Emergency Procedures - Evening And Weekend Guidance

1 INTRODUCTION

The following procedures are designed to provide guidance in the event of an emergency on campus during the hours of 1700 hrs to 2130 hrs on weekdays, at weekends and at any other holiday period when the campus is open but is not designated as a normal working day.

2 RESPONSIBLE PERSON

In an emergency, the senior security officer on site will assume responsibility until an appropriate member of the emergency list is contacted and able to take control until the emergency services arrive on site.

3 ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF FIRE

Anyone discovering a fire should set off the alarm at the nearest available fire alarm point (eg break glass call point). The person should call the emergency number x2222 (or 0141-331 3000 if using a landline or mobile) and give details of the location of the fire - building, floor and room numbers. When you hear the alarm, you must leave the building immediately.

4 BUILDING EVACUATION

4.1 Staff and students working alone should make their way immediately to the nearest fire exit, following the normal evacuation procedures.

4.2 Staff in charge of classes are responsible for the safety and well-being of the students and should be aware of the fire exit route and the assembly point, should evacuation be necessary. If the alarm sounds, the member of staff should ensure that the students evacuate the area promptly and should re-assemble with them at the designated assembly point.

4.3 Activities led by non-GCU staff (eg, commercial lets, School-lets, guest lectures, etc)

4.3.1 Commercial Lets - Risk assessments are undertaken by the Conference and Events Officer prior to the let being agreed. The University's emergency procedures are communicated at the time of agreeing the let and the hirer agrees to abide by these. At the start of any such let, the hirer must ensure that a safety briefing is given to persons attending and this must include the location of the nearest fire route and the designated assembly point. Hirers should take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safe evacuation of all persons attending and should rendezvous with the group at the assembly point.

4.3.2 School/department-arranged use of facilities - The School or Department concerned is responsible for ensuring that there is a designated person at the event responsible for the safety and well-being of the persons attending and that they are advised of the evacuation procedures, nearest fire exit, and designated assembly point. The designated person should take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safe evacuation of all persons attending and should rendezvous with the group at the assembly point.

Note: A copy of the evacuation procedures and assembly points is appended to this note.

5 NON-AMBULANT PERSONS

5.1 Staff working alone - Line managers must ensure that there are adequate arrangements in place which permit the non-ambulant person to reach a place of safety (as per the normal evacuation procedures) and to alert the security staff to their whereabouts. Under no circumstances can a non-ambulant person who cannot reach their designated place of safety unaided work as a lone worker. Staff who are capable of reaching a place of safety but unable to evacuate the building unaided may work as a lone worker if and only if they register their entry and exit from the building with the building receptionist or security.

5.2 Staff in charge of classes/events and external lets - The member of staff or, in the case of external lets, the designated lead person must familiarise themselves with the procedures for evacuation and the nearest place of safety and must ensure that non-ambulant persons in their class/event are made aware of these. In addition, on evacuating the building, they must inform security immediately of the location of any non-ambulant persons.

6 BOMB THREATS

In the event of receiving a bomb threat, the normal University procedures apply. If such a threat is by telephone, the key action points are as follows:

• Write down carefully exactly what the caller says
• If not already provided by the caller, ask for details of where the bomb is planted and time for going off
• Ask where they are calling from
• Note carefully any code words given by the caller
• Note down any distinguishing features of the voice, eg male/female, accent, youth/adult.

Once the call has ended, dial 2222 immediately.

Note the above also applies to other malicious threats. Bomb threat and other such phone call guidance was issued to staff in 2002, should you wish to refer.

7 OTHER EMERGENCIES

For all other emergencies, including first aid assistance, dial 2222 immediately.

AR/EPMG/emergency

APPENDIX

GENERAL ACTION IN THE EVENT OF FIRE

Any member of staff or student discovering a fire should set off the alarm at the nearest available fire alarm point.

Any member of staff or student having first set off the alarm should immediately call the telephone operator (ext 2222) giving details of the location of the fire. Such information to include, where possible, floor and room numbers.

When the alarm sounds, staff and students should evacuate the building along the nearest fire escape route as quickly as possible. LIFTS MUST NOT BE USED. Since each building has a separate fire alarm, only the building in which the alarm is sounding will be evacuated. Evacuation of other buildings will be authorised, if necessary, by the responsible person on site (usually the senior security officer during weekday evenings and weekends).

As a rule all fire fighting should be left to the professionals i.e. the Fire Service. An attempt to fight a fire with the fire fighting equipment available would only be relevant for authorised trained staff, where the fire was of a very small nature or impinging on an exit route. The first priority is to raise the alarm and evacuate.

All occupants should proceed to the designated Fire Assembly Point. Assembly points are indicated on Fire Action Notices throughout the building. It is important the staff and students do not remain near the entrances of the buildings which have been evacuated; this can restrict the evacuation and hinder access for Fire Brigade personnel.

At all times during the emergency, staff and students should comply with all instructions given to them by the responsible person acting in the role of Fire Convener.

Do not re-enter the building until advised to do so by the responsible person acting in the role of Fire Convener.

NB: THE STOPPING OF THE ALARM DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE FIRE IS OUT OR THAT THE BUILDING IS FREE OF HAZARDS.

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Last Updated: 16 September, 2008
Edited by: Learning Services Web Team