Emergency Operations Plan 4.2-4
Category:
Public Safety
Authorizing Body:
Vice President for Administration & Business Affairs – VP-ABA
Responsible Department:
University Police
Applies To:
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Adopted Date:
05/01/1990
Revised Date:
01/31/2017
Print Policy
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction/Purpose
Providing a safe environment for employees to work and students to learn is a primary concern of the Saginaw Valley State University administration and the campus community. Critical to providing a safe and healthy environment is being knowledgeable about what to do in the event of an emergency. The priorities of any emergency operations are life safety, incident isolation, property protection, and the minimal interruption of business operations. Planning and being prepared is a shared responsibility.
This Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is designed to establish a framework for Saginaw Valley State University to respond effectively and safely to emergencies. This includes assessing an emergency, coordinating a response effort, and most importantly, ensuring that individuals are informed, safely evacuated or sheltered, and accounted for with reasonable assurance. This approach focuses on the policy, procedure, and organizational structure necessary to respond to, control and recover from emergencies.
This plan incorporates regulatory requirements concerning the development and implementation of campus emergency operations plan into one document. This plan shall act as the Saginaw Valley State University emergency operations plan and is compliant with the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
Although this emergency operations planning document is comprehensive, it is the policy of SVSU that no guarantee of a perfect response system is implied in this plan. As personnel and resources may be overwhelmed, SVSU can only endeavor to make every reasonable effort to respond based on the situation, resources, and information available at the time.
Scope
This action plan applies to all occupants of facilities and grounds on the main campus (7400 Bay Road) of Saginaw Valley State University.
Plan Review and Amendments
The Campus Emergency Operations Plan will be periodically reviewed, maintained and updated by the Chief of University Police and the Environmental Health and Safety Director. The frequency of the plan review will be determined as follows:
- An annual review will determine if significant changes to the facilities, personnel, operations, or materials used and stored have occurred to such a degree that change and amendment of the action plan are necessary.
- A review will also be completed when significant changes occur in facilities design, construction, operation, or maintenance, which increase the potential for fire, explosion, releases of hazardous material or the response necessary if an emergency occurs.
- An amendment will be made if the emergency response personnel or their responsibilities change.
The effectiveness of the plan will be reviewed following an emergency that requires implementing the plan. The University Police and the Environmental Health and Safety Department shall coordinate the review of the plan implementation following such an emergency. Other SVSU planning and response related documents and programs include the following:
- Hazardous Waste Disposal Program
- Bio-Hazardous Waste Management
- Bloodborne Infectious Diseases Exposure Control Plan
- AED Management Program
- Accident and Injury Incident Report Form
Employees should check with their supervisor or department head for specific emergency planning and response documents or call lists developed for their area/department.
Basic Plan
Kochville Township Fire Department (KTFD)
The KTFD works with SVSU in the following capacities:
- Familiarizes first responders with SVSU’s campus, including general building layout, chemical storage areas and access ways, “helps establish ICS”, and provides any information necessary for a safe and effective response to a variety of potential emergencies.
- Responds to emergencies when called upon by the SVSU Police.
- Implements its emergency plan until SVSU University Police arrive.
- Acts as IC or when police/medical arrive establishes Unified Command.
Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, FBI. etc.
University Police will provide notification to local, county and state law enforcement agencies, when appropriate. Law enforcement agencies will respond and assist in the investigation and/or response of emergency incidents and threats.
Environmental Emergency Response Contractor
SVSU maintains open purchase order(s) with at least one or more environmental contractors capable of responding to emergencies involving hazardous materials. The contractor’s employees have the appropriate training and equipment to respond promptly and safely to HazMat situations beyond the immediate capabilities of SVSU employees.
Planning/Emergency Notification
The University maintains a designated Crisis Call Center (989-964-2110). In the event of an emergency, the Center will be staffed by temporary operators (Business Services, The Conference Center and others) and used to help the Incident Command Center manage the expected volume of incoming calls. Operators will provide concerned callers with a general statement of the situation as approved by the IC and direct calls to the University emergency website for further information.
