Building Safety
Evacuation
A building occupant is required by law to evacuate the building when the fire alarm sounds. There may be instances where the building would be evacuated without a fire alarm sounding.
When evacuating your building or work area:
- Stay calm; do not rush or panic.
- Safely stop your work.
- If safe, gather your personal belongings; take prescription medications with you.
- If safe, close your office door and window, but do not lock them.
- Use the nearest safe stairs and proceed to the nearest exit. Do not use the elevator.
- Proceed to the designated emergency assembly area and report to your roll taker.
- Wait for any instructions from emergency responders.
- Do not re-enter the building until the emergency responders instruct you.
Emergency Assembly Area
The emergency assembly area is the pre-designated safe location near a building where building occupants assemble and report to the roll taker(s) after evacuating the building. The Wurster Hall emergency assembly area is the 1914 Fountain – the fountain area is directly south of Wurster Hall, near the intersection of Bancroft Way and College Avenue.
Earthquakes
During an earthquake:
- Duck under the nearest sturdy object and hold onto it until the shaking stops. If you are not near a sturdy object, make yourself as small as possible and cover your head and neck.
- If you stand in a doorway, brace yourself against the frame and watch out for a swinging door or other obstruction.
- Avoid windows, filing cabinets, bookcases, and other heavy objects that could fall or shatter.
- Stay under cover until the shaking stops, then leave the building and go to the emergency assembly area or another designated location. Report to your roll taker.
- If safe, before evacuating, stabilize any laboratory procedure that could lead to further danger. (Example: Turn off Bunsen burners or electrical equipment.)