Section: 405 Page: 1 of 7 Title: Facilities and Employees Authorized By: County Administrator 405.1 Policy Facilities and Employees It is the policy of to take every possible action to comply with all emergency regulations and protect employees in emergency situations. 405.2 Emergency Plan Coordinator The Chair of the Safety Team and/or the Emergency Management Coordinator is responsible for making sure this emergency action plan is kept up to date, practices, and reviewed periodically. Chair of the Safety Team - Carol Steele 693-1261 Emergency Management Coordinator Brett Major 693-2116 405.3 Reporting Procedures Numerous types of emergencies can happen while at work including fire, explosion, weather related incident, bomb threat, chemical spill/leak, act of violence, medical, etc. If an emergency occurs, contact the Gloucester Sheriff s Department by dialing 8-911 from a county phone or 911 from a personal phone. Fire alarms that are tied to a reporting system are located in some buildings and can be used to alert people in the building. A call should still be made to the Gloucester Sheriff s Department if an alarm is pulled. In the event of a bomb threat or other threatening call, the employee should remain calm, keep talking, and not hang up. He/she should signal a coworker to listen in if possible. The employee should ask the caller to repeat the message and write it down (repeat questions, if necessary). For a bomb threat, the employee should ask for the location of the bomb and detonation time. To help with reporting information on a bomb threat or threatening call, the employee should listen for background noises and write down a description, note the caller s gender, voice pitch and accent. If possible, the employee should try to get the person s name, exact location and telephone number. During the call, the employee should signal a coworker to call the Gloucester Sheriff s Office. If alone, the employee should call 8-911 as soon as hanging up. After the Sheriff s Department has been contacted, the employee is to contact his/her supervisor and/or County Administration.
Section: 405 Page: 2 of 7 Title: Facilities and Employees Authorized By: County Administrator 405.4 Evacuation Procedures A. Emergency Escape Procedures and Routes Emergency escape routes are posted on maps located next to the fire extinguishers that are located in hallways throughout county buildings. Primary and secondary exit or escape routes are identified on the maps. Employees are to familiarize themselves with escape routes and rendezvous points for gathering after an evacuation. Employees should be aware of their circumstance and plan exit routes or have in mind how they could protect themselves if an emergency occurs. Employee Rendezvous Points (Note: Rendezvous locations may need to be pushed further away from buildings if the area is unsafe) Beaverdam Park Ranger Station parking lot Birkhoffer Building side lawn Building One parking lots (employees who exit to the front lawn should walk around the building to the parking lot) Building Two parking lots (employees who exit to the front lawn should walk around the building to the parking lot) Buildings and Grounds Shop parking lot County Garage side lawn County and Point Library parking lot Court Circle Buildings lawn or lawn of Building One Dispatch/Emergency Management upper parking lot DIT Building front parking lot Jail parking lot Museum front lawn New Courthouse front parking lot Social Services parking lot Utilities and Parks Field Operations parking lot or field safe from harm s way Utilities Building side lawn VA Cooperative Extension parking lot Water Treatment Plant parking lot B. Shelter in Place (Areas of Refuge) Natural and manmade emergencies may require employees to shelter within County facilities. In the event of a tornado warning or other severe weather incident, employees should move to the basement or interior room or hallway away from windows and doors.
