General Emergency Procedures
Tenant Responsibilities
- Tenant management must assign specific employees to serve as Floor Wardens, Drill Coordinators, and other emergency staff (see next section).
- In accordance with Fire Department guidelines, responsibility for planning and conducting drills shall be assigned to the building Life Safety Officer, who is a competent person qualified to exercise leadership in this area of expertise.
- Those assigned as Drill Coordinators, Floor Wardens, or their assistants, must attend training sessions a minimum of once a year. This training is coordinated/ scheduled by Building Management and may be presented by the Fire Department. Attendance at all training sessions will be recorded by building management.
- Tenants are responsible for keeping a list (updated weekly) of those employees with mobility impairments. A copy of this list will be kept at the Management Office and posted in the Fire Command Center.
- Building fire drills will be held quarterly with the Denver Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau observing and making recommendations on one drill per year.
Emergency Staff
|
Position |
Responsibility |
|
Drill Coordinator |
Plans, conducts and evaluates emergency drills. This position may be assigned to the Safety Director or head of Security. |
|
Floor/Area Warden |
Individual assigned to coordinate emergency evacuations of a specific floor or area and to ensure that all occupants have evacuated the building. The Floor Warden is also responsible for verifying the evacuation of all spaces, including rest rooms. Close but do not lock all doors. |
|
Floor Leader |
Individual assigned to monitor people in his/her work area and be responsible for their safe evacuation in an emergency. |
|
Searcher |
Individual responsible for finding and evacuating all personnel from the floor -- specifically from remote areas such as storerooms, file rooms, coffee areas, etc. |
|
Stairway Monitor |
Individual assigned to monitor the use of the stair enclosure on a specific floor during an emergency evacuation. |
|
Elevator Monitor |
Individual assigned to monitor the elevator lobby during an evacuation to prevent the elevator from being used and to direct occupants to emergency stairways. If the elevator lobby has been constructed as an occupant refuge area, this individual explains to able-bodied personnel seeking refuge that the refuge area is only for those who are unable to self-evacuate. |
|
Aide to Employees with Mobility Impairment (“buddy”) |
Employee assigned to assist occupants with mobility impairments during emergencies and drills. |
|
Assembly Area Monitor |
Employee assigned to monitor assembly points and take attendance as occupants arrive. |
|
Communicator/Runner |
Staff assigned to the Command Post or assembly areas responsible for communication between assembly points and the Command Post. |
|
Drill Evaluator |
Individual assigned to monitor occupant actions during the drill and report their findings to the Drill Coordinator at the completion of the drill. |
Drill Coordinator:
Tamarac Plaza is a multiple-tenant building; therefore, the Drill Coordinator is our Life Safety Officer who is a member of building management.
Responsibilities-
The Drill Coordinator plans, conducts and evaluates emergency drills.
Duties-
The Drill Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that all evacuation routes and assembly points are accessible and safe. The Coordinator verifies that all egress components (stairs, corridors, doors, etc.) are in proper order and that occupants can use them safely. He/She also confirms that exits are clearly identified and that corridors are free of obstructions.
The Drill Coordinator also reviews the evacuation plan before a drill and identifies any modifications necessary as the result of changes in staff, operations, or the facility. The coordinator should consult with the Denver Fire Department at this time. The Fire Prevention officer will know what specific requirements apply to the City and County of Denver. Further, coordination with the Fire Prevention Officer is important to obtain local operating procedures for the emergency responders for aspects such as employee accountability and how to locate and then evacuate persons with impaired mobility.
Floor Wardens:
As a general rule, one Floor Warden is designated for every 20 employees.
Responsibilities-
Floor Wardens are responsible for the condition of the occupants of their floor, for supervising Floor Leaders during an emergency, and for evacuating occupants during an emergency. Floor Wardens must be familiar with the layout of their floor, the details of the Emergency Action Plan, the location and operation of available alarm systems, fire protection equipment, coded door locks, and the location of routes to exit areas.
Administrative Duties-
1. Each Floor Warden must pre-select two Searchers (one female and one male) to assist in the event of an emergency. Floor Wardens are responsible for working out a search plan for Searchers to follow in the event of an emergency on their floor.
- The Floor Warden appoints personnel to the emergency team and fills vacant positions.
- Floor Wardens must maintain an updated roster of all Floor Leaders, Searchers, Stairway Monitors, Elevator Monitors, Aides to Employees with Mobility Impairments, and alternates.
- He/She must notify the Fire Command Center when changes in Emergency Organization personnel and mobility-impaired persons occur.
- Each Floor Warden must maintain an up-to-date, accurate list of mobility-impaired employees. This list should include the floor location and where on the floor (elevator lobby, stairwell, etc.) they will wait for assistance.
- The Warden ensures that all emergency team personnel know their assigned duties and locations in case of an emergency.
- Floor Wardens must preplan the handling of persons with mobility impairments during evacuation.
- Floor Wardens should know and be able to identify all employees in their area of responsibility.
In the event of an emergency, employees should follow their Floor Warden’s instructions and offer their full cooperation.
Emergency Duties
1. If there is a fire on a tenant floor, and the alarm has not sounded, the Floor Warden or person finding the fire is to:
- Close any doors to the fire area.
- Activate the fire alarm manual pull station at the nearest stairwell.
- Call 911 from a safe area after relocation.
