fire safety – basic concepts for office, facility, and laboratory employees tulane university...

Fire Safety – Basic Concepts

For Office, Facility, and Laboratory Employees

Tulane University

October 2009

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS)

Objectives

• To identify emergency and non-emergency telephone numbers for campus resources

• To discuss fire prevention and preparation concepts

• To review fire response, evacuation, use and types of fire extinguishers


Campus Resources

• Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) – UPTOWN: 865-5307 – TUHSC: 988-5486– TNPRC: (985) 871-6653

• For emergencies, OEHS is contacted by TU Police.


Campus Resources

• Contact Police (TUPD, TUHSC, TNPRC) – Uptown Campus & University Square - Emergency: 865-

5200 or 5200 (on campus)Non-Emergency: 865-5381

– TUHSC – Emergency: 988-5555 or 55555 (on campus)Non-Emergency: 988-5531

– TNPRC – Emergency: (985) 871-6411 or 6411 (on campus)Non-Emergency: (985) 871-6411

– All others: dial 911


Campus Resources • For maintenance issues – notify Facilities

Services– Uptown Campus – Emergency: 865-5445

Non-emergency – submit via http://servicewave.tulane.edu; include name, room location, specific issue

– Downtown Campus - 988-5424– TNPRC – (985) 871-6414– Other locations – check with supervisor


http://servicewave.tulane.edu/


• Fire Safety Guidelines – Do not use unapproved appliances.

– Lit candles, incense, etc. are prohibited.

– Refrain from tampering with, attaching items to or blocking fire equipment, e.g. fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, sprinklers, fire alarm equipment (strobes, horns/speakers, pull stations, panels)

– EVACUATE the building when the fire alarm sounds

– When preparing food, do not leave heated appliances unattended.

Before It’s A Fire(Fire Prevention)


• Report/address unsafe conditions– Exit signs – not illuminated, missing or damaged

– Hallway or room doors – poor repair, not latching or self-closing properly, use of wedges

– Stairwells – fire doors blocked or held open, not self-closing or properly latching, storage

– Corridors – trip hazards, obstructions, storage

– Fire safety equipment – blocked

– Fire extinguishers – missing, discharged, on the floor

Before It’s A Fire(Fire Prevention)

Before It’s A Fire(Preparation)

• Know the location of the exits• Review the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for

your building or area• Know your designated outside assembly area• Know how the fire alarm system works from

review of the EAP - how to activate the fire alarm, how it sounds, location of the pull stations, strobes, and horns/speakers



Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) contain information on – reporting emergencies

– alarm systems

– evacuation procedures

– outside assembly areas and accounting of staff

– training



• DSRs and/or supervisors must be aware of Special Needs Persons in their work areas– With physical, medical, sensory or cognitive

disabilities that are permanent or temporary– Can they evacuate on their own?– If assistance is needed for evacuation, then

follow procedures in the EAP.– Learn to use/locate fire extinguishers



Fire ResponseIf you discover a fire, follow the acronym

ESCAPE. • Evaluate the situation. • Secure the Area - Remove occupants from the

immediate area to a safe location. • Close the room doors to contain the fire or smoke.• Activate the fire alarm using a pull station or calmly

and effectively indicate that there is a fire.• Phone police:

– Uptown - 865-5200 (ext 5200), TUHSC - 988-5555 (ext 55555), TNPRC – (985) 871-6411 (ext 6411), Other locations – dial 911

• Extinguish the fire – using a portable fire extinguisher, as appropriate.

Portable Fire Extinguishers

• – To use them, remember PASS– Pull the pin– Aim the nozzle at the base

of the fire– Squeeze the handle, and– Sweep the fire from side to

side


Fire extinguisher classifications correspond to the classes of fire that can be extinguished by that extinguisher. A - ordinary combustibles B - flammable liquids C - energized electrical equipment D - combustible metals K - cooking oils & fats


Fire Response• When you hear the fire alarm

– Departmental Safety Representatives (DSRs) and/or Supervisors

• Immediately go through the area and tell everyone to evacuate. Ask everyone to close and lock the doors and take personal belongings, if possible.

• Assist Special Needs Persons in your area as needed• Everyone must evacuate using the nearest exit or

stairwell – do not use elevators• Account for everyone especially those who do not

evacuate your work area


Fire Response

• When you hear the fire alarm (continued)– DSRs and/or Supervisors

• Go to the assembly area designated by the EAP – you may have to report to another location if it is inclement weather

• Report to Police– Evacuation status – has everyone evacuated, give the

location of those who did not evacuate

– Special Needs Persons – their location and situation

– Do not re-enter until the “All Clear” is issued by Police


Fire Response

• When you hear the fire alarm - Occupants– Evacuate immediately. Close and lock doors

and take personal belongings, if possible– Use the nearest exit or stairwell– Go to the designated assembly area and report

to your DSR or supervisor– Do not re-enter the building until the “All

Clear” is issued by Police


Fire Response

• For further information on building or work area evacuation, see the appropriate Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for your area.

• They can be found at the following website:

http://www.som.tulane.edu/oehs/eaps.htm


http://www.som.tulane.edu/oehs/eaps.htm

Tulane UniversityOffice of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS)

www.som.tulane.edu/oehsLouis Mayer, OEHS, 988-2447, [email protected]

TUHSC: Susan Welch, OEHS, 988-3996, [email protected] Uptown: Karen Douglas, OEHS, 865-5307, [email protected]

TNPRC: Kellie Mayer, OEHS, (985) 871-6653, [email protected]

Proceed to QuizIf unable to proceed to quiz, type the link below into your browserhttps://pandora.tcs.tulane.edu/ehs/enterssn.cfm?testnum=3

http://www.som.tulane.edu/oehs

mailto:[email protected]




https://pandora.tcs.tulane.edu/ehs/enterssn.cfm?testnum=3

fire safety – basic concepts for office, facility, and laboratory employees tulane university...

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