Emergency Preparedness

Reports:
Any student, staff or visitor injured on campus must submit an accident report as soon as possible, regardless of the severity of the injury. This may be done at the campus Department of Safety and Security - See phone number listed at upper right.

Accident:
Applies to any personal injury. Accident reports are not required for illness on campus unless injuries result (e.g., a seizure causes the person to fall and strike an object).

Student/visitors:
If the injury occurs to a student or visitor to the campus, an accident report should be submitted, but any medical expenses incurred must be paid for by the individual or their personal health insurance.

Employee:
An accident occurring to an employee or a work study student during their working hours is covered by Washington State Industrial Insurance. An injured employee who requires medical attention must advise the physician or hospital of this coverage immediately so they may initiate an industrial insurance form. The health care provider will then forward this form to the employer. The campus Department of Safety and Security receives and completes these reports on behalf of the college and forwards the finalized copies to the Department of Labor and Industries in Olympia. Any verbal or written communications received by a divisional office with regards to an injured employee(s) should be immediately submitted to the Department of Safety and Security.

Accident Prevention Policy:
SCCD believes in the dignity and importance of the individual employee and his or her right to derive personal satisfaction from their job. The prevention of occupational injuries and illnesses is given top priority at all times.

As per WAC 296-24-040, a college accident prevention program has been developed that emphasizes the integration of safety and health measures into each job task so that safety/health and job performance become inseparable. This will be accomplished through the cooperative efforts of managers, supervisors, and employees.

By accepting mutual responsibility to operate safely, we will contribute to the well being of all personnel.

Test the door with the back of your hand. If hot, use an alternate exit. If not, open the door carefully, being ready to close it if heat or smoke rush in.

Crawl low under smoke. Smoke rises while clean air stays low, near the floor. So crawl on the floor, maintaining contact with the walls as you go to the nearest exit. If you are unable to crawl, stay near the floor for clean air and protect yourself as if you were trapped.

Get out, stay out. Exit as quickly as you can. Go to the nearest phone and call the fire department. Do not go back inside.

If you are unable to evacuate or are trapped – remain calm. Close doors between you and the smoke. If there is a phone, call 911 and tell the dispatcher where you are located in the building. Stuff cracks and cover vents to keep smoke out. Wait at a window; signal the firefighters and wait to be rescued.

Stop, drop and roll. If your clothes catch on fire, stop where you are. Drop gently to the floor or ground. Cover your face with your hands to protect your face from flames, and roll over and over to smother the flames. If you cannot drop to the floor, smother the flames with a blanket or towel.

In the event of an emergency that requires evacuation, all persons should observe the following evacuation procedures:

1. All persons shall move towards the nearest marked exit. Wheelchair occupants or persons with mobility impairment have first priority for the building elevators, but elevators should never be used in a fire or earthquake.
• Time permitting, take briefcases, purses, and jackets with you.
• Also time permitting, close classroom doors, lock file cabinets and office doors as you calmly move to the nearest exit.
2. Verbal Notice to Evacuate
   • When a verbal evacuation order is given, do not hinder or delay the Safety/Security Officer or designee making the announcement with arguments or numerous questions about the incident. As soon as time permits, you will be fully briefed as to the nature of the emergency. For your safety, calmly comply with the directions given.
3. Alarm Notice to Evacuate
• Listen for alarm notice to evacuate:
  When alarm sounds:
  BEGIN EVACUATION - Calmly proceed to the nearest exit.
4. Evacuation Maps
   An evacuation map will direct evacuees to the nearest emergency exit. - Note the the location of evacutation maps at your campus
5. Partial Evacuation
   It is possible that some incidents may require only certain, specific areas on campus be evacuated. You will be notified by campus authorities or emergency personnel if these circumstances exist.

NOTE: Wheelchair occupants or persons with mobility impairment are urged to prepare ahead of time by instructing classmates or their instructor on how to assist them in the event of an emergency. See EVACUATION OF MOBILITY IMPAIRED PERSONS

As many as 500,000 products pose physical or health hazards and can be defined as hazardous materials. The best protection against injuries from hazardous materials is by using, storing, and disposing of all materials according to product labels in a safe and proper manner.

