EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN TRAINING: EAP WARDEN & DEPUTY WARDEN REFRESHER TRAINING Presented by REMS Training, Inc. First Class Services for First Class Office Properties Jerry Strollo, CPP, Capt., NYPD (ret.) www.emergencyactionplans.com www.firesafetydirector.com www.eapdirector.com
Why are we here? The Law requires it We want to be safer; to improve our knowledge and capabilities; to make us better qualified to do our job To become more familiar with EAP procedures and terminology To raise your level of awareness and to improve your ability to recognize emergencies and take appropriate action/know how to respond Change the pre-existing mindset to evacuate in every emergency situation
Your EAP Plan The EAP Plan for your building has been distributed to each office. Who has read their plan? Have you participated in EAP Drills or Training? FYI - The EAP has already been used by some buildings in the City with good results Training has paid off!
EAP is used for Non-Fire Emergencies Explosions Nuclear/Radiological Incidents Biological Incidents Chemical Incidents (How to recognize?) Natural Disasters Earthquake, Hurricane, Flooding, Tornado Gas Leaks, Power Outages (Localized to Bldg. or a Regional Event), Civil Disturbances, EDP, etc. The actual emergency or the threat of an emergency may occur inside or outside of the building. NOTE: Events can be Intentional or Accidental
Earthquakes What to Do Before an Earthquake Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently and without warning. Identifying potential hazards ahead of time and advance planning can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss of life from an earthquake. YOU must be prepared to take IMMEDIATE action!! (INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY)
Plan Ahead Earthquakes Check for Hazards in your immediate work area Identify Safe Places Indoors and Outdoors Indoors - Under sturdy furniture such as a heavy desk or table Against an inside wall (EAP In-Building Relocation Areas ) Away from where glass could shatter around windows, mirrors, pictures, or where heavy bookcases, file cabinets or other heavy furniture could fall over Outdoors In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, overpasses, or elevated expressways
Earthquake Safety at Work Unlike hurricanes and some other natural hazards, earthquakes strike suddenly and without warning. Nevertheless, if the business that you work for is located in a region at risk for earthquakes, there are many things that can be done to reduce the chances that those who work in or visit the premises will be injured, that property there will be damaged, or that your day-to-day operations will be unduly disrupted by an earthquake. These activities all fall under the concept of preparedness, because to be effective, they must be done before earthquakes occur.
Earthquake Safety at Work Preparing for earthquakes involves : (1) learning what employers and employees should do before, during, and after earthquakes; and (2) doing or preparing to do those things now, before the next quake. Workplace preparedness requires the participation of owners, managers, and workers, as well as those who design, build, regulate, and maintain buildings used as workplaces.
Earthquake Safety at Work React Safely Every employee, from top managers to part-time and temporary workers, needs to learn What to Do During an Earthquake. Safety orientations should emphasize safe places to "drop, cover, and hold on" during earthquake shaking and safe locations where people can rendezvous when the shaking has stopped and it is safe and advisable to evacuate your structure.
Earthquake Safety at Work Hold periodic, mandatory earthquake drills (EAP Training) to give employees opportunities to practice what they have learned and condition themselves to react spontaneously and safely when the first jolt or shaking is felt. Earthquakes should be thoroughly integrated into the organization s emergency preparedness, response, and recovery planning. 10
Earthquake Safety at Work After the Next Earthquake Once the shaking stops, workplaces should be prepared to implement prearranged, earthquake-specific emergency response and recovery plans. Employees must keep in mind that aftershocks may strike at any time, exacerbating hazards created by earlier shaking and requiring that everyone again drop, cover, and hold on.
Earthquake Safety at Work Regardless of the severity of this earthquake, learn from the experience. If there are things that your organization could have done better in preparing for this quake, do them better now in preparation for the next earthquake. If structures must be repaired or rebuilt, for example, use this opportunity to ensure that weaknesses are addressed and that new facilities are compliant with seismic building standards. If building contents were damaged, improve how such items are secured. If employees were insufficiently prepared to react safely, increase safety training and the frequency of drills. (NOTE: The importance placed on training PARTICIPATE!!)