Incidents
Campus closings or suspension of classes and scheduled campus events, due to severe weather, snow, ice, flooding, utility failure, or other emergency conditions, are determined by the SVSU Executive Vice President for Administration & Business Affairs. The Executive Vice President for Administration & Business Affairs will advise the President of the specific conditions that exist or the predicted conditions impacting the decision to close the campus. For public health emergencies involving a potential infectious hazard, communicable disease, or other medical/health-related emergency that might require total or partial suspension of campus activities, EHS, University Police, and others will provide guidance and recommendations to the President of the specific conditions that exist or the anticipated conditions impacting the decision to close or suspend activities on the campus.
The Executive Vice President for Administration & Business Affairs, or appointee, will communicate the decision to media outlets, the weather line, and the Campus Alert notification system.
Whether the decision to suspend classes, partially close or completely close the SVSU campus occurs during regular business hours (8:00 am – 4:30 pm) or not, the decision will be communicated by Associate Vice President for Administration & Business Affairs to the campus community by the following methods:
- Radio and television stations from several mid-Michigan counties will be contacted by 6:30 a.m. the morning of a closing to broadcast SVSU’s campus closing status.
- School closing information and up-to-date messages indicating the status of the campus closing will be available on SVSU’s main webpage at www.svsu.edu.
- A Campus Alert message will be issued including e-mail notification of the initial closing. Additional Campus Alert notifications may also be issued for updates.
- Additional websites reporting the campus closing include the following:
www.abc12.com
www.wnem.com
www.minbcnews.com
www.wsgw.com
Employees should know the location of fire extinguishers, fire exits, evacuation routes, and alarm systems, and should know how to use them. All locations should have the appropriate extinguisher(s) for the potential types of fires that could occur.
If a fire should occur, SVSU employees shall follow the following procedures, unless directed otherwise by University Police.
1. If it can be done without risk, immediately shut off equipment and terminate fuel sources.
2. Promptly evacuate the area and activate the building alarm. Fire evacuation plans are located at the main entrances of each building.
3. Report all fires IMMEDIATELY to University Police at 911 from any phone. Provide the following information:
- Name, department name, current location and telephone number
- Location of the fire (building and room number)
- Description of the fire (size, materials involved, how long it has been burning, and what actions have been taken)
- The extent of injuries, if appropriate
- If someone is trapped
4. If a fire emergency involves a minor and controllable fire (incipient), attempt to put out the fire only if trained to put out such a fire, and only if it can be done without risk to the safety and health of others. For those who have been trained in safely operating a fire extinguisher, remember to read the label on the fire extinguisher before discharge to ensure that the extinguishing material is appropriate for that particular type of fire. Direct the charge of the nearest fire extinguisher toward the base of the flame. Do not attempt to fight the fire alone.
5. When the building fire alarm is sounded, all building occupants are required to proceed quickly to the nearest marked exit and alert others to do the same. If it can be done safely, close all doors and windows to confine the fire and reduce the supply of oxygen. Do not lock any doors or windows. Follow the building evacuation procedures previously outlined in section Building/Campus Evacuation.
Remember that smoke is the greatest danger in a fire, so if an area is evacuated where smoke is prevalent, keep face no more than 8-12 inches off the floor, where the air is less toxic. Avoid liquids on the floor that could be harmful chemicals.
Before opening a door, feel it for the heat that would indicate that a fire might be present on the other side of the door. If trapped inside a building during a fire, do the following:
- Stay calm, do not panic
- Keep all doors and windows closed
- Place an article of clothing inside or outside a window if it is available, as a marker for the emergency rescue crew. Do not leave windows open
- Stuff objects, such as wet cloth towels, into openings to prevent smoke from entering the area.