Section: 405 Page: 3 of 7 Title: Facilities and Employees Authorized By: County Administrator If an earthquake occurs, employees should not exit the building, but instead move under a desk or strong table. In the event of an active shooter or person(s) threatening bodily harm, employees should try to flee the area. If the employee is unable to exit, he/she should hide in a closet, room that locks or another secure area of the building. If possible the door should be barricaded by moving furniture in front of the door or restricting access by tying a belt, phone cord, straps or other device to the door s hardware. Areas of Refuge in the Event of a Tornado Beaverdam Park Ranger Station bathroom (if time allows, move to public restroom building) Birkhoffer Building hallway (if time allows, move to Building Two) Building One basement Building Two first floor, back hallway and backroom of Treasurer s Office Buildings and Grounds Shop sign shop County Garage bathroom County and Point Library public bathrooms Court Circle Buildings Visitor s Center storage room and/or bathroom Dispatch/Emergency Management Call Center in basement DIT Building basement Jail interior room Museum Director s closet and/or bathroom (if time allows, move to basement) New Courthouse - basement Social Services Administration hallway Utilities and Parks Field Operations shelter in nearby building or lay in ditch Utilities Building basement VA Cooperative Extension basement in Utilities Building Water Treatment Plant downstairs bathroom C. Procedure for Employees Who Remain to Shut Down Critical Operations Before Evacuating The following lists the employees and their duties who need to secure critical operation tasks before evacuation: Name Title Work Area Special Assignment John Dempsey Facilities Maintenance Buildings and In the event of a fire in or Supervisor Grounds Shop around the B&G Shop, cut off Emergency Shut-off Valve at fuel station
Section: 405 Page: 4 of 7 Title: Facilities and Employees Authorized By: County Administrator All Water Treatment Plant Operators Water Treatment Plant Shut finish water pumps off The preceding individuals have received special instructions and training by their immediate supervisors to ensure their safety in carrying out the designated assignments. A training record describing the instructions provided and the detailed procedures to be followed is maintained by the supervisor for each employee. D. Employee Accountability Procedures after Evacuations When an evacuation signal is given, each Building Safety Officer will direct people to the proper exit locations. Officers will check bathrooms and ensure all personnel and members of the public are evacuated. Officers will provide assistance and/or recruit employees to help people who require assistance exiting such as employees or members of the public who cannot walk down stairs. Once evacuated, all employees will proceed to the designated rendezvous points for a head count by the safety officer. Safety officers will report names and office locations for any missing persons to the Sheriff s Department. No one is to re-enter the building for any reason until the Fire Department or other responsible agency has notified us the building is safe for re-entry. E. Alarm System Some of the County buildings have a built-in alarm or notification system. Employees should heed building alarms, bull-horns used by the Safety Officer, and electronic notifications sent to County phones, computers and/or personal cell phones and evacuate or take shelter as directed to do so. F. Safety Officers The following personnel have been trained to assist in the safe and orderly emergency evacuation of other employees. Building Beaverdam Park Birkhoffer Building Building One - 1 st Floor Building One - 2 nd Floor Building Two - 1 st Floor Building Two - 2 nd Floor Name Randy Drake Ginger Riffe Sharon Roy Trish Cronin Tara Thomas Linda Walthall
Section: 405 Page: 5 of 7 Title: Facilities and Employees Authorized By: County Administrator 405.5 Fire Extinguishers Building Two - 3 rd Floor Chris Myers Buildings and Grounds Shop John Dempsey County Garage Steve Baranski Dispatch/Emergency Management and Jail Liz Simmons DIT Building Di Cookson Main Library Marge Jones Museum Betty Jean Deal New Courthouse Sheriff s Deputy Parks Field Operations Kathy Mixon Point Library Dolores Breen Social Services Bonnie Longworth Utilities Building Courtney England Utilities Field Operations Kenneth Akes Virginia Cooperative Extension Jackie Jeffries Visitor s Center Amy Steele Water Treatment Plant David Nunn Employees are not expected to use fire extinguishers to respond to a fire. Fire extinguishers are placed throughout buildings for use by professional fire fighters and employees and members of the public who know how to use one. Occasional training programs are held to familiarize employees with how to use extinguishers in the event that they elect to use one in an emergency. 405.6 Rescue and Medical Duties The office complex is located near a fire and rescue station and the County relies on trained professionals from the station to provide rescue and medical services. The proximity of the fire and rescue station, along with the adjacent Sheriff s Department means that someone trained in first aid should be able to respond within a few minutes. County park staff are required to have first aid and CPR training and can provide assistance at remote park settings. Courses in first aid and CPR are offered periodically and employees are encouraged to attend. Employees are not expected to perform CPR.
Section: 405 Page: 6 of 7 Title: Facilities and Employees Authorized By: County Administrator 405.7 Emergency Response Employee Training Training is provided to employees: When the plan is initiated When employee s required actions and responsibilities change When there are any changes to the plan Initially for new employees Refresher training annually Items reviewed during training: Emergency escape procedures Escape route assignments Fire extinguisher locations and training Procedures to account for employees Major workplace fire hazards Fire prevention practices Means of reporting fire and other emergencies Alarm system/s Proper housekeeping Emergency action plan availability Hazardous Weather Procedures Medical Emergencies Procedures for bomb threat and workplace violence Emergency drills for fire, earthquake and tornado are conducted seasonally with at least three drills occurring annually. Everyone is expected to participate to ensure they know exactly what to do should an emergency arise. 405.8 Contact Information For more information about this plan, contact: Chair of the Safety Team - Carol Steele 693-1261 Emergency Management Coordinator Brett Major 693-2116 405.9 Availability of Policy Each employee is provided a copy of the plan at its initiation and to new employees as part of their orientation training. Notification of plan revisions are provided to all employees. A copy of the Policy shall be
Section: 405 Page: 7 of 7 Title: Facilities and Employees Authorized By: County Administrator available for review in the County Administration Department during normal business hours. A copy shall also be posted on the County s intranet website.