoke doors. Report discharge or missing extinguishers and burned out emergency lights to the Physical Plant Service Desk.
• Notify the supervisor of hazards needing corrective action , such as hazardous materials left in the corridors, leaking sprinkler heads, potential ignition sources, open (uncovered) electrical panels.
• Contact the Environmental Health & Safety Office for corrective action , such as hazardous materials left in the corridors, leaking sprinkler heads, potential ignition sources, open (uncovered) electrical panels, missing fire extinguishers, or burned out emergency lights.

In accordance with OSHA and the Massachusetts State Building and Fire Prevention Codes, the following must be inspected and maintained to ensure proper and safe egress from a building in case of fire or other emergency:

• All combustible material shall be removed from the corridor as soon as possible.
• any area, corridor, or room that has an EXIT sign is part of the “means of egress”
• Bulbs should be replaced as soon as they are out.
• The custodial staff on a weekly basis should test accessible emergency lighting. ­ Push the test button. If the light does not work, notify supervisor or the Facilities Service Desk.
• Emergency lights should also be tested by the Facilities Electric Shop and by EH&S when doing routine inspections.
• All paths that make up the means of egress, including the exit discharge outside the exit door, fire escape and the sidewalk that leads away from the building, must be maintained. Snow and ice must be cleared or made safe to allow for egress from the building
• Boxes and other stored items within 18” of a sprinkler head must be removed.
• Combustible material like cardboard, cloth, paper, and wood should not be placed next to an ignition source such as a heater, furnace, pilot light, or electrical equipment.
• Electrical and mechanical rooms cannot be used for storage, unless approved by the specific shop supervisor, Director of Facilities, or the Environmental Health and Safety Manager.
• No stored materials are permitted within 3 feet of an electric panel or similar type of equipment.
• Electrical cords must be properly sized for the equipment they serve.
• Never use a smaller diameter extension cord than the primary cord that serves the equipment.
• Do not overload an outlet with several plugs at the same time. It is suggested that a small 5 or 6 outlet strip with its own circuit breaker be used.
• If working outdoors, the electrical cord must be attached to a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (G.F.C.I.)
• Electrical cords must not  pass through ceilings, doors, or walls except for custodial or shop activities where the door is held open for a limited time while the cleaning or other activity is being done and while the employee is on the floor of work activity.

Rescue and First Aid Procedures

Amherst College shall provide the necessary rescue and first aid services through the Amherst College Campus Police, The Amherst Fire Department, and all properly trained Amherst College Facilities employees. To provide the best possible rescue and first aid services, Amherst College has adopted the following policy for our employees and other members of the campus community if a person has become ill or injured and is in need of assistance:

• your location
• what happened
• how many people are ill or injured
• what first aid care is being provided and by whom
• your phone number at the scene
• if someone is available to meet the police officer or ambulance
• an Amherst College Campus Police
• a CPR / First Aid Certified Amherst College employee
• a member of Amherst College Emergency Medical Services (ACEMS)
• an Amherst Fire Department employee
• Do not move the victim or provide care unless you are trained to do so and the victim is at risk .
• Make sure that the appropriate medical aid has been summoned.
• Obtain the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) for yourself or assist the victim by providing him/her with a means to stop the bleeding, etc.
• Initiate proper first aid (i.e., CPR, control of bleeding, shock or medical emergency)
• have someone take notes, if possible
• obtain full name of the person injured
• find out what happened
• try to get some medical history, a list of medications taken, and any allergies
• ask age/date of birth
• ask name of doctor
• ask time of last meal
• check vital signs (if appropriate)
• conduct Secondary Survey if time and patient permits
• Stay with the patient until more trained medical personnel arrive and take over.
• All blood and body fluids left behind (after the incident) should be properly removed by an Amherst College Facilities employee, a blood borne pathogens trained and immunized custodial staff member, an Amherst College Campus Police Officer, a member of the Amherst Fire Department, or the Environmental Health & Safety Manager.

First Aid Kits

Complete First Aid kits should be located in potentially hazardous areas such as the Facilities Carpentry and Plumbing Shops, the Heating Plant, and the Grounds Office. In addition, a portable kit or two should be made available for large projects performed by our in-house staff so that a kit can be brought directly to the site. Smaller first aid kits should be located in the electric shop, paint shop, garage, service desk area, and in each vehicle used by the Facilities shops or trades. Supervisors of shops and operators of vehicles should check the First Aid kits monthly or after use.

