Life Safety Procedures

The fire protection system includes sophisticated fire/smoke detection equipment. To ensure that our equipment is functioning properly, we test the fire alarms monthly. Fire alarm testing occurs the first Friday of each month during non-business hours. An announcement will be made over the fire alarm intercom system prior to testing.

GETTING PREPARED

Review your office for potential fire-hazards, e.g. items stored in front of exit doors, tripping hazards, burned out exit lights, power strips, etc. If a condition exists in your work area that you deem a fire hazard, contact your supervisor. If satisfactory precautions are not immediately taken to correct the hazard, call the ULI office. Know where fire extinguishers are located on your floor and know how to use them properly. Know how to evacuate your work area, i.e., Where are your exits? Where do exits lead you?

SOME HAZARDS COMMONLY FOUND ARE:

• Extension cords used as permanent wire substitutes
• Missing or inadequately charged fire extinguishers
• Blockage of fire lanes
• Exit lights burned out
• Excess trash accumulation
• Personal Space Heaters

EMPLOYEE FACT SHEET

In the event of an actual emergency, such as a fire, have a plan of action:

• Exit the building in an orderly fashion
• Call 911 after you’ve reached safety. State the address, floor, and nature of the emergency (fire, ambulance, etc.)
• Immediately call the ULI office to notify us of the emergency.

If a fire or emergency does occur in your area/presence, begin evacuation of personnel. Your office should designate a person to pull the building fire alarm. If possible, isolate the fire (i.e., close the door to area or room where the fire has started).

Call 911 to report the fire. Remember that it may be appropriate to call the fire department after you have evacuated the building. Also, do not assume that someone else has reported the fire.

Remove all occupants from offices and direct them to the appropriate exit - away from any smoke. Close all doors and evacuate immediately by your primary exit (or alternate exit if your primary exit is blocked by smoke and/or flames). Meet outside the building at your designated place. Someone from your office should be designated as responsible to account for all personnel. Notify emergency personnel of anyone unaccounted for and their possible location in the building.

CAUTION: DO NOT USE ELEVATORS IN THE CASE OF A FIRE.

If you are in the elevator when a fire breaks out and the elevator stops at a floor that is not in immediate danger, exit immediately and evacuate the building by the nearest fire exit. If the elevator stops at the fire floor, exit the elevator, staying as close to the floor as possible and evacuate the building by the nearest fire exit. Remember, smoke and heat rise - stay low.

Please take time to locate all of your potential exit routes before an emergency arises. If you encounter smoke during evacuation, proceed to one of the remaining exits.

If it is impossible to reach a stairwell because of smoke and/or flames or if you are trapped in an area, go to a room as far away from the fire as possible. Ideally, the room should have a window and access to a telephone. Seal off cracks around doors and vents with a towel, or other suitable material. Soak them if water is nearby. Go to the window and signal for help. Do not break the window.  If you have access to a telephone or cell phone, call the fire department (911) and notify them of your location, even if they are already on the scene.

ALARM

• Preservation of life is primary when a fire is discovered. Turning on the alarm is the first step.
• Sound the building alarm. Know where the alarm pull stations are located on your floor. Please take time to locate them before an emergency arises.
• Notify the fire department by calling 911. If no immediate danger exists, contact the fire department prior to evacuation. If you are in immediate danger, evacuate the building and then contact the fire department. Do not assume that some other tenant has contacted the fire department—there have been cases where precious time has been lost because the fire department was not notified for several minutes after the fire was discovered.
• If no immediate danger exists, call ULI and report the fire. Any fire in the building, regardless of size and duration, should be reported. Even though you have extinguished a small fire, it may be advisable to check with the fire department and have them conduct a search of the area for any sparks, smoldering areas, etc.

The building is equipped with fire extinguishers on each floor. Please take time to locate them before an emergency arises.

• Fire extinguishers should be used only for small fires.
• Do not attempt to use the fire extinguishers unless you have been instructed in their proper use. When in doubt let the fire department extinguish the fire.
• The fire department conducts training in the proper use of fire extinguishers. You may contact them for more information regarding time and place.