- In the event that the fire alarm signal (audible and visual) is received, the Floor Warden should follow this procedure:
- Advise the tenants that when the building level they are occupying receives the fire alarm signal, they must immediately evacuate the building by using the stairwells, staying single file and to their right in the stairwell. NO FOOD, DRINKS OR LARGE ITEMS IN THE STAIRWELLS. They are to remain in the stairwell until they reach the street level.
- Remain calm and begin to relocation/evacuation off affected floors, following any directions given by Floor Wardens and/or Fire Department personnel.
- Floor Wardens are to put on a red cap or vest (provided by the Management Office) so other tenants and the Fire Department can easily identify them. If possible, Floor Wardens should also carry a flashlight.
- Any area affected by fire or smoke is to be evacuated immediately. If safe to do so, Searchers should make certain any or all doors leading into such an area are closed after checking that everyone is out of the area.
- Mobility impaired persons are to remain in the protected elevator lobby, stairwell landing or designated refuge area at all times with their “buddy” until the Fire Department arrives. If the Floor Warden relocates mobility-impaired persons, they must notify 911 or Fire Department personnel of the person’s location so that the Fire Department can rescue them.
- Elevators are not safe in such an emergency and are automatically taken out of service upon activation of the fire alarm system.
- To evacuate people, Floor Wardens are to lead the people downward in the stairwell, keeping single file and to the right; this will allow firefighters ascending the stairwells clear passage. Also, people should not run or talk in the stairwell as the noise may hinder them from hearing instructions.
Floor Leader
Responsibilities
Operating under the supervision of the Floor Warden, the Floor Leader is responsible for monitoring people in his/her area. He/She is responsible for the safe evacuation of personnel in his/her work area during an emergency.
Duties
- Supervises the assembly of personnel in his/her work area
- Is responsible for the orderly evacuation of all personnel in his/her area via designated exits.
- Remains with the group throughout the evacuation period and leads them to predetermined safe areas.
- Assists in the training of all personnel in his/her work area.
Searcher
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Floor Leader, Searchers are responsible for finding and evacuating all personnel from the floor -- specifically from remote areas such as storerooms, file rooms, coffee areas, etc
Duties
- Checks all rooms including rest rooms, conference rooms, reception areas, and remote areas, closing but not locking doors.
- Advises any remaining personnel on the floor of the emergency and insists on their evacuation.
- Evacuate non-employees found on that building level.
- Report to the Floor Leader when his/her area is clear.
Stairway Monitor:
Responsibilities
Under the direction of the Floor Leader, Stairway Monitors are responsible for an assigned exit and assist in the orderly evacuation of personnel.
Duties
- Takes a position at his/her assigned exit and assists in the orderly evacuation of personnel.
- Inspects stair enclosures for possible heat or smoke conditions before evacuation.
- Instructs personnel to form single-file lines into the stair enclosure and directs personnel to exit along the right side of the stair enclosure.
- Supervises and monitors evacuation flow while remaining calm and encouraging a calm and orderly evacuation.
- Stays at the exit until searchers have cleared all personnel from the floor.
Elevator Monitor
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Floor Leader, Elevator Monitors are responsible for making sure no one uses the elevators during a drill or an emergency.
Duties
- Directs employees to the nearest stairway.
- Must be familiar with the building evacuation plan and the location of all stairways.
- Stays at his/her post until instructed to evacuate by the Floor Warden.
Aide to Employees with Mobility Impairment (Buddies)
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the floor leader, the aide to employees is responsible for making sure all persons with mobility-impairments are evacuated.
Duties
Maintains an accurate and updated list of mobility-impaired employees on the floor. A “buddy system” will be implemented in which one or two aides will be responsible for evacuating specific mobility-impaired co-workers to stair enclosures.
Assembly Area Monitor
Responsibilities
Monitors assembly points and takes attendance as occupants arrive.
Duties
- During a total evacuation, occupants should proceed down the stairway to the first floor, exit the building, and proceed to a designated meeting area that is at least 300 feet from the building.
- Assembly Area Monitors shall perform and report tenant accountability to ensure all occupants have evacuated the building.
- In densely populated buildings, it is advised that each tenant select a meeting area where accountability will be performed. The property manager should coordinate these meeting areas and have that information with them when evacuating. This will prevent having too many meeting areas positioned at the same location, which could create confusion when too many occupants meet in the same location. This will also assist the Fire Department and the property manager when questions arise as to where certain tenants are located during the evacuation.
- If individuals are not on their normally occupied floor, they shall exit the building, head directly to their pre-designated meeting area, and report to the Floor Warden and Assembly Area Monitor. If persons are unaccounted for, every effort must be made to ensure that the missing party has evacuated the building … including witness accounts of where the person was last seen. Any person left unaccounted for the monitor’s efforts to locate must be reported to the Fire Department, along with any information acquired.
Communicator/Runner
Responsible for communication between assembly points and the Command Center.
Drill Evaluator
Responsibilities
Monitors occupant actions during the drill and reports their findings to the Drill Coordinator at the completion of the drill.
Duties
1. Drill Evaluator shall be on drill floor at activation of fire alarm.
2. Observes tenants/occupants reaction to fire alarm signal.
3. Observes that tenants/occupants close office and conference room doors.
- Ensures that all fire alarm warning devices (horns and strobes) are in proper working order and all fire protection devices (fire doors, stairway pressurization, etc) activate.
- Observes that Floor Wardens, Searchers, Stairway Monitors, etc. perform their assigned duties.
6. Observes that accountability is taken and reported.
7. Reports all observations to the building’s Fire Safety Officer. These comments are to be included in the final report.