First Aid kits should contain:

[ ] Disposable gloves (latex or rubber) [ ] Sterile gauze pads (4 x 4’s) and (2 x 2’s) [ ] Sterile gauze roller bandage (2”) and (4”) [ ] Hypo-allergenic tape (2”) [ ] Assorted Bandaids [ ] Tweezers [ ] Scissors [ ] Disposable Ice Packs [ ] Disposable pocket mask or shield for CPR [ ] Scissors

(Topical creams ointments and sprays should not be located within the first aid kits or used by staff providing first aid care.)

WHEN TO CALL FOR HELP

Call the amherst college campus police at 2111 when a person:.

• is unconscious or unresponsive
• has trouble breathing or is breathing in a strange way
• has chest pain or pressure
• is bleeding severely
• has pain or pressure in the abdomen that does not go away
• is vomiting or passing blood
• is having or has had a seizure
• has a severe headache, slurred speech, tingling fingers, and/or dizziness
• has ingested poison or suspected poison
• is having an alcohol or drug related abuse or reaction
• has injuries to the head, neck, or back
• has injuries involving suspected broken bones, sprains, or dislocations
• has experienced an electrical shock

Also call the AMHERST COLLEGE CAMPUS POLICE if there is:

• a fire or explosion
• a downed electrical wire
• significant flooding
• a hazardous material incident
• a suspicious odor of gas
• a motor vehicle accident
• a rescue activity

The Emergency Action Plan is not a complete written procedure for everything that could happen on the Amherst College Campus. A more complete Emergency Disaster Plan can and should be used if the Emergency Action Plan is not comprehensive enough.

This Emergency Action Plan shall be reviewed annually and can be changed sooner if any Facilities employee identifies problems. Concerns or corrective measures shall be referred to the Office of Environmental Health & Safety or to a representative of the Environmental Health & Safety Committee.

It is the responsibility of each supervisor to oversee the implementation and enforcement of this plan. The Director of Facilities Planning and Management, the Assistant Director for Operations, the Environmental Health and Safety Committee, and the Amherst College Campus Police Department have implemented this Emergency Action Plan for health and safety reasons.

Emergency Action Plan Evaluation

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How to Create a Fire Evacuation Plan [Video]

The last thing most of us expect in the safety of our own homes is an unforeseen and extreme event like a   house fire . We see events like this on TV, or hear about them third-person, and think it can never happen to us. In fact, these types of events are more common than you may think as there were 365,500 house fires in 2015 1 , according to the   National Fire Protection Association .

If a fire does occur, a few seconds can make a big difference to help you and your family escape swiftly and safely. These tips can help you create a house fire evacuation plan:

• Plan for everyone.   Take into account the special needs of everyone in your household, including young children and elderly family members who may not be very mobile. Children don’t always wake when a smoke alarm sounds. Make sure someone is assigned to help them, and choose a backup person in case the assigned person is away at the time of the fire.
• Find two ways out.   Visit each room of your house and find two ways out, including windows and doors. Make sure all   escape routes   open easily so you can get outside, and install emergency release devices on any security bars on doors or windows.
• Involve children in planning.   Consider having your children help create a fire evacuation plan 2 . Draw a map of the home and have children mark two exit routes and the locations of smoke detectors.
• Choose a meeting spot.   Decide on a meeting place outside, such as a neighbor’s house, mailbox or stop sign. It should be in the front of the house so emergency responders can see you when they arrive. Agree not to go back into the house after you leave.
• Check smoke alarms.   Check that smoke detectors are properly placed and working. The National Fire Protection Association recommends installing them in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping room and on every level of the home. 3
• Be visible.   Make sure that your house number can be seen quickly from the street by emergency responders.
• Respond quickly.   Make sure everyone knows that if the smoke alarm sounds, he or she needs to get out immediately.
• Have a backup plan.   If the planned exit routes are blocked and it’s not possible to leave the house, close all doors between you and the fire. Place a towel under the door and go to an exterior-facing window. Call the fire department to report your location.
• Share with everyone.   Go over the plan with everyone who lives in the house and with visitors and overnight guests.
• Practice regularly.   Practice and review the plan regularly (at least once a year).

With a smart and well thought-out plan in place, you can be one step ahead of the unexpected when you may not have the time or ability to think things through.

