Policy and Procedure Statement 3.4.5
October 2003
EMERGENCIES
The Policy and Procedure Statement is primarily designed for the Main Library. Branch Libraries should adapt it to their
specific situation where necessary.
ALL EMERGENCIES – DIAL 911
In all emergency situations (all situations which involve threats to personal
safety), including fire or the need for police or paramedic assistance, dial
911 (Police Desk, Department of Police and Public Safety).
Every effort should be made to contact a member of the administrative staff
after dialing this number.
Each Library area is responsible for evacuation of assigned areas. Some
areas must also notify other areas. Each supervisor communicates designated
emergency procedures to the staff and posts them prominently.
Master keys, for emergencies only, are available from Circulation.
INJURIES OR ILLNESS
When medical assistance is needed, phone 911. Describe your location and
the nature of the problem or symptoms.
Notify Circulation who will guide police/paramedics to the correct area.
Do not move the
victim. Move hazardous objects
away. Only a trained person should be allowed to administer any kind of
first aid.
Prevent crowd formation.
Injuries to
employees
- All staff injured on the job are required to obtain medical aid.
- Follow procedures outlined in Policy and Procedure Statement 3.1.3.
Injury Report forms are available in the Human
Resources Office and Circulation.
TORNADO WARNINGS
A tornado watch means conditions are such that tornadoes may develop. No action is taken.
A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted in this area – SHELTER
should be taken immediately.
If a tornado alarm is heard or if Circulation is informed of a tornado in our
area, Circulation staff will initiate the message on the P.A. System and will
initiate the contact chain. A tornado warning should also be signaled by
a steady siren.
Responsibilities of Library areas:
If assigned, continue contact chain.
Once notified by the
contact chain, proceed to clear your area and lead people away from windows on
the ground floor. EAST WING should use the stairway near the east wing
elevators (this is the only stairway in that wing which leads to the basement.)
WEST WING should use the inside stairway by the back elevator.
Documents staff will
unlock the door at the bottom of the inside stairway and coordinate people
coming to the basement.
Circulation will take
the following to the basement: battery-operated radio, first aid kit, and
flashlight, and will be in charge.
Persons clearing the building should loudly say: "A tornado has been
sighted nearby. Take cover immediately".
Everyone will remain sheltered and away from all windows until the all-clear is
announced by Circulation staff.
Facilities will coordinate different tornado warning procedure during extended
hours.
FIRE – DIAL
911
If smoke or fire is
sighted, pull the nearest fire alarm, then dial 911 to summon the Fire
Department (either campus or pay phone), and begin evacuation of the building.
Sounding of the fire
alarm means EVACUATE THE BUILDING NOW. CLEAR YOUR AREA IMMEDIATELY.
There is no time for contact chain. EVACUATE! (Follow this action
with a call to the Department of Public Safety- 911.)
After the building
has been evacuated, Facilities or Circulation will contact the Director or a
member of the administrative staff. No one should re-enter the building
until the Fire Department has determined it is safe.
POWER FAILURE
The following steps
will be taken when power to the Main Library facility fails DURING REGULAR
WORKING HOURS (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM):
Circulation will
announce that power has been lost but that the building will remain open.
Circulation will
check the elevators. The “trouble truck” will be called if
individuals are trapped in the elevators.
Circulation, with the
assistance of other available staff, will check users exiting the building to
insure that Library materials do not leave the building inappropriately.
(This is because the tattletape detection system is
inoperable during a power outage).
The Main Office will
call the Physical Plant to determine the expected duration of the power
outage. (Circulation can make this call if the front office is unstaffed
during the lunch hour and time permits. If
not, this call will be made by Main Office staff when they return at 1:00 PM).
Divisional directors
and one representative from individual units should come to the area outside of
the Main Office to receive information regarding decisions about the building,
which will be based on the guidelines that follow.
Basically, during
daylight hours the combination of the emergency lighting plus outside light
should make building occupancy possible without undue risk. EXCEPTION:
-- IF POWER GOES OUT WITHIN 90 MINUTES OF THE TIME
THAT THE LIBRARY IS SCHEDULED TO CLOSE, THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE EVACUATED
IMMEDIATLEY AND THE LIBRARY CLOSED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY.
If a decision is made
to close the building until the following day, a tape to that effect will be
inserted on the Library Distance Learning answering machine and on the hours phone line. In
addition, the Circulation Department would post signs to that effect on all
entrances.
Branch libraries
should conform to the procedures established for the buildings in which they
are located.
All staff should shut
down computer terminals to avoid power surge related damage when power is
restored.
