The Emergency Procedures section is designed to assist you before, during and after an emergency. Familiarize yourself with your work place environment, the people who work there, the building's and your company's emergency preparations and procedures. Take precautions necessary to provide for the services mentioned in this book and test them before you need them. Every situation is different which means your response will have to differ.

This section is not a substitute for common sense. If you have a question, suggestion, or concern contact your floor warden, Supervisor or the Building Management Office. Discuss the contents of this manual with your co-workers. Rehearse and walk through the procedures.

Every reasonable effort has been undertaken to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this section. However, every emergency is different. In an emergency, use good common sense. Always use your initiative, intuition and good judgment to assure your own personal safety.

It is very important that each tenant have an established set of internal procedures in addition to the information provided herein. These should include:

• Contact procedures for after hours incidents.
  
• Emergency supplies.
• List of CPR/First Aid certified personnel.
• Internal bomb threat notification list and procedure

Material presented in this section is intended to be simple and instructional. Please read it and know it. It does not cover every set of circumstances that may develop, only ones that are likely to occur. It is the duty of every employee to know what action to take before, during and after an emergency.

Emergency Floor Warden System

The following job positions and responsibilities are critical for an effective Emergency Response Team (ERT).

Floor Wardens

Floor Wardens and Assistants link the effort to the employees. Employees of tenants on every floor are designated as Wardens and are responsible for a specific area. They recruit fellow employees who are given special assignments in emergency management. Assistant floor wardens relieve floor wardens in their absence and assist at all other times. Other emergency roles include searching the floor, appointing persons to regulate the use of stairways and elevators in times of emergency, and assisting the disabled during relocation. Each floor must have an emergency team charged with the following responsibilities:

1. Know the physical layout of the floor and adjacent floors.
2. Know the location of the nearest stair exit, alternate stair exit and the direct route to each.
3. Know the location, condition, and usage of the Fire Extinguishers.
4. Know the names and work locations of persons with physical disabilities. Assign an employee to the disabled person to assist them during an emergency. Provide a list of all disabled persons to the Fire Life Safety Director and update monthly.
5. Know emergency telephone numbers and procedures.
6. Know how to assume control, maintain calm and prevent panic.
7. Instruct co-workers in their emergency roles.
8. Know how to notify Fire Life Safety Director of:
   
   • The location of disabled persons.
   • Adverse conditions on the floor.
9. Prepare a fire emergency relocation plan for their- assigned space. Post the list of emergency team members and relocation plan in an obvious location.
10. Know that the location of the nearest building red emergency telephones in the stairwells and how to use them.

Assistant Floor Wardens

1. Assume the responsibilities and duties of the Floor Warden in his/her absence.
2. Provide assistance to the Floor Warden in performing the required duties.

The floor wardens or assistant floor wardens will ask fellow employees for assistance in assuming the following roles in an emergency. These team members should be identified on the floor by signs or team list postings. Members must wear the provided orange vests or arm bands. Team members will meet quickly at the elevator lobby to assemble and then perform the following four duties. Wait no more than 30 seconds. If there are not sufficient team members, recruit volunteers.

Search Monitors

At the direction of the Floor Warden begin a search of the area. Always work in pairs and search all work areas, coffee rooms, supply rooms, and rest rooms to confirm that everyone heard the Fire Alarm and is beginning to relocate. Be absolutely certain that no one is left on the floor. Close all doors as you proceed. If a person refuses to leave, make a note of name and location and advise fire department using stairwell phones. Advise the Floor Warden when the floor is vacant.

Elevator Monitors

At the direction of the Floor Warden, assume a position outside the elevator lobby to direct people away from the elevators and to the exit stairs.

Stairwell Monitors

At the direction of the Floor Warden, assume a position at the stairwell door instructing employees to walk single file down the stairs and go down four floors and re-enter the building. If on the fifth floor or lower, persons will exit the building. Do not hold the stairwell doors open. Keeping them closed will prevent smoke from entering the stairwell.

Disabled Person Assistants

At the direction of the Floor Warden, assist disabled persons. Disabled persons unable to negotiate the stairs are to enter the stairwell with their assistant once it is safe to do so and stay there for relocation by the SFFD. One assistant is to be assigned to each disabled person and remain with them in the stairwell. A second person is to notify a firefighter or Life Safety Director as to the location of the disabled person. This can be done by using the stairwell phones or notifying them directly if leaving the building.