Sources: 1   http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/fire-statistics-and-reports/fire-statistics/fires-by-property-type/residential/home-fires 2   http://www.nfpa.org/~/media/files/public-education/by-topic/escape/escape_plan.pdf?la=en 3   http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/safety-in-the-home/escape-planning/basic-fire-escape-planning

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Emergency standards » fire prevention plan (fpp).

The purpose of the fire prevention plan is to prevent a fire from occurring in a workplace. It describes the fuel sources (hazardous or other materials) on site that could initiate or contribute both to the spread of a fire, as well as the building systems, such as fixed fire extinguishing systems and alarm systems, in place to control the ignition or spread of a fire.

Fire prevention plan requirements

For more information on fire extinguishing and alarm systems, see:

• Fixed Extinguishing Systems
• Employee Alarm Systems
• Portable Fire Extinguishers

A fire prevention plan must be in writing, be kept in the workplace, and be made available to employees for review. However, an employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally to employees. [ 29 CFR 1910.39(b) ]

At a minimum, your fire prevention plan must include:

• A list of all major fire hazards, proper handling and storage procedures for hazardous materials, potential ignition sources and their control, and the type of fire protection equipment necessary to control each major hazard. [ 29 CFR 1910.39(c)(1) ]
• Procedures to control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials. [ 29 CFR 1910.39(c)(2) ]
• Procedures for regular maintenance of safeguards installed on heat-producing equipment to prevent the accidental ignition of combustible materials. [ 29 CFR 1910.39(c)(3) ]
• The name or job title of employees responsible for maintaining equipment to prevent or control sources of ignition or fires. [ 29 CFR 1910.39(c)(4) ]
• The name or job title of employees responsible for the control of fuel source hazards. [ 29 CFR 1910.39(c)(5) ]

An employer must inform employees upon initial assignment to a job of the fire hazards to which they are exposed. An employer must also review with each employee those parts of the fire prevention plan necessary for self-protection. [ 29 CFR 1910.39(d) ]

Fire Preparedness Guide

Plan and get ready, make your home fire safe.

• Smoke detectors save lives. Install a battery-powered smoke detector outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of your home.
• Use the test button to check each smoke detector once a month. When necessary, replace batteries immediately. Replace batteries at least once a year.
• Have a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Get training from the fire department in how to use it. Also include in the kit written instructions on how to turn off utilities at your house.
• Conduct periodic fire drills, so everyone remembers what to do when there is a fire.

Plan your escape routes

• Determine at least two ways to escape from every room of your home. If you must use an escape ladder, be sure everyone knows how to use it.
• Select a location outside your home where everyone would meet after escaping.
• Practice your escape plan at least twice a year. Once you are out, stay out!

Escape safely

• If you see smoke in your first escape route, use your second way out.
• If you must exit through smoke, crawl low under the smoke to escape.
• If you are escaping through a closed door, feel the door before opening it. If it is hot, use your second way out.
• If smoke, heat, or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with the door closed. Signal for help using a bright-colored cloth at the widow.
•  If there is a telephone in the room, call the fire department and tell them where you are.

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• Occupational Safety & Health >

Emergency and Fire Preparedness

Learning objectives

• Identify dangers associated with fire and other emergencies
• Recall requirements for emergency action and fire prevention plans
• Recognize housekeeping guidelines for fire prevention
• Recall the importance of emergency exits and identify their components
• Recognize actions to take in response to emergency alarms

Course overview

Employers are required to provide a safe working environment for employees and that responsibility means having an emergency plan for responding positively to natural disasters. Readiness, through understanding of evacuation plans or drilling for regionally specific scenarios, is the key to keeping your workforce out of harm’s way.

Working safely and following proper procedures for emergency preparedness can prevent many emergency situations. However, some emergencies are out of your control.

Fire Safety

The most common workplace emergency is fire. The best way to prevent injuries and deaths from fires is to prevent fires in the first place.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), more than 75,000 workplace fires and related explosions occur each year.

All companies should create a basic fire prevention plan for fire safety, which includes a list of the major workplace fire hazards and proper handling and storage procedures for those materials. The plan should also cover potential ignition sources, such as welding and smoking and related control procedures, as well as discuss the type of fire protection equipment or systems which can control a fire. The fire prevention plan must include the names and/or regular job titles of those personnel responsible for maintenance of fire systems and those personnel responsible for control of fuel source hazards.

