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Emergencies
medical emergencies | fire | tornado warning | earthquake
Use of Emergency Equipment
Everyone working in OSU labs must know how to use emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers, spill kits, safety showers, and eye wash apparatus. Special training on the proper use of all types of emergency equipment is available by calling the Environmental Health and Safety office. Know where these items are located in your laboratories. A floor plan of Materials Science and Engineering Complex which pinpoints the location of safety equipment is located in Appendix A and in every office. If a floor plan is not hanging in a prominent position in your lab or office, place a copy of the floor plan in such a position. Safety is the responsibility of everyone.
Medical Emergencies
Immediately provide the minimum necessary first aid to prevent further injury to the victim.
First Aid information. Please take the time to seek training in first aid, rather than wait for an incident to occur. The American Red Cross offers first aid and CPR training on a regular basis. The links below provide useful information about many basic first aid situations:
- Link to First Aid Procedures from the "Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards"
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) - Link to First Aid Course, US Naval Hospital
- Link to First Aid & Emergency Care, Mayo Clinic
If the injury requires more than a band aid (use this as a general rule of thumb), call 911 and request assistance. Medical help will be sent to you immediately. Be prepared to describe accurately the nature of the accident and your location.
2041 College Rd. 105 W. Woodruff Ave. 116 W. 19th Ave. 140 W. 19th Ave. |
Provide first aid within the scope of your training while waiting for professional help to arrive. It is important that you do not attempt any medical treatments with which you are unfamiliar. However, there are certain serious injuries in which time is so important that treatment must be started immediately. The proper aid is outlined below according to the type of injury. Report all injuries to your supervisor/advisor after professional help arrives.
If serious medical attention is required, you are expected to call for help by telephoning 911.
Non-emergency victims should go to the third floor of the Student Health Center--1875 Millikin Rd, 292-2112--to the Office of Occupational Medicine.
Stoppage of Breathing
For stoppage of breathing (e.g. from electrical shock or asphyxiation), the mouth-to-mouth method of resuscitation is far superior to any other known. If the victim is found unconscious on the floor and not breathing, rescue breathing must be started at once, seconds count. Do not waste time looking around for help, yell for help while resuscitating victim.
Training in the techniques of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is available through the American Red Cross (253-7981).
Severe Bleeding
Severe bleeding can almost always be controlled by firm and direct pressure on the wound with a pad or cloth. The cleaner the cloth, the better; however, in an emergency, a piece of clothing will suffice. In addition:
1. Wrap the injured to avoid shock, and call immediately for medical attention.
2. Raise the bleeding part higher than the rest of the body and continue to apply direct pressure.
3. Keep victim lying down.
4. Never use a tourniquet.
Thermal Burns
1. If the burn is minor, apply ice or cold water.
2. In case of a clothing fire:
a. The victim should drop to the floor and roll. Do NOT run to a safety shower. A fire blanket, if nearby, should be used to smother the flames.
b. After flames are extinguished, deluge the injured under a safety shower, removing any clothing contaminated with chemicals.
c. Keep the water running on the burn for several minutes to remove heat and wash area.
d. Place clean, soaking wet, ice-packed cloths on burned areas, and wrap to avoid shock and exposure.
e. Never use a fire extinguisher on a person with burning clothing.
Chemical Burns
1. For chemical burns or splashes, immediately flush with water.
2. Apply a stream of water while removing any clothing that may have been saturated with the chemical.
3. If the splash is in the eye, flush it gently for at least fifteen minutes with clean water. Wash in a direction away from the other eye. Have aid summoned immediately!
4. If the splash is on the body, flood it with plenty of running water for at least 15 minutes. For large scale exposure have someone call an ambulance (phone 911).
5. A safety shower, hose, or faucet should be used in an emergency.
6. For chemicals spilled over a large area, quickly remove contaminated clothing while using the safety shower; treat as directed under the section thermal burns. No time should be wasted for modesty. Seconds count.
7. If safety goggles are worn during a chemical exposure to the face, leave them on until the surrounding area is thoroughly rinsed, they may be the only thing keeping the chemical out of your eyes.
Traumatic Shock
In cases of traumatic shock, or where the nature of the injury is not clear, keep the victim warm, lying down and quiet. Wait until medical assistance arrives before moving the victim. One should treat all injuries as potential shock situations, as they may turn into one. Some common symptoms of shock are cold and clammy skin, paleness, and deliria.
Fire
1. Call 911 and report the location of the fire.
2041 College Rd. 105 W. Woodruff Ave. 116 W. 19th Ave. 140 W. 19th Ave. |
2. Pull the hall fire alarm to evacuate the building. These hall fire alarms sound only within the building, and do not alert fire officials. You must call 911.
3. Confine or control the fire if possible.
a. Immediately turn off gas supplies and electrical power sources.
b. Use an appropriate extinguisher. For more about fire extinguishers, please link to Fire Safety and Fire Extinguishers In a Chemistry Laboratory (from the Interactive Learning Paradigms Incorporated site).
i. CO2 extinguisher for flammable liquid (Class B) or electrical (Class C) fires.
ii. Solid chemical (NaHCO3) extinguisher for paper or wood (Class A), flammable liquid (Class B), or electrical (Class C) fires.
iii. Yellow extinguisher (MgO sand) for metal (Class D) fires.
c. Use common sense. A fire in a beaker may often be extinguished by covering the beaker and depriving the fire of oxygen. Using a fire extinguisher on the same beaker of burning solvent may cause the solvent to splatter, increasing the hazard.
d. If you are absolutely certain that you have extinguished the fire, call 2-2121 to report that the fire is out. The fire truck response will be cancelled, although Fire Safety officials will still come to assess the damage and to complete a report.
