Non-Fire Emergency Responses
In the event of an emergency or disruption to the Building's normal operation the first reaction should be to REMAIN CALM and call the Security/Property Management Office to report the emergency. This will set in motion an immediate dispatch of qualified assistance for fire and medical, and other agencies as dictated by the emergency.
Catastrophic events can occur without warning, and they may not necessarily involve a fire. For clarity purposes, these events will be classified as “non-fire” emergencies and will include such events as: explosions, biological, chemical or hazardous material incidents or releases, natural disasters. Should this happen, a complete evacuation to street level may be necessary or you may be directed to remain at your work station and shelter-in-place. The Fire Safety/EAP Director will give instructions over the Public Address system as to what part of the EAP Plan will be implemented.
Additionally, Brookfield has documented and implemented a building emergency action plan which includes various emergency scenarios Policy and Procedures and protocol for the Building Emergency Action team (BEAT) to follow during emergencies and incidents such as:
Sheltering-in-place
Although you may want to get as far away as possible from an emergency situation, evacuation is not always the safest option. One of the instructions you may be given in an emergency where hazardous materials may have been released into the atmosphere is to shelter-in-place. This is a precaution aimed to keep you safe while remaining indoors. Shelter-in place means to make a shelter out of the place you are in. It is a way for you to make the building as safe as possible to protect yourself until an emergency passes and you receive an all-clear signal. Although sheltering-in-place can apply to many types of emergencies, i.e., blackouts natural disaster, civil disturbance, it is particularly important during hazardous material incidents. Local officials, especially the Fire Department, are best qualified to recommend protective actions against hazardous materials exposure, and sheltering in-place is most often your safest option.
In Building Relocation
This is the controlled movement of building occupants from an endangered area to an area of safety within the same building in response to an emergency that affords a different level of protection than sheltering in place. These areas are pre-determined and identified in the EAP plan and are usually more remote. This area or space tends to be more isolated, away from exterior walls and any open floor space. This also may involve relocating to another floor or interior stairway.
Partial Evacuation
In some instances, a full building evacuation may not be necessary or feasible. Evacuating only some of the building occupants may be all that is required to provide a level of protection from an exposure. This movement of occupants utilizing the stairs, and possibly some elevators, will be coordinated from the Fire Command Station with instructions from the EAP Director being transmitted over the PA System. Upon exiting the building, occupants will be instructed to report to their assigned assembly area, this area will also act as a point of contact for employee accountability and information sharing.
Full Evacuation
The timing of the evacuation order should relate to the immediacy of the threat. Some emergencies pose a threat so immediate that evacuation must be ordered as soon as the situation is detected. Other situations will warrant monitoring and a heightened level of attention, so that if evacuation becomes necessary, it can be expedited.
Should this become necessary, employees will proceed out of the building to an exterior assembly area.
- Once instructions have been received to evacuate the building, follow directions from the Fire Safety/EAP Director, Floor Wardens and/or Fire Department personnel.
- Exercise caution when going down stairs, hold handrails, and do not run, or push others. High heel shoes should be removed and carried.