Dangers of fire include heat, smoke, and toxic gases which all present some very nasty consequences for the personal welfare and life safety of individuals exposed to fire.

Fire safety can include engineered controls, like fire sprinklers, fire alarms, and smoke detectors are mandatory for many modern structures and likely exist where you work.

Fire Prevention Plan

This fire safety tip is directed toward employers. Not all businesses are required to have a fire safety plan in place, but OSHA advises employers to be proactive by teaching workers about fire hazards and showing them what to do in a fire emergency.

OSHA states that if your business is required to have a fire emergency action plan in place, you must develop a plan that:

• Describes the routes for workers to use and procedures to follow
• Accounts for all evacuated employees
• Remains available for employee review
• Includes procedures for evacuating disabled employees
• Addresses evacuation of employees who stay behind to shut down critical plant equipment
• Includes preferred means of alerting employees to a fire emergency
• Provides for an employee alarm system throughout the workplace
• Requires an alarm system that includes voice communication or sound signals such as bells, whistles, or horns.
• Makes the evacuation signal known to employees
• Ensures emergency training (Which is what this course is about)
• Requires employer review of the plan with new employees and with all employees whenever the plan is changed

Emergency Exits and Routes

In the case of a fire emergency, you want to get everyone out of the facility as quickly as possible. Emergency exits and routes are crucial because they provide a clear path to safety. Here are the qualities of effective emergency exits and routes, as specified by OSHA:

• Emergency Exits
• Must be a permanent part of the building
• Must be provided with a protected way of travel out of the building or out of the area
• May contain way of access of passageways, stairs, aisles and stairwells, ramps, or a series exit doors
• May have ways of access that lead from one area or floor to another or from one building to another

Exit Routes

• Must be clear of obstructions
• Must be kept free of explosive or highly flammable furnishings and other decorations
• Must be wide enough to accommodate the number of people trying to get our
• Must be strong enough to support their weight
• Must be properly lighted and marked with EXIT signs

Alarm Systems

Alarm systems are significant because they alert all employees of a fire emergency, which is the first step in getting to safety. An alarm system may come in the form of a smoke detector, a manual pull box or even a vocal system in which employees alert others by yelling “fire” or some other specified word. If your business is using a smoke detector system the batteries should be changed once a year. When it comes to alarm systems, OSHA recommends knowing:

• The locations of the manual pull boxes or other alarm systems
• How to operate the alarm system
• When the alarm system is to be used
• What the alarm sounds like
• What action to take when the alarm is sounded

It’s great to know what to do in a fire emergency, but it’s even better to prevent the fire from happening in the first place. Electrical fires claim the lives of 280 Americans each year and injure 1,000 more. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) provides the following precautions to help minimize the risk of a fire:

• Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately.
• If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
• Keep clothes, curtains, and other items that can catch fire at least three feet from all portable electric space heaters.
• Avoid putting cords where they can be damaged or pinched by furniture, under rugs and carpets, or across doorways.

Let’s not forget fire extinguishers as a key component for fire safety. Fire extinguishers put out fire by taking away one or more elements of fire.

Emergency Preparedness

The Red Cross says that over 200 million people are affected by natural disasters each year.

There are two things you can predict but cannot control: the weather and natural disasters. You can’t stop either, but you can take measures to mitigate the likely consequences these emergencies. By being prepared for emergencies and knowing how to respond appropriately, risk can be minimized.

Generally, the best way to be protected from death or injury in a fire or other emergency, is to get out of the building quickly by using an emergency exit route. An emergency exit route must be a permanent part of the building or designated area that provides a protected way out of the building or out of the area. It may contain passageways, stairs and stairwells, ramps, or a series of exit doors. It may lead from one area or floor to another or from one building to another.

• Training Type: Online Interactive
• English, Spanish
• Introduction
• Fire and Emergency Dangers
• Emergency Action and Fire Prevention Plans
• Emergency Alarm Response
• 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart L: Fire Protection
• 29 CFR Part 1926.35: Emergency Action Plans
• 29 CFR Part 1910.36: Exit Route Design and Construction
• 29 CFR Part 1910.37: Maintenance, Safeguards, and Operational Features for Exit Routes
• 29 CFR Part 1910.38: Emergency Action Plans
• 29 CFR Part 1910.39: Fire Prevention Plans
• 29 CFR Part 1910.165: Employee Alarm System

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Home  /  Guide  /  Fire

Fire Safety

Always “know two (2) ways out” from wherever you are; do not use the elevators.

