Emergency Response and Fire Safety
Plan and roles
Know the site's emergency response plan: alarms, exits, assembly area, head count, communication channels and shutdown procedures. Your duties are usually to raise the alarm, call 911, direct evacuation, meet responders, control access, keep a log of events and times, and account for people - not to fight large fires or play hero. Life safety comes first, then property protection, then documentation.
Fire
Fire needs fuel, oxygen, heat and a chemical chain reaction. Classes: A ordinary combustibles, B flammable liquids, C energized electrical, D combustible metals, K cooking oils. Match the extinguisher to the class. Use PASS - Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. Use RACE - Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Evacuate/Extinguish. Fight a fire only if it is small, you are trained, the alarm is already raised and you have a clear escape route; otherwise evacuate. Never use elevators during a fire; keep exits and panic hardware clear; understand alert versus alarm signals, trouble signals, sprinkler and detection devices, and know when a fire watch is required. The BC Fire Code requires a fire safety plan, inspections and record keeping.
Other emergencies
Medical: consent, first aid, AED, infection control, report. Bomb threat: keep the caller talking, record exact words, time and background noise, do not touch suspicious objects, evacuate and notify police. Active threat: get out, hide out, defend as a last resort. Earthquake (relevant in BC): drop, cover and hold on, expect aftershocks. Gas leak or power failure: evacuate, avoid switches and ignition sources.
Trap: water on Class B or C fires; elevators during evacuation; extinguishing before the alarm is raised; and assuming someone else has called 911.
Rule of thumb: rescue, alarm, contain, evacuate - in that order, every time.