4. You are expected to use good judgement. Obviously, it may not be necessary to evacuate the building for a small fire in the lab. However, if there is any chance that the fire may endanger others or may cause serious damage, do not hesitate to pull the alarm. Never feel embarrassed about being over-cautious.
5. Immediately after a fire extinguisher has been used, call Fire Safety (2-2121, non-emergency phone number) to request that the fire extinguisher be recharged. They will remove the extinguisher, fill and re-seal it.
6. See the Lab Supervisor/Safety Officer to complete an 'incident report'.
Building Evacuation
As with any other public building, the Fire Code requires that a plan for the evacuation of our building complex be established. Your cooperation with the directives of the evacuation officers and floor wardens is mandatory.
The procedure to be followed is as follows:
1. A continuous ringing of the fire bells located in the corridors means everyone is to leave the building.
2. Shut down and secure any laboratory equipment that is in operation.
3. Leave your laboratory. Close but do not lock the door and proceed down the nearest stairs (elevators are prohibited due to the high potential for electrical or mechanical malfunctions coupled with the increased risk of smoke inhalation.) Persons on elevators when the alarm bells sound are advised to exit at the first opportunity and evacuate via the nearest stairway and exit the building. Unless unusual conditions dictate otherwise, the best evacuation route is the nearest stairway and then out the nearest exit.
4. Cross the nearest street and wait there for recall.
5. Permission to re-enter the building will be signaled by the Door Wardens at all building entrances.
6. Do not loiter in the streets. They must be kept clear for access by emergency vehicles.
Physically Disabled Persons have the initial responsibility to request assistance. It is suggested that instructors determine, in advance, if any students require assistance during an emergency. If assistance is requested, the instructor should so advise the class without making any specific individual arrangements. Should the evacuation alarm sound, the instructor should request assistance to move the handicapped person to the nearest stairway. Unless specifically requested and considered advisable by those providing the assistance, the movement of a disabled person down a stairway is not recommended. One individual should remain with the handicapped person, if this can be done without unreasonable personal risk, while the others evacuate the building and advise the firemen of the location of the handicapped person so that the evacuation may be completed by the firemen. Elevators should not be used to move handicapped persons due to the reasons outlined above.
The first floor passageway between the shipping dock and the hallways of MacQuigg Laboratory is an access for emergency equipment. Do not block this area with equipment, supplies, waste materials, etc.
Classroom instructors are expected to interrupt class activity and advise students to evacuate the building. Students are obliged to follow emergency procedures in accordance with the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Faculty are similarly obliged by the provisions of the Ohio Revised Code as referenced in the University Operating Manual.
Tornado Warning
Identified by emergency sirens (continuous) for three minutes followed by seven minutes silence.
A tornado warning indicates a tornado has been sighted by ground observers or has appeared on radar within Franklin County. The warning signal sounds repeatedly for the duration of the watch. The watch is considered over when there is no siren after seven minutes silence. There is no all-clear signal. An on-off siren indicates that a test of the alarm system is being carried out (typically Wednesdays at 12:00 noon).
All University personnel are expected to promptly respond to the sounding of the sirens and to take the following precautions. In most university buildings the safest area is in the basement. If a basement is not available, occupants should move to the central portion of the building on the lowest floor possible, away from outside walls and glass. Large, unsupported roof structures, as typically used in auditoriums and gymnasiums, should be avoided. Personnel should anticipate the tornado warning will extend for a significant period of time, perhaps thirty minutes or longer. A battery-powered radio tuned to any local AM or FM station will provide current weather information. Personnel should not leave shelter until a period of at least ten minutes has elapsed without the sounding of the sirens, or the local news media have announced an "all clear".
Classroom instructors are expected to interrupt class activity and advise the students to move to the safest area available. Physically disabled persons should be provided assistance, if requested, on the same basis as described for building evacuations. The advisability of moving a handicapped person from one floor to another as discussed in that section applies equally to a tornado warning. It is recommended that handicapped persons be assisted to the safest area on the same floor. The decision to remain with the handicapped person would be the option of any individual providing assistance. Elevators should not be used to move handicapped persons during a tornado warning as the potential for electrical and mechanical malfunction is considered to be too high to warrant the risk.
Earthquake
OSU does not have an official policy for warnings or procedures for earthquakes, but it is recommended that in the event of one, you should take cover under a sturdy object (like a heavy desk). The idea is to protect yourself from falling debris if the building collapses.
Use of Emergency Equipment
Everyone working in OSU labs must know how to use emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers, spill kits, safety showers, and eye wash apparatus. Special training on the proper use of all types of emergency equipment is available by calling the Environmental Health and Safety office. Know where these items are located in your laboratories. A floor plan of Materials Science and Engineering Complex which pinpoints the location of safety equipment is located in Appendix A and in every office. If a floor plan is not hanging in a prominent position in your lab or office, place a copy of the floor plan in such a position. Safety is the responsibility of everyone.