Prepare before a fire:

• ALWAYS familiarize yourself with where you are and be sure to know how to reach the TWO nearest EXITS.
• Remember that in a fire situation, smoke is blinding and will bank down in rooms and hallways. This condition may force you to crouch or crawl to escape to safety.  ALWAYS being aware of your surroundings, knowing the locations of the nearest EXITS, and having a PLAN will greatly increase your ability to deal with sudden emergencies.

If you are notified of, or discover a fire:

• Move quickly to the nearest accessible exit.
• Notify, and assist others to evacuate along the way.
• If the building fire alarm is not yet sounding, manually activate the alarm pull station located near the exit.
• Exit the building and proceed to the “ Area of Gathering ”
• “Area of Gathering” and “Area of Relocation” information for each building is posted in the lobby, and is listed on the Fire Safety website .
• From a safe location call 911 to alert the local Fire Department, then place a second call to 617-627-6911 to provide details for Tufts University first responders.

Evacuation procedures for persons with mobility or physical disabilities:

In the event of an actual emergency incident, persons with mobility or physical disabilities or who are unable to safely self-evacuate should follow this procedure:

• Relocate to an entry to an evacuation stairwell, marked by a red EXIT sign.
• Call University Police at 617-627-6911 to notify a dispatcher of your location, identifying the stairwell number or a nearby room number.
• Wait NEAR the enclosed exit stairwell if there is NO smoke or other threats to your safety. Most fire alarm activations are brief, allowing occupants to return within a few minutes.

If smoke, fire, or other threat is imminent, move into the stairwell:

• After the stairwell crowd has passed to below your floor level, enter the stairwell with assistant(s) if available, and wait on the stair landing. Make sure that the door is securely closed.
• Update the University Police at 617-627-6911 to notify dispatchers that you have relocated INTO the stairwell.
• Wait for assistance. First responders will be assigned to assist you if evacuation is necessary.

When should you use a fire extinguisher?

• If you are trained and confident in fire extinguisher use.
• If the fire is small (no larger than a small trash can).
• If you do fight the fire, use only ONE (1) extinguisher, then evacuate the building.
• As a reminder: you are NOT obligated to fight fires of any size. If you have any doubt, do not attempt to fight the fire.

If caught in smoke:

• Drop to hands and knees and crawl toward the nearest exit. Stay low; smoke will rise to ceiling level first.
• Hold your breath as much as possible; breathe through your nose.
• Use a filter such as a shirt, towel, or handkerchief.

If trapped in a room due to fire or smoke:

• Call the University Police: 617-627-6911 to report your location and conditions. Close as many doors as possible between you and the fire.
• Wet cloth material and place it around or under the door to help prevent smoke from entering the room.
• If the room has an exterior window, be prepared to signal to someone outside.

Clothing on fire (Stop, Drop and Roll):

• Direct or assist a person to roll around on the floor to smother the flames.
• Drench with water if a laboratory safety shower is immediately available.
• Obtain medical attention. Call 617-627-6911.
• Report incident to supervisor.

Report ALL fires, no matter how small, to the University Police at 617-627-6911. On the Boston health sciences and SMFA campuses call 911 first to report a fire.

FIRE / EVACUATION DRILLS:

• Drills are conducted at each student residential building during each semester.
• Drills are conducted at each high -rise building on the Boston campus annually.
• All building occupants are expected to participate in fire / evacuation drills.

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS:

• Each student residential building is equipped with fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems.
• Each academic building is equipped with a fire alarm system, and many academic buildings also have fire sprinkler systems.

Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan

The Fire Safety and Evacuation Plans set forth the circumstances and appropriate procedures for the evacuation of the occupants during a fire emergency. Also, the plan provides to first responders an overall understanding of the building’s fire protection as it pertains to the layout and contents of the building, means of egress, fire hazards, fire protection systems, and identification of key contacts during an emergency.

• Learn More About Applying For a Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan

Online Forms

Fire safety plans for hotels/motels with a fire alarm system with two way voice communication capabilities.

Download the following instructions and forms to get a Fire Safety Plans for Hotels/Motels with a Fire Alarm System with Two Way Voice Communication Capabilities Review.  Directions are provided on how to fill out and properly submit the forms.  Please make sure to read each document thoroughly.

