INTRODUCTION
This handbook provides a quick reference to important safety information.
For more detailed safety information concerning your workplace, consult
your supervisor and/or the appropriate University department listed on the
inside front cover of this handbook.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Northwestern University’s ability to address emergencies depends on the
cooperation and participation of all members of the community. Three key
components of the University’s efforts to better prepare for an emergency
have been reviewed and updated since September 11, 2001. The first of
these components is the Emergency Response Plan, which identifies
key decision makers and their roles during a campus emergency. The plan
also describes procedures that will be utilized during specifically identified
severities of emergency.
The second component is the Building Emergency Plan. Each building
on both campuses has a designated building manager who is responsible for
developing an emergency plan and making sure that all employees working
in the building have a complete understanding of the evacuation process.
The building manager is also responsible for coordinating an evacuation
drill with the Office of Risk Management.
The final component is this document. The Emergency Response Plan
calls upon all employees to be familiar with the Employee Safety Handbook.
Before an emergency occurs
• KNOW the established emergency procedures for your building
and work area
• KNOW the hazards of any materials or equipment in your building and
work area and the precautions to take to avoid or minimize associated risk
• KNOW two means of egress from your area
• KNOW the locations of fire alarm pull stations
• KNOW the locations of portable fire extinguishers and how to use them
• KNOW the location of the nearest first aid kit
Emergency Evacuation Plan
Each department is required to develop an individual emergency evacuation
plan. This plan is supplemental to this handbook and provides buildingspecific
information. The evacuation plan must contain the following
information:
• emergency telephone numbers
• evacuation personnel duties
• designated meeting point
• building information such as whether the building has an automatic
sprinkler system, smoke detection, and/or manual alarm pull stations
For every building on campus there is a designated building manager
who serves as the key communication contact during an emergency.
In high-hazard buildings, where several departments coexist, there are
safety committees to ensure that all departments work together during
an emergency evacuation.
Fire
If you discover a fire, an explosion, or smoke in a building, activate the fire
alarm system immediately at the nearest fire alarm pull station to evacuate
the building (see "Evacuation Procedures" below).
After sounding the fire alarm, call 911 from a safe location. Provide
the building name, address, floor, room number, and any known special
hazards at the location. Do not assume that someone else has called.
If the fire is in an unoccupied room, try to close the door to retard the
spread of smoke and heat; do not take any unnecessary risks in doing this.
Only if the fire is small and you have received University training
in fire extinguisher operation should you attempt to extinguish the fire;
do not take any unnecessary risks in doing this.
When University Police and/or fire fighters arrive, direct them to
the fire.
Evacuation Procedures
• When a fire alarm sounds, evacuation is required.
• Walk, do not run, to the nearest stairway exit and proceed to ground level.
Close doors as you leave. Shut down equipment while evacuating.
• Do not use elevators during a fire emergency.
• If the fire alarm stops, continue the evacuation and warn others who may
attempt to enter the building.
• Leave the building and move away from it, keeping walks and drives open
for arriving firefighters. Proceed to your prearranged rally area as defined
in your Building Emergency Plan.
• Everyone must follow the orders of the fire and police departments.
Evacuation of Persons with Disabilities
Persons with disabilities must study and remember the features of each
building they are in, including stairways, exits, phone locations, and elevator
procedures. At certain times, assistance from others may be needed.
Prior to an emergency situation persons with disabilities should develop
an escort system in their daily environment.
Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers can be found throughout a building in hallways, laboratories,
mechanical rooms, and other areas, either in cabinets or mounted
on wall brackets. Make sure you know the location and type of the nearest
fire extinguisher. Report missing, discharged, or damaged fire extinguishers
to Facilities Management as soon as possible. If you use a fire extinguisher,
do not return it to its cabinet or bracket. Report the use of the extinguisher
immediately to the Office of Risk Management and call Facilities Management
to have it replaced.
Only individuals trained by the University in using fire extinguishers
should use them. Information and training on fire extinguishers are available
from the Office of Risk Management.