If a gas cylinder or other container should begin leaking and if, in the judgment of the person(s) responsible for such materials, it presents a danger to them or other building occupants, the following steps should be taken:

1. Confine any fumes by shutting any doors to the area.
2. Immediately notify your campus Department of Safety and Security - See phone number listed at upper right.
3. Begin evacuation of the area. Campus authorities will be responsible for building evacuation.
   See BUILDING EVACUATION
4. Evacuate to a safe area at least 500 feet away from the building.
5. Suspected gas leaks or suspicious odors should be reported to the campus Department of Safety and Security immediately.
• Flammable: capable of being ignited and burning quickly
• Toxic: poisonous
• Corrosive: tending or having the power to dissolve substances
• Oxygenic: containing oxygen, aiding in the combustion process
• Cryogenic: existing at a very low temperature

If for some reason you are unable to reach your campus Department of Safety and Security, call 911.

Any leaks or spills that affect or have the potential to affect outdoor ground, air or water sources, and you are unable to contact the Department of Safety and Security, call:

Earthquakes can cause buildings to collapse, can disrupt utilities, and can trigger landslides, avalanches, flash floods, fires, hazardous material spills, tsunamis and volcanoes. Approximately 1,000 earthquakes occur in Washington State every year, although most of them are not strong enough to be felt.

In an earthquake, “DROP, COVER AND HOLD”.

1. When you feel an earthquake, DROP under a desk or sturdy table. Stay away from windows, bookcases, file cabinets, heavy mirrors, and other objects that could fall.
2. Stay under COVER until the shaking stops.
3. HOLD onto the desk or table. If it moves, move with it.
4. Outdoors, move to a clear area away from trees, signs, buildings, or downed electrical wires and poles.
5. In a crowded public place, do not rush for exits. Move away from display shelves with objects that could fall on you.
6. After an earthquake, check yourself and those around you for injuries.
7. Be prepared for aftershocks.
8. Follow the other sections of this manual for fire, hazardous materials leaks and medical emergencies, if necessary.
9. In the event of major damage or disruption, the Department of Safety and Security will implement evacuation procedures. See BUILDING EVACUATION
10. Use the phone only to report life threatening hazards or injuries.
11. Immediately notify the Department of Safety and Security of any serious hazards or injuries - See phone number listed at upper right.
12. Employees are encouraged to prepare ahead of time by putting together a basic disaster supplies kit. A list of items recommended by the American Red Cross Disaster Services is available on the PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS page of this website.

Communicable diseases are those that can be spread from one organism to another, often from one human to another. Some of these diseases include Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, and Tuberculosis. Additional information or assistance is available at the King County Public Health website www.metrokc.gov/health.

A large scale disaster is a major incident such as an earthquake, fire, chemical spill, flood, etc. which affects the entire college (or large segments of it), and endangers the life and well-being of all (or large segments) of the college community. It is a situation which requires the coordinated efforts of designated people to sustain a system of order and safety, and to restore normal operations. It may also require the assistance of outside emergency services.

Should a large-scale disaster occur, the college will operate under an Incident Command System. This system is described in thorough detail in each college’s Disaster Preparedness Plan.

Important components of Disaster Preparedness Plans are regular orientation, training and practice drills involving selected members of the college community. Periodically, such training/drills may involve the entire college community, as in the case of evacuation drills or similar simulations. Employees, students, and visitors are responsible for cooperating with such drills.

In the event of a large-scale disaster, all employees will be informed that the college is operating under the Incident Command System.

• All employees will assist with building evacuation.See BUILDING EVACUATION and
  EVACUATION OF MOBILITY IMPAIRED PERSONS
• Staff with assigned responsibilities within the Incident Command System will assume those responsibilities.

When the disaster has abated, employees will be informed when normal operations can be resumed. Do not resume normal operations until informed to do so.

There are some emergency circumstances where the safest course of action is to stay where you are. Examples of these circumstances could include, but are not limited to: gunfire, life threatening circumstances reported by campus authorities or police, or hazards outside the campus building(s) like a fire, hazardous spill or vapor cloud.

If you are notified by campus authorities or emergency personnel to shelter in place, or you determine that this is the safest course of action in an emergency, close and if possible, lock the doors and windows.

• Close drapes or curtains and stay away from the windows.
• Wait for further instructions.
• Do not evacuate the area until told to do so, or it is determined that evacuation is the safest course of action.

During an evacuation or other emergency, students, staff and visitors with disabilities may require special assistance from instructors, students and/or college staff. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to prepare for emergencies ahead of time by discussing their needs with appropriate personnel.

During an emergency, if assistance is not immediately available, individuals with disabilities should stay in an exit corridor or in a stairwell landing. He/she should continue to call for help until rescued. Individuals who cannot speak loudly should carry a whistle or have other means of attracting the attention of others. To assist such individuals, others should report their location to the campus Department of Safety and Security - see phone number listed at upper right, or other emergency personnel.