• Download Forms (Download 12 PDF Files)

Fire Safety Plans for Interior Fire Alarm (IFA) & Temporal 3 (Including Hotel/Motel with an Interior Fire Alarm (IFA) with One way or No Voice Communication Capabilities)

Download the following instructions and forms to get a Fire Safety Plans for Interior Fire Alarm & Temporal 3 Review.  Directions are provided on how to fill out and properly submit the forms.  Please make sure to read each document thoroughly.

• Download Forms (Download 9 PDF Files)

Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan for Occupancies with Two Way Voice Capabilities but Not Required to File an EAP-- Transient (Fluctuation, varying, inconstant occupants. E.g. Shopping Center, University/College)

Download the following instructions and forms to get a Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan for Occupancies with Two Way Voice Capabilities but not required to File an EAP Review.  Directions are provided on how to fill out and properly submit the forms.  Please make sure to read each document thoroughly.

• Download Forms (Download 14 PDF Files)

Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan for Occupancies with Two Way Voice Capabilities but Not Required to File an EAP-- Non-Transient (Unvarying/Regular Occupants)

Download the following instructions and forms to get a Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan for Occupancies with Two Way Capabilities but not required to file and EAP - Non-Transient.

• Download Forms (Download 17 PDF Files)

Fire Safety Plans for Group A Occupancies Equipped with a Fire Alarm System with Emergency Voice/Alarm Communication

Download the following instructions and forms to get a Fire Safety Plans for Group A Occupancies Equipped with a Fire Alarm System with Emergency Voice/Alarm Communication.

• Download Forms (Download 17 PDF Files)

Fire Safety Plans for Homeless and Emergency Shelters with Fire Safety Coordinators

Download the following instructions and forms to get a Fire Safety Plans for Homeless and Emergency Shelters with Fire Safety Coordinators.

• Download Forms (Download 12 PDF Files)
• Email [email protected]  or call 311

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Fire Safety and Emergency Response

Emergency response.

If any of the following incidents occur, please contact Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) at 919-962-5507.

• Chemical Spill
• Blood/Biohazard Spill
• Illegal Dumping: includes anyone (including University employees/contractors) putting anything into a storm drain.
• Unknown Odor
• Natural Gas Odor
• Safety Hazard: includes any hazards indoors or outdoors that you perceive to pose a safety risk.

Who Do I Contact?

• If you receive a suspicious letter or package or note suspicious persons or activities, please call UNC Police at 919-962-8100 .
• If you see a fire , activate the fire alarm and call 911 .
• If you have concerns that do not necessarily constitute an emergency, please consult our “ Who do I call? ” list.

Additional information can be found on the Alert Carolina website.

Related Topics

Safety Manuals

• Environment, Health and Safety Manual
• Fire Safety and Emergency Response Self-Study Units
• Campus Safety: Fire Safety

EHS Applications

• EHS Compliance Portal Login
• Waste Pickup Login
• Annual Fire Safety Report
• Building Emergency Coordinators
• False Alarm Ordinance
• Fire Emergency Procedure
• Portable Fire Extinguishers

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• MyMichiganTech
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• Website Settings
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• University Safety Manual

Emergency Action and Fire Prevention Plan

2.0 emergency action and fire prevention plan.

This section contains general emergency response procedures to be followed in the absence of department- or facility-specific procedures. The supervisor or person responsible for the area where an emergency occurs is responsible for investigating all emergency incidents and reporting them to Environmental Health and Safety.

2.1 Building Evacuations

There are several types of actual and potential emergency situations that might necessitate a building evacuation including fire, explosion, chemical spill, gas leak, terrorist threats, etc. The evacuation alarm is primarily intended for initiating a general evacuation during fire emergencies. During emergencies other than fire, the possibility that occupants could enter a danger area (e.g., chemical spill in exit path, potential explosion area, exposure to gunman, etc.) while exiting the building should be considered before initiating the evacuation alarm. In those instances where a general evacuation is not safe, the evacuation will have to be conducted room by room in buildings that do not have a public address system.