Earthquake Safety at Work What to Do During an Earthquake Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and if you are indoors, stay there until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe.
Earthquake Safety at Work If indoors - DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
Earthquake Safety at Work Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, load bearing doorway. Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave. Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on. DO NOT use the elevators. 15
Earthquake Safety at Work If outdoors Stay there. Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires. Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits and alongside exterior walls. (Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls.) Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.
Earthquake Safety at Work If trapped under debris Do not light a match (Gas leak, flammable vapors) Do not move about or kick up dust. Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust. Carry a small flashlight
Who coordinates and implements the Emergency Action Plan? The Fire Safety/Emergency Action Plan Director Coordinates and Implements the Plan from the Fire Command Station, - Or - If that location is compromised, then, from the Pre- Designated Alternate Site
When a Non-Fire Emergency Occurs FS/EAP Director will determine which procedure outlined in the EAP would be most appropriate to implement in response to the emergency situation that has occurred. Wardens and Deputy Wardens do not freelance await instructions from the Director and direct occupants of their floor accordingly (Immediate Events use your knowledge and training) FS/EAP Director will immediately notify 911 of the emergency, and which provision of the EAP has been or will be implemented
Review of Evacuation Concepts Shelter In Place - The Precaution of directing building occupants to remain inside the building, at their work locations, in response to a non-fire emergency 20
CONTAMINATION TYPE EVENTS If the event involves contamination (inside or outside building) take personal precautions. Wardens and Deputy Wardens are to remind occupants of actions to take. Contamination can enter the body in four ways: Inhalation Cover Nose and Mouth with cloth, scarf, mask Ingestion Don t eat or drink anything that has been exposed to potentially contaminated atmosphere Absorption Cover exposed skin jacket, sweater, etc. Injection REDUCE YOUR RISK OF CONTAMINATION INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF SURVIVAL! Methods of Protection: Time, Distance and Shielding
Regarding Hazardous Material Type Events Decontamination procedures will most likely need to be implemented and would be conducted on site Occupants suspected of being contaminated may need to be isolated Medical Treatment may also be needed by those affected; it will be available on site
Regarding Hazardous Material Type Events Wardens and Deputy Wardens should do their best to identify and record the names of occupants of their floors who may have been affected by the incident (exposed to the substance). Report this information to the FS/EAP Director immediately Victims may panic and leave the scene we need to know if they were affected, so that they will receive necessary treatment. Do your best to discourage self-evacuation
Review of Evacuation Concepts In-Building Relocation - The controlled movement of building occupants from an endangered area of a building to a predetermined (FDNY approved), In- Building Relocation Area a more secure location
Review of Evacuation Concepts Partial Evacuation - The controlled emptying of a building of some, but not all, building occupants in response to an emergency o Evacuate a section/portion of the building or floor, or a number of floors o Begin with occupants most at risk of harm o May expand the evacuation as needed o Critical to follow any Floor specific instructions Evacuation - Emptying of a building of all building occupants in response to an emergency 25
When an Evacuation is ordered Occupants will be directed to the pre-established ASSEMBLY AREA, outside of the Building Where are the Assembly Areas for your building or office? Remember - Occupants DO NOT need permission from a Supervisor or Employer to Evacuate once the order is given by the FS/EAP Director don t waste valuable time to ask for it Don t waste valuable time finishing last minute tasks before evacuating it may be very limited
ASSEMBLY AREAS When an Evacuation has been ordered Go to the Assembly Area you must be accounted for. If you are not you will be identified as missing and Building Staff and Emergency Service personnel may be forced to risk their lives searching for you! Cooperation is Critical!
