Emergency Evacuation

Purpose

Bridgewater State University's (BSU) Emergency Evacuation Plan (EEP) has been designed as a policy to assist faculty, staff and students in the creation of a system for protection of life and property in the event of a fire, explosion, spill or other emergency requiring building evacuation. This plan applies to state buildings only there is a separate plan for residence halls maintained by Residence Life and Housing.

Designated Meeting Site(s) by Building

Building	Designated Meeting Area
180 Summer Street/ Davis Alumni Center	Parking Lot behind Building
Admissions/Gates House	Boyden Quadrangle
Art Building	Boyden Quadrangle
Burrill Office Complex	Parking Lot Away from Entrance
Boyden Hall	Boyden Quadrangle
Campus Center	Library Mall
East Campus Commons Dining Facility	Between East Campus Commons and East Hall
Hart Hall	Grass Area Adjacent to Hart Hall
Harrington Hall	Boyden Quadrangle
Hunt Hall	Boyden Parking Lot
Kelly Gym	Library Mall
Maxwell Library	Library Mall
Moakley Center	Grass Area Adjacent to Moakley
Science Building	Library Mall
Tinsley Center	Fields Adjacent to Tinsley Center
Tillinghast Hall	Boyden Quadrangle
Trades Area/Operations Center	Parking Lot Operations Building

Emergency Phone Number: Bridgewater State University Police 911

Potential emergencies at Bridgewater State University such as fire, explosion, spill, chemical releases, and all other emergencies require employees to evacuate the building. An Emergency Evacuation Plan and adequate occupant familiarity with a building minimize threats to life and property. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Emergency Action Plan standard found at 29 CFR 1910.38(a) requires that BSU have a written Emergency Evacuation Plan (EEP). This plan applies to all emergencies where employees may need to evacuate for personal safety.

This EEP is intended to communicate the policies and procedures for employees to follow in an emergency situation. The Emergency Coordinator should make this written plan available, upon request, to employees and their designated representatives for the building. The plan will be distributed by mail to all Departments on campus.

Under this plan, employees will be informed of:

• The plan's purpose
• Preferred means of reporting fires and other emergencies
• Emergency escape procedures and route assignments
• Procedures to account for all employees after emergency evacuation has been completed
• Rescue and medical duties for those employees who perform them
• The alarm system

General Guidelines

The following guidelines apply to this EEP:

• All personnel must be trained in safe evacuation procedures. Refresher training is required whenever the employee's responsibilities or designated actions under the plan change, and whenever the plan itself is changed. The EEP should be discussed annually with staff by all Department Supervisors.
• The training may include use of floor plans and workplace maps, which clearly show the emergency, escape routes included in the EEP. Floor plans and maps should be posted at all times in main areas (i.e., stairwells, lobbies, elevator lobbies, and exit corridors) in the buildings to provide guidance in an emergency.
• Stairwells are the primary means for evacuation. Elevators are to be used only when authorized by a fire or police officer.
• No individual is permitted to re-enter the building until advised by the Bridgewater Fire Department, BSU Emergency Coordinator, Public Health Official (dependant upon the incident) or Bridgewater State University Police

Responsibilities Of Emergency Coordinator

• Obtaining and posting floor plans and route evacuation maps
• Overseeing the development, communication, implementation, and maintenance of the overall EEP
• Ensuring the training of building occupants, personnel, and notifying all personnel of changes to the plan
• Maintaining up-to-date lists of building occupants, critical operations personnel, and any other personnel with assigned duties under this plan
• In the event of a fire or other emergency, relaying applicable information to emergency personnel, occupants, and Safety Monitors.
• Establishing Designated Meeting Sites for evacuees

In Case Of Fire

In case of a fire, employees should actuate the nearest fire alarm box as they are evacuating the premises and/or make a telephone call to the Bridgewater State University Police at 911. The alarm system alerts building occupants of the need for evacuation. It may be necessary to activate additional fire alarm boxes, if people are still in the building and the alarm has stopped sounding, or if the alarm does not sound. Call the Bridgewater State University Police at 911 or Bridgewater Fire Department at (508) 697-0900.