2.1.1 Instructor Responsibilities

At the start of each academic term, instructional staff are required to instruct students and other personnel who are occupying the instructor’s area of responsibility on the proper procedures to follow in case the building must be evacuated. The following information must be included in the instructions:

• The signal to evacuate the building in case of emergency is the building fire alarm.
• Location of exits nearest to the classroom/lab.  It is the instructor’s responsibility to point out exit paths to students. Exit routes have been posted in all classrooms, class labs, and research labs.
• Certain safety precautions that may be necessary before actually departing, such as: making experiments/reactions safe, shutting off gas, etc., if it is safe to do so.
• Building elevators are not to be used for evacuation.
• Evacuees are not to congregate in or around the building exits or doorways, evacuees must be at least 100 feet away from the building. A designated assembly area shall be determined by the instructor.
• It is the responsibility of instructors to notify students in each class of the need to identify themselves (in private, if desired) if they will need assistance during a building evacuation due to disability, and to establish an evacuation plan for those identified. Such evacuation plans may include the buddy system and the use of safe refuge areas—places relatively resistant to smoke and heat within a building (for example a sprinkler protected room or hallway, or a stairway landing) where an occupant could wait until help arrives to assist in an evacuation.
• Persons physically unable to evacuate are to be assisted to a designated safe refuge area (usually the landing of an enclosed stairway or a sprinkler protected corridor) if evacuation is necessary from other than a ground level floor. The assistant shall then evacuate and direct fire fighters to the location of the safe refuge area in use.

Personnel may re-enter the building only when the Public Safety Officer at the scene of the emergency situation gives the "All Clear."

2.2 Building Fires

• Initiate a building evacuation using the nearest alarm pull station. 
• Dial 911 to notify Public Safety and request fire department assistance.
• If the fire is small and you have been trained in the use of portable fire extinguishers, you may attempt to extinguish the fire.
• Use the nearest safe exit route to exit the building. Close all doors on the way out to prevent the spread of smoke and fire.
• After exiting, immediately proceed to a safe location at least 100 feet from the building.
• Do not re-enter the building until the all-clear is given by Public Safety or the fire department.

2.3 Medical Emergencies

• Evaluate the immediate area for potential safety hazards (fire, toxic or explosive gas vapors, etc.) or situations that may require moving the injured to a safer location. Otherwise move the injured no more than necessary.
• Dial 911 to notify Public Safety and request first aid assistance or an ambulance.
• Provide emergency first aid as needed if you have been trained to do so.
• If the injury involves exposure to a hazardous chemical, provide the Material Safety Data Sheet to the medical emergency responders. If the MSDS cannot be located in time, call the emergency room to offer the information as soon as possible.

2.4 Chemical Spills

Each employee responsible for an activity involving the use of a hazardous substance must prepare a written procedure to be followed in the event of a spill and communicate the procedure to any students, contractors, visiting scholars and scientists, and employees involved in the activity. The written procedure and associated training must include information on when to request outside assistance.

The following procedures are for chemical spills that cannot be handled safely by persons working in the area.

2.4.1 Developing Written Spill Response Procedures

Individuals that supervise the use or storage of hazardous chemicals and materials must develop written procedures for responding to a spill of those chemicals and materials.   For more information on developing spill response procedures, see the American Chemical Society (ACS) “ Guide for Chemical Spill Response Planning in Laboratories .” Spill response procedures must prioritize human health and safety and clearly define the circumstances when a spill can be safely managed by on-site personnel and when it is necessary to seek outside assistance. Supervisors must ensure that everyone who uses hazardous chemicals and materials is trained to manage spills and knows how and when to get outside assistance if necessary. If a spill or release is immediately dangerous to life or health OR on-site personnel are unable to safely manage the spill, seek outside assistance as described below:

2.4.2 Spill of a Hazardous Chemical or Material Inside a Building

• Evacuate everyone in the immediate area and close all doors as you leave.  If there is a potential risk to others in the building pull the nearest fire alarm to evacuate the building.
• Give the dispatcher your location: e.g., Michigan Technological University, in Houghton, along with the location on campus including the building name and room number.
• Describe the situation, any injuries, and if there is a fire or potential for a fire.
• It is expected that supervisors will ensure that the department safety officer, department chair, director and/or dean are aware of the incident.
• If you are unable to contact your supervisor, contact your departmental safety officer or unit leader (chair, director, dean).
• Name of substance(s), quantity released, and any known hazards;
• A copy of the Safety Data Sheet(s), if available;
• Other hazards that may be in the room / area.