ALL CLEAR SIGNAL

In the event of a fire alarm, a representative of ULI will first determine the cause of the failure. When it has been determined that absolutely no danger exists, an announcement will be made over the fire alarm public address system that it is safe to return to the building. ULI staff members will walk around the exterior of Block 89 to inform evacuated employees that it is safe to re-enter.

PLEASE NOTE: WHENEVER A FIRE ALARM SOUNDS, YOU ARE TO LEAVE THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY!

SPECIAL HAZARDS

The building may serve a number of people who are disabled, hearing-impaired, etc. who may present evacuation challenges and will require special attention in the event of a fire.

Non-ambulatory clients and/or employees should be directed to the nearest stairwell exit. Advise them to remain on the stairwell landing until help arrives. People evacuating via the stairwells should make a note of anyone needing assistance and relay this information to ULI or emergency personnel on the grounds after evacuation.

If disabled occupants cannot reach a stairwell because of smoke and/or flames, they should be directed to a room as far away from the fire as possible and follow the recommendations as outlined above.

The name and location of any disabled personnel should be put in writing and given to ULI in advance. This information will be made available to the fire department to aid them in rescue efforts. Office staff should be aware of anyone needing special assistance and be prepared to assist in their evacuation.

BE AWARE

In the case of an emergency, stay calm and think. Remember, smoke is your worst enemy. Smoke, heat and gases can choke and kill you after a few breaths. If you are caught in smoke, get down and crawl. Also, hold your breath and close your eyes when you can.

Local weather service will issue advisories predicting areas of probable severe thunderstorm activity and the estimated duration of such activity via local radio and television stations.

TORNADOES

By definition, a tornado warning is an alert by the National Weather Service confirming a funnel cloud sighting and location. The weather service will announce the approximate time of detection and direction of movement. Wind will be 75 mph or greater. A public warning will come over the radio and TV or there will be five-minute steady blasts of sirens by the Dane County warning system.

ACTIONS TO TAKE:

• Get away from the perimeter of the building and exterior glass.
• Leave your exterior office and close the door.
• Go to the center corridor and protect yourself by putting your head as close to your lap as possible, or kneel protecting your head.
• Stairwells are safe. If crowded, move down to a lower level for shelter. Do not use the elevator!
• Do not go to the first floor lobby or outside the building.

IF YOU ARE TRAPPED IN AN EXTERIOR OFFICE:

• Seek protection under a desk.
• Keep your radio or television set turned to a local station for information.
• If possible, information and directions will be broadcast via the building public address system.
• Remain calm.

FIRST AND FOREMOST CALL 911 AND REPORT THE BOMB THREAT TO THE POLICE!

The purpose of a bomb threat procedure is to have an orderly, safe and rapid procedure of conducting searches, providing prompt and necessary communications, rendering assistance, and evacuating and returning personnel to work afterwards.

In the event of a bomb threat against the building, either through a telephone call or by other means, follow the procedures listed below.

If you receive a call by telephone, you should attempt to attract someone’s attention in the office discreetly and quietly while listening to the caller.

Try to keep the caller talking as long as possible. Ask the person to repeat parts of his message. Remain calm.

Write down the message and obtain as much relevant information as possible. Ask the bomb threat caller about the following items:

• The location of the bomb?
• Has the bomb been placed outside or inside the building?
• What does it look like? Is it incendiary or highly explosive?
• How did it get into the building (i.e., mail or hand-carried)?
• Where is the caller calling from?
• Identification of the caller.

Try to recall every statement made by the caller and find out as much as possible about the caller. For example:

• Sex
• Age
• Voice characteristics (educated, low or high-pitched, accent)
• Speech (fast, slow, nervous, slurred through alcohol or drugs)
• Manner (calm, angry, hysterical, humorous)
• Background noises (road traffic, music, giggling, aircraft)

After a bomb threat call has been received, immediately call 911 and then inform the ULI office of the full details of the call. As soon as circumstances permit, record details of the call.