- Wet clothing if possible. Wrap wet clothing around the face to minimize smoke inhalation. Fill sinks and tubs with water if possible to maintain a supply of water
- Stay 8-12 inches off the floor where the air is less toxic
- Shout at regular intervals to alert emergency crews of your location
- Maintain contact with University Police by telephone as long as possible
6. Once University Police become aware of a fire emergency, the Saginaw Central Dispatch will immediately notify the following personnel of the location of the fire:
- The University Police dispatcher will confirm that the Kochville Township Fire Department is en-route to the fire and assign a University Police Department member to guide the KTFD to the scene of the fire. The University Police shift supervisor will immediately report to the location and take charge of the scene. After evaluating specific conditions, the University Police dispatch and the Health and Safety Director or designee will be contacted.
- The Associate Vice President for Administration and Business Affairs or designee will begin contacting the emergency call list. All radio communications shall be restricted to emergency-related communications only.
7. The Incident Commander will assign University Police personnel to do the following:
- Initiate and monitor the evacuation of all building occupants. Special attention shall be given to ensure that persons with mobility, vision, or hearing disabilities are safely evacuated to a safe distance from the immediate emergency scene to await KTFD assistance in evacuation from the building, as indicated in the evacuation procedures section of this document
- Locate and advise medical rescue personnel through the University Police Dispatcher of the location of all injured persons
- Keep emergency routes open so emergency vehicles can respond quickly to the fire scene
- Keep non-emergency personnel a safe distance from the fire, emergency vehicles and equipment
- Make a complete report of the fire
- Secure the scene during and after the incident
- Provide access to critical equipment areas for Campus Facilities and KTFD
8. During normal business hours, the Associate Vice President for Administration and Business Affairs, Assistant Vice President of Facilities Planning & Construction or designee, will contact the HVAC group leader to assign individuals to the following duties:
- Automatic sprinkler control operator to, ensure sprinklers are operating properly
- Fire pump operator, to ensure that the fire pumps are operating properly
- Utility operator, to monitor or disconnect utilities as required
Outside normal business hours, when Campus Facilities representatives are not present, the KTFD will assume the above roles until the on-call Campus Facilities representatives can perform the duties.
9. Building occupants must move to a secure area away from the affected building as designated by the IC, keeping streets, fire lanes, hydrants and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and crews.
10. An Incident Command Post may be set up near the emergency site. Employees should keep clear of the Command Post unless official business is necessary. Do not call the Command Post unless it is an emergency.
11. Employees should not return to the evacuated building unless directed to do so by the IC, or a member of University Police. After any evacuation, report to a designated assembly area. Notify University Police of persons not accounted for, if known.
12. The IC will re-assign University Police personnel when the fire is out.
Saginaw Valley State University maintains several types of fire extinguishers throughout the campus. Proper training is recommended before attempting to use a fire extinguisher. Know the proper extinguisher for the fire. CAREFULLY CHECK THE EXTINGUISHER’S LABEL. The use of the wrong type of extinguisher or using it improperly can endanger lives by spreading the fire.
There are several recognized classes of fire to be aware of when selecting the extinguisher:
SVSU maintains several ABC type fire extinguishers to be used on Class A, B, and C fires.
Basic steps for using a fire extinguisher:
- Remove the extinguisher from the hanger or cabinet and hold it upright.
- Remove the pin.
- Remove the nozzle from its hook on the side of the extinguisher and aim the nozzle at the base of the fire. Do not aim the nozzle directly at the flames.
- Stand within 10 feet of the fire. Do not cause the fire to ignite other materials by blowing the fire with the extinguisher. Never fight a fire alone and always leave an escape path. Do not become blocked when trying to put out a fire.
- Squeeze the handle together using short bursts.
- Use a sideways sweeping motion, sweeping across the width of the fire, not up and down. Continue to apply the extinguishing agent to the base of the flames.
- As the flames retreat, walk forward while extinguishing the flames until the fire is out.
If at any time a fire cannot be promptly extinguished with a single extinguisher, immediately evacuate the area, pull the fire alarm to alert others in the area, and notify University Police at 911.
Be familiar with locations and types of fire extinguishers before using them. Report all fires to University Police. Report the use of an extinguisher to the Campus Facilities Department so that it can be recharged.
Fire Extinguisher Training
Contact University Police or the Director of Environmental Health and Safety to coordinate employee training on the proper selection and use of fire extinguishers.