Unless a decision is
made to evacuate the entire building for circumstances beyond a simple power
outage, all staff are expected to remain at work. In accordance with University policy, staff
opting to leave of their own accord will be required to utilize vacation or
personal leave for the work hours missed.
The following
steps will be taken when power to the Main Library facility fails WHEN THE MAIN
OFFICE IS CLOSED.
Circulation will
announce the power outage and indicate that the building will remain open, at
least temporarily.
Circulation will
check the elevators. The “trouble truck” will be called if
individuals are trapped in the elevators.
Circulation, with the
assistance of other available staff, will check users exiting the building to
insure that Library materials do not leave the building inappropriately.
(This is because the tattletape detection system is
inoperable during a power outage).
Circulation will call
the Physical Plant to determine the expected duration of the power outage.
Circulation should
call the Director of Libraries and the Associate/Assistant Directors to inform
them of the situation. These individuals should proceed to the Library if
at all possible.
Unit representatives
should go to Circulation to receive information regarding decisions about the
building, which will be based on the guidelines that follow.
If after one hour
from the time that the power went out there is no indication that power will be
restored within the next hour, the public should be evacuated from the building
and the building will remain closed until the next morning, with the following
EXCEPTION:
..IF POWER GOES OUT
WITHIN 90 MINUTES OF THE TIME THE LIBRARY IS SCHEDULED TO CLOSE, THE PUBLIC
SHOULD BE EVACUATED IMMEDIATELY AND THE LIBRARY CLOSED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE
DAY.
All staff should
remain in the building until a decision to close the building is made. If
such a decision is made, staff should assist with clearing their areas before
departing.
If a decision is made
to close the Library until the following day, a tape to that effect will be
inserted on the Library Distance Learning answering machine and on the Hours
phone line. In addition, the Circulation Department would post signs to
that effect on all entrances.
Branch libraries
should conform to the procedures established for the buildings in which they
are located.
All staff should shut
down computer terminals to avoid power-surge related damage when power is
restored.
Unless a decision is
made to evacuate the entire building for circumstances beyond a simple power
outage, all staff are expected to remain at
work. In accordance with University policy, staff opting to leave of
their own accord will be required to utilize vacation or personal leave for the
work hours missed.
ELEVATOR ALARMS
Monday through
Friday, 8:00-5:00 PM, call the Main Office.
Other times, call Circulation at 5-2333
WATER OR FLOOD (All Library Locations)
DO NOT ENTER AREA IF
THERE IS ANY DANGER OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK. POST A STAFF MEMBER TO KEEP
OTHERS FROM ENTERING.
Phone: Contact the
Main Office at 5-2344. After 5:00 p.m. and on weekends call Circulation
at 5-2333, who will notify administrative staff.
Report: (1) your
name, (2) location of water, (3) wing of library, (4)
floor number, (5) room number, (6) description of problem
Contact Cliff Haka,
Director of Libraries (2-1147 or 332-4845), Jim Hensley, Facilities (2-6123
Ext. 211 or 202-5361),
If
the area is safe and if the problem’s cause and solution is obvious and
can be solved by simple action, do so immediately. Otherwise, wait
for Cliff Haka or Jim Hensley.
COLLAPSED BOOK
SHELVES
Clear
area of staff and patrons.
If anyone has been
injured, follow procedures above, “Injuries or Illness”.
Notify your
supervisor or Circulation, who will notify the Director or a member of the
administrative staff and send a staff to assist in removing books.
Remove books from
collapsed shelves:
In case of a
collapsed stack, do not rush into action. Take time to plan and seek
advice. First rescue books that are lying in positions that place them in
stress. Work slowly enough to avoid further damage.
If the stack is only
partially collapsed, be very careful.
If the leaning stack
can be firmly braced with something readily at hand, do so. But
don’t waste time if the means to do this aren’t immediately at
hand. DO NOT brace against another stack.
First pick up any
fallen books that are in the way.
Place a narrow table
or chair along side the collapsing range on the side opposite the direction of
the sway. Work from on top of the table or chair, and pass books to a
human chain.
Lighten
the weight which is pushing the stack in the direction of its lean or sway by
removing books in this order:
--top shelves first
--shelves on the side of the sway first
--shelves opposite the direction of the lean first
Wedged books are
helping to keep the range from total collapse. Remove these last.
ALL OTHER
EMERGENCIES – DIAL 911.
Notify Circulation
If campus phones are
not working, use a pay phone to dial 911 and summon aid.
If the situation is
dangerous, Circulation will begin the contact chain to relay the information.
Circulation will
notify the Director or a member of the administrative staff.
Page editor: Birdie Beckwith, Ext. 143