Home

Building Emergency Evacuation Procedures

1. Purpose

The purpose of this document is to establish the University’s responsibilities and procedures for handling emergencies and to ensure the safe and orderly evacuation of campus properties in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, civil disturbance, or other emergency situation.

2. Responsibilities

In case of a major disaster or crisis situation on any campus properties, comprehensive Emergency Response Guidelines have been developed to define roles and provide detailed operational instructions for designated University officials to follow.

University department heads, managers, and supervisors at all levels shall ensure that personnel under their administrative control are aware of and observe the following procedures.

All University of Pittsburgh faculty, staff and students are responsible for knowing appropriate emergency information for their work areas, classrooms, and/or living areas, this includes: emergency plans, exits, alternate routes of egress, and the location of fire-alarm pull stations, fire extinguishers, and assembly areas. Emergency Evacuation Plan placards are posted in prominently traveled areas in all buildings. Additionally, all University faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to review the Emergency Response Guides. A copy of the Guide may be obtained from the Department of Environmental Health and Safety 412- 624-9505, or viewed on-line.

3. Emergency Procedures

A. The first person to become aware of an emergency will sound an alarm and notify the Campus Police by dialing 811 from any campus telephone or 412-624-2121. Evacuation is announced by the sounding of the emergency evacuation alarm. Each alarm is specific to its building and may differ in mode of signaling. At the sounding of the alarm, all building occupants shall evacuate the building immediately.

B. Classroom instructors are expected to interrupt class activity and instruct students to evacuate the building when the alarm sounds. Students are obligated to follow emergency procedures. Disabled faculty, staff, and students have the primary responsibility for requesting assistance. The Environmental Health and Safety Department can develop a Life Safety Plan for individuals who are not capable of complying with the evacuation plan, or who may have special needs or recognized disabilities. Faculty,staff, and, students interested in developing a plan are encouraged to contact the Department of Environmental Health and Safety at 412-624-9505, or via e-mail at safety@ehs.pitt.edu, and marked to the attention of Fire Safety.

C. Occupants should be alert to the presence of persons requiring assistance or direction to the designated rescue area (typically the stairwells) identified on the Emergency Evacuation Placards. Anyone who is aware of an individual needing assistance shall call the Campus Police at 811 from any campus telephone and provide the name and location of the person needing assistance.

D. All building occupants shall exit quickly in a safe and orderly manner using appropriate evacuation routes. Do not use elevators. Occupants shall exit the building using the nearest marked exit and proceed to the pre-determined assembly area identified for the building. If possible and safe, all laboratory gases should be turned off and doors and windows closed upon exiting. If smoke is present, stay close to the floor as you exit. Obey the directions of emergency response personnel.

E. Once outside, evacuees should proceed to the assembly area for the building so as not to impede the movements of emergency response personnel. Do not return to the evacuated building unless directed by Campus Police or other emergency response personnel.

4. Assembly Areas

Building specific assembly areas have been identified to provide a location for evacuees to gather upon exiting their building. Evacuees should follow the direction of emergency response personnel to the appropriate assembly area.