 2.4.3  Outdoor Spill of a Hazardous Chemical or Material

• Evacuate anyone in the immediate area.
• Give the dispatcher your location: e.g., Michigan Technological University, in Houghton, along with a description of location on campus.
• If the hazard is primarily to the environment and the spill is too large to be cleaned up by on-site personnel OR has the potential to reach the Portage Lake waterway, including through storm drains, request assistance from Environmental Health and Safety. Do not attempt a cleanup once you have determined that outside assistance is needed, or if the spill has entered the soil, groundwater, or surface water.
• Remain a safe distance away from the spill and warn others to stay clear until help arrives.
• Any other hazards in the area.

2.4.4  Management of the Scene During a Spill

• Public Safety and Police Services (PSPS), local Fire Departments, Michigan Tech staff, and others responding to the spill or release will use established Incident Command/Unified Command structures to manage the active incident.
• PSPS will secure the area to ensure safety and prevent unauthorized entry, based on guidance from the “ Emergency Response Guidebook ,” and / or consultation with knowledgeable persons at the scene.
• PSPS will contact Michigan Tech Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) for assistance.  
• Prohibit access to the room / building / outdoor area until the spilled / released material is properly cleaned and the area has been determined safe for general occupancy.
• Declare the room, building, or area safe for re-entry.

2.4.5  Demobilization After the Spill is Cleaned Up and the Area is Declared Safe

• EHS will work with PSPS/Incident Commander to ensure any remaining concerns are addressed. 
• Upon clearance for re-entry, PSPS will take the lead in reopening the room / building /area.
• Incident and Injury Report(s) must be submitted by the supervisor(s), providing details of the incident and documenting any injuries to employees.  A separate report must be submitted for each injured employee.
• An after action meeting will be convened by EHS for debriefing.  This meeting shall be scheduled within 1 week of the incident and shall include all involved parties (Examples Include:  EHS, PSPS, the affected department(s), Facilities Management, local Fire, local County Emergency Management, etc.).
• Following the debriefing and after action report should be generated outlining steps to be taken to help prevent future incident occurrences, as well as ways to improve the emergency response.

2.5 Building Fire Safety

• Building occupants shall not obstruct or tamper with any safety features such as exit signs, sprinkler systems, heat and smoke detectors, alarm pulls, horns, and strobes, etc. 
• Fire doors may not be propped open except with an approved magnetic interlock device.
• Sprinkler heads and pipes may not be used to support decorations or other items and stored materials must be at least eighteen inches below a sprinkler head.
• Flammable and combustible storage shall be in conformance with the applicable sections of this document and the National Fire Protection Association and MIOSHA standards.
• Stairwells shall be kept free of obstructions and shall not be used for storage, recycle containers, vending machines, etc.
• Hallways may not be used for storage of combustible materials, items that could inadvertently be moved into the traffic path during an emergency, or items that reduce the width of the hallway.
• Vending machines may not be located where they will reduce the width of a hallway or other building exit path during refilling operations and may not be located in stairways.
• Items may not be placed in hallways without approval from Facilities Management and Environmental Health and Safety. Cabinets with doors or drawers will not be approved if the open drawer or door reduces the hallway width below the minimum required.
• A minimum 36-inch clear exit aisle must be maintained from each workstation.
• Special events must be planned so that displays and refreshment tables do not obstruct exits or exit access routes.
• Classrooms without fixed seating shall be set up to allow access to the exit door(s) from each row of seats and seating may not exceed 49 in rooms with a single exit.
• Additional occupants may not be accommodated in aisles, exit paths, or other portions of classrooms and other assembly areas provided with fixed seating.
• Open flames are permitted only in laboratories and other designated hot work areas unless a hot work permit is obtained (see section 5.3 in this manual).
• Lighted candles are not permitted except in supervised dining areas, provided they are securely supported on a noncombustible base and the flame is protected.

2.5.1 Holiday Decorations In Buildings Other Than Residence Halls and Apartments

• Decorated artificial trees may be set up indoors and displayed starting the Monday after Thanksgiving through the end of the calendar year.
• The use of cut natural trees is not permitted without approval from Environmental Health and Safety.
• Electric lights and lighted decorations must bear the Underwriters Laboratories seal and must be turned off when the room or space is not occupied.
• Decorations must be located so that they do not obstruct any exits, hallways, stairs, or firefighting equipment from view or use. No lights or lighted decorations may be placed on or near an exit sign.
• Electric lights may not be placed on an all-metallic tree or other metallic structure.
• Combustible decorations may not be placed in stairwells and should be kept to a minimum in corridors.