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OCCUPANTS According to Fire Department Rule Employers of building occupants shall establish and maintain a system for accounting for their employees present in the building, so that an accurate accounting can be made in the event of an in-building relocation, partial evacuation or evacuation. Wardens and Deputy Wardens should be made aware of what method will be used by employers on their respective floors
Compliance with the Emergency Action Plan Local Law 26 requires that: All building occupants and employers of building occupants shall comply with the directions of the Fire Safety/EAP Director and EAP Staff upon implementation of the Emergency Action Plan
What will happen when a Non-Fire Emergency occurs? FS/EAPD will contact 911; report the emergency and what action is being taken Elevators will be recalled and initially placed out of service (May be used later) HVAC may be shut down or adjusted Fail Safe Door Release System will be activated Stairwell Re-entry floor doors will be unlocked Wardens and Deputy Wardens will follow the instructions of the FS/EAP Director 30
What will happen when a Non-Fire Emergency occurs? FS/EAPD will make the Official Announcement over the PA System: What has occurred Where its occurred What provision of the EAP will be implemented Why that provision was chosen Occupants are obligated to follow the instructions given by the FS/EAP Director. Wardens and Deputy Wardens will do their best to assure that occupants comply
What will happen when a Non-Fire Emergency occurs? Updated announcements will be repeated frequently. If conditions change, additional provisions of the EAP may be implemented and occupants may be directed to take additional actions REMINDER Occupants also include any visitors to your floor they are unfamiliar with the building and its emergency procedures Wardens must assure that they are included in any action ordered by the FS/EAP Director. Wardens should try to record name(s) of any visitors
Occupants with Special Needs These individuals must be identified in advance; develop a list of Special Needs occupants and where they work. Try to encourage individuals who will need help to notify the FS/EAPD of that fact The employer of a Special Needs occupant is responsible for assigning other employees to help the Special Needs occupant during the initial stages of an emergency (Buddy system) A list of Special Needs occupants and their work locations shall be maintained at the FCS Wardens and Deputy Wardens should be made aware of any working on their floor The FS/EAP Director, Wardens, Deputy Wardens and Staff, shall periodically review the list for familiarity; List should be updated and kept current
COMMUNICATIONS All Wardens and Deputy Wardens should be aware of alternate ways of communicating with the Fire Command Station (and designated alternate site) or FS/EAP Director, in case the primary system is rendered out of service (e.g., if the PA System fails and Warden phones are inoperable) Do you know those contact numbers? If your contact information changes, notify the FS/EAP Director of that fact immediately, so that the Plan can be updated and the Director will know how to contact you should a non-fire emergency occur
Warden Phones All should know the location of Fire Warden Phones In most systems, the FS/EAPD can only speak to one floor at a time Warden Phone should only be used to report an emergency! Don t use Warden Phone to ask what is happening an Official Announcement will be made providing you with that information by using the Warden Phone in this way, you may prevent another floor from reporting an emergency situation 35
Staffing Requirements Wardens - The Plan shall designate at least one FS/EAP Warden for each floor of the building. FS/EAP Wardens shall be on duty on each floor during regular business hours for such floor. Deputy Wardens - At least one Deputy FS/EAP Warden shall be designated in the EAP for each employer of building occupants on a floor. If the floor area occupied by an employer of building occupants on a single floor exceeds 7,500 square feet, an additional Deputy FS/EAP Warden shall be designated for each 7,500 square feet or portion thereof NOTE: Employers are obligated by Local Law 26 to supply a sufficient number of properly trained employees to fill the positions of EAP Warden, Deputy EAP Warden and members of EAP Brigade
Wardens and Deputies Must Know: That, in the event of an emergency on your floor or an incident which affects building occupants on your floor, immediately notify the FS/EAP Director (Warden Phone) and all building occupants on the floor of the emergency, if they are not already aware, and initiate appropriate action as per the direction of the FS/EAPD
Wardens and Deputies Must Know: If the emergency is not on your floor, and not immediately affecting building occupants on your floor: Listen for an Official Announcement from the FS/EAP Director and await his/her directions or instructions Take no action until told to do so by the Director Listen for updated announcements from the FS/EAPD the situation may change Keep the FS/EAP Director informed of your location and the progress of the implementation of any Emergency Action Plan measures, such as relocation or evacuation, if these actions are ordered
