Emergency Action Plan

Policy No: 010
Approval Date: 8/18/03
Historical Notes: Revised October 8, 2004; September, 2006; September, 2007; September, 2010; September 2011

Policy:

1. New Mexico State University Library will have an OSHA compliant Emergency Action Plan for employees within departmental work areas. The Emergency Action Plan will be annually reviewed by the Library Administration and the Library Administration will annually report this information to New Mexico State University’s Environmental Health and Safety Department.
2. Evacuation maps directing personnel and building users to emergency exits will be posted in all library buildings.
3. The library’s Emergency Action Plan and the name and job title of the library’s Building Monitor/Emergency Action Coordinator will be posted on the library’s web site for public information.
4. Annually, all library personnel will be trained in building emergency procedures and information covered in the library’s Emergency Action Plan.
5. The Head of Access Services is the Building Monitor/Emergency Action Coordinator and has the responsibility to insure that the Library’s Emergency Action Plan is implemented for the safety of library staff and patrons.

Procedures:

• In case of police, fire, or medical emergencies, dial 911.
• If you smell smoke or see a fire, pull the nearest fire alarm, dial 911 to report the fire, and proceed to assist in evacuating the building.
• When the fire alarm sounds or there is official notification to evacuate the building (bomb threats, toxic fumes, etc.) immediately begin evacuation of the building.
• In the case of hazardous weather, such as a tornado warning, stay inside the building. Go to an area on the lowest level and away from windows.

A.  During normal working hours  in the event of an evacuation all library staff are instructed to do the following:

1. Stay calm.
2. From the location where you are in the building, assist in clearing the area where you are by giving those in the area the following instructions:

a. Proceed calmly to the nearest safe emergency exit and exit the building.

b. Take with you those personal items which are in hand.

c. Use stairwell exits only. Do not use elevators.

d. Exit the building immediately.

3. Direct those evacuating the building to the two nearest stairwell exits to where you are located.
4. For the impaired, ask if they need assistance to evacuate the building. If assistance is needed, the staff person should either personally assist the individual in evacuating the building, or get additional assistance. If an impaired person cannot be evacuated, the staff person should direct or bring the individual to officially designated places of refuge. The officially designated places of refuge are as follows:

   Branson Library	Nearest safe stairwell
   Zuhl Library	Nearest safe stairwell

   
   Delegate someone to stay with the disabled person then notify emergency personnel of the situation and the person’s exact location.
5. Before exiting the area, do an area sweep to make sure everyone has been evacuated. Make sure secluded areas (bathrooms, isolated work/study areas, etc.) have been checked. Close windows and doors, but do not lock them.
6. After library staff have exited the building, they should check in with the Building Monitor or other library staff member, staying clear of the facility until further notice. The Building Monitor is responsible for coordinating reports and lists used in veryifying that all personnel have been evacuated from the building.
7. No one is permitted to reenter an evacuated building until he/she is officially permitted to do so.
   
   The specified assembly locations are as follows:

   Building	Specified Assembly Location
   Branson Library	in front of the Astronomy Building
   Zuhl Library	next to the statue of General Milton

B.  During evening and weekend hours, in the event of an evacuation, access services and reference staff on duty are instructed to do the following:

1. Stay calm.
2. Starting with the top floor of the building and working down one floor at a time, evacuate the building.