Persons discovering a fire, smoky condition, or explosion should pull the fire alarm box. Any pertinent fire or rescue information should be conveyed to the Bridgewater Fire Department or to the first Police Officer on the scene.

When the fire alarm sounds, all personnel should ensure that nearby personnel are aware of the emergency.  If possible, you should quickly shutdown operating equipment (e.g., compressed gas cylinders), close doors, and exit the building using stairwells.

All occupants should proceed to their designated meeting area. All personnel should know where primary and alternate exits are located and be familiar with the various evacuation routes available. Floor plans with escape routes, alternate escape routes, exit locations, and Designated Meeting Sites are located in are posted in the building. Building occupants must NOT use elevators as an escape route in the event of a fire.

Notes And Precautions

Small fires can be extinguished only if you are trained to use a fire extinguisher. However, an immediate readiness to evacuate is essential. All fires, even those that have been extinguished, must be reported to 911 IMMEDIATELY! Never enter a room that is smoke filled. Never enter a room if the door is warm to touch.

Fire

R - Rescue: When you discover a fire, rescue people in immediate danger if you can do so without endangering yourself. Exit via safe fire exit. Never use elevators. Close doors to room with fire.
A - Alarm: Sound the alarm by pulling a fire box and call 911 from a safe distance, to notify fire command center of precise location of fire.
C - Confine: Close all doors, windows, and other openings.
E - Evacuate: Evacuate the building!  If you cannot exit your room, the fire is immediately outside of your door, stay inside and wait for assistance by the Fire Department.

Disabled Occupants

If a disabled occupant is unable to exit the building unassisted, the faculty, staff, or student must notify the emergency response personnel of the person's location. Transporting of disabled individuals up or down stairwells should be avoided until emergency response personnel have arrived. Unless imminent life-threatening conditions exist in the immediate area occupied by a non-ambulatory or disabled person, relocation of the individual should be limited to a safe area on the same floor, in close proximity to an evacuation stairwell. Landings with hallway doors will close at all levels.

Designated Meeting Sites

Groups working together on or in the same area should meet outside the building in the prearranged Designated Meeting Site. The faculty, staff, and students are to be trained in the complete workplace layout and the various primary and alternate escape routes from the workplace. All trained personnel are made aware of faculty, staff, or students with disabilities that may need extra assistance and of hazardous areas to be avoided during emergencies.

Once each evacuated group of faculty, staff, and students have reached their Designated Meeting Site, the faculty and/or supervisor should:

• Assemble his/her group in the Designated Meeting Site
• Take head count of his/her group

The Emergency Coordinator or the University Police will then coordinate information from the faculty and staff to the Bridgewater Fire Department; their roles will be as follows:

• Immediately report any known or suspected individuals in building needing emergency evacuation
• Assume role of department contact to answer questions
• Instruct personnel to remain in area until further notice
• Report status to Emergency Coordinator or Incident Commander
• Instruct personnel to remain at Designated Meeting Site until further notice

The Fire Department/Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's) will conduct all rescue and medical duties. Do not move injured personnel. Keep the person lying down, covered, and warm.

Human Resources, the Emergency Coordinator, and/or the University Police would provide emergency response personnel with a list of department personnel, which may be needed and to provide additional information about the fire, a chemical, a hazardous waste location, a shipment of chemicals, etc.

Training

Each occupant should know that evacuation is necessary and what his/her role is in carrying out the plan. Faculty, staff, and students should also know what is expected of them during an emergency to assure their safety. Training on the EEP's content is also required by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38(a). A method of training building occupants in the requirements of the emergency evacuation plan is to give all employees a thorough briefing and demonstration. The Department's Supervisor will have all their faculty, managers and supervisors, and staff aware of the EEP on an annual basis. Faculty and staff should be given copies of the EEP with their initial hire information.