FS/EAP Warden and Deputy Warden Duties and Responsibilities Wardens will direct Deputy Fire Safety/EAP Wardens, Searchers and any other available EAP Staff to search all areas of the floor that is to be relocated or evacuated, to be certain that no one is left behind, and to report the results of their search to the Warden. This search, must be made by visual inspection; the lack of a voice response is not sufficient evidence that all occupants have safely relocated or evacuated; Notify any remaining building occupants that they must immediately comply with Emergency Action Plan procedures, as ordered by the FS/EAP Director (Critical Staff)
FS/EAP Warden and Deputy Wardens Duties and Responsibilities STAIRWELLS & ELEVATORS As per FD Rule - upon implementation of the EAP, all elevators will initially be recalled to the lobby or their lowest floor of travel (sky lobby) and placed out of service. Elevators will not be used unless the FS/EAP Director determines them to be safe and authorizes their use; If elevator use is permitted by the FS/EAPD, Wardens and Deputy Wardens must do their best to control the loading of elevator cars so as not to exceed the capacity of the car 40
FS/EAP Warden Duties and Responsibilities STAIRWELLS & ELEVATORS Wardens are to determine whether the stairwells are safe to enter before directing building occupants to use them; if unsafe, exit the stairwell at the nearest Re-entry Floor; notify the FS/EAP Director (Warden Phone), and prevent occupants from using that stairwell Never pass an unattended item (package, box, etc.); exit the stairwell at the nearest Re-entry floor
SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES Wardens and Deputy Wardens should be alert and observant for suspicious packages or items found in their area of responsibility What is a suspicious package? A suspicious package may look like ANYTHING What makes it suspicious may be the type of package or item, its location or the time that it is discovered The question that must be asked in regard to any unattended article is: Is it normal for this package to be at this location at this time?
SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES EXAMPLES Have protruding wires or aluminum foil Have a Strange odor (could be chemical) May have Stains Are lopsided or oddly shaped Are out of place for the time and day found Emit sound BEST PROTECTION: Time, Distance and Shielding
SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES Obtain as much information about the package as possible without endangering yourself and communicate this information to the FS/EAP Director. Director will notify 911 and may implement the EAP Create a list of occupants who may have come in contact with the suspicious package and consider isolating them from other occupants, in the event that they have become contaminated by being in the proximity of the package
SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES Some very IMPORTANT Do-Not s Do not use cell phones or two-way radios. If the suspicious package is an explosive, these devices could set it off. SHUT OFF PHONES AND RADIOS!! Do not turn off lights or take any action to change the environment around the suspicious package Always think that there could be a secondary device/package 45
SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES If a suspicious package is found, it should be isolated and left undisturbed Persons should not smell, touch, taste or open it Keep others away from the area - Evacuate and isolate the area Immediately, notify the FCS or the FS/EAPD of the situation and provide as much information as possible about the package (e.g., where it is located, what it looks like, any markings on the package, etc.)
DRILLS AND TRAINING You are the LEADERS. Wardens and Deputy Wardens must be actively involved in EAP Drills for them to be successful. Set a good example! Have a good attitude! Be enthusiastic! Encourage others to participate The lives and safety of the building occupants, who are employed on your floor, are in your hands. You must be prepared! Following a training session or a drill, provide an honest critique of the event. You are the eyes and ears of the FS/EAPD. Inform the FS/EAPD of any problems encountered during the activity. If necessary, the EAP should be revised to correct these problems
Important Safety Points/Reminders Roofs are not designed for egress. There will be no roof rescues Stairwell doors should never be chocked open they offer protection provide integrity for means of egress Windows provide protection (fire, contamination, etc.) and should not be broken except as a last resort. Once broken, their integrity is lost During evacuation, don t congregate in lobby block stairwells and slow evacuation continue on to assigned Assembly Area. Don t cause delays! Do not lock office doors when evacuating you may need to retreat there if conditions deteriorate
New York State, General Municipal Law, Article 10, Section 205-d 205-d. Relief from civil liability for acts or omissions by fire wardens in the City of New York - After being trained by a certified fire safety director, any person designated to serve as a fire warden or deputy fire warden in any structure classified as an office building by law or otherwise in the city of New York shall not be liable for damages for injuries, death or property damage alleged to have occurred by reason of an act or omission in the performance of any duty contained in a fire safety plan unless it is established that such injuries, death or property damage was caused by gross negligence on the part of such fire warden or deputy fire warden.
QUESTIONS? For building specific questions, please contact your Fire Safety/EAP Director Thank you for your attention. GOOD LUCK! BE PREPARED! BE SAFE!