Fire Doors and Stairways
Fire doors are specially constructed doors and frames that will withstand
fire for a specific length of time. They are found at stairways, in corridors,
and at openings in fire walls to prevent the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
If fire doors are to be effective, they must always be kept closed. Some fire
doors are held open by magnetic devices that release the doors to close
when the fire alarm is activated. These doors can be left open, provided
they are not obstructed.
Stairways are a place of refuge and a means of egress during a fire, and
stairway doors must not be propped open. An open door can cause the stairwell
to act as a flue and spread a fire more quickly. Fire regulations require
stairway doors to automatically close and latch. If a door does not close
completely and latch, promptly report it to Facilities Management.
In some buildings the stairway doors are locked from the stairway side.
Once inside the stairways, exit may be possible only at the street level. This
is more common in the Chicago campus buildings. Be sure to check your
egress routes!
Clothing Fires
If your clothing is on fire, do not run. If a safety shower is immediately
nearby, get under the shower and let the water flow over the burned
area until medical help arrives. Otherwise, the universal instruction is
stop, drop, and roll. Immediately drop to the floor and roll repeatedly
to extinguish the flames, holding your hands over your face to protect
it from flames.
Hazardous Material Release
If you discover a hazardous biological, chemical, or radioactive release or
spill, immediately evacuate the area. If the spill creates a risk of or causes
fire, explosion, or injury, call 911. All hazardous material releases should
be reported to University Police by calling 456 and asking them to contact
the Office of Research Safety.
Power Outage
In the event of a power outage most University buildings have generators
or batteries that will provide power for the fire alarm system and emergency
lighting. However, it may be difficult to see well enough to maneuver.
Consider keeping a flashlight where it can be easily found in the dark or
using a plug-in battery-operated emergency light.
Elevators
Each elevator is equipped with an emergency telephone, which is directly
connected to University Police. If you are trapped in an elevator, use the
emergency telephone. You do not need to dial; it will ring automatically at
University Police. To help locate you and restart the elevator, some elevator
cabs have been numbered; the number is located on the panel above the
telephone. If you become trapped in an elevator, notify University Police
and tell them the number of your elevator cab or describe your location as
clearly as possible.
If an elevator does not seem to be operating properly, call Facilities
Management during business hours. For emergency problems and after business
hours, call University Police, and they will page the engineer on duty.
Tornadoes and Severe Thunderstorms
A tornado watch is when conditions are favorable for tornadoes. You
may continue normal activities, but supervisors should assign someone
to monitor the situation and notify others in the building if storm conditions
deteriorate.
A tornado warning is when a tornado is occurring in the area. Seek
shelter immediately! If you are inside a building, go to an interior hallway
or other enclosed area on a lower floor and away from windows. Avoid
auditoriums, gymnasiums, or other large rooms where roof collapse may
be more likely. Seek shelter if you are outside or in a vehicle.
A severe thunderstorm watch is when conditions are favorable for
severe thunderstorms. You may continue normal activities, but supervisors
should assign someone to monitor the situation.
A severe thunderstorm warning is when severe thunderstorms are
occurring in the area. Be prepared to move to a place of shelter if threatening
weather approaches. Stay indoors away from windows until the storm
passes. If large hail begins to fall, seek shelter.
Earthquake
In the event of an earthquake there is little time to react. When you first
feel shaking, immediately take cover under something sturdy — your desk,
for example. If you cannot reach cover, brace yourself in an interior doorway
or crouch in an interior corner away from windows, shelves, or cabinets.
Do not try to get outside. If you are outside at the time of the earthquake,
move away from the sides of buildings, overhead wires, or other hazards.
If you are driving, pull over to the side of the road and stop. Avoid overpasses
and power lines. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking is over.
Be prepared for aftershocks.
Bomb Threat
Take any bomb threat seriously, and report it immediately to University
Police. University Police will determine what corrective action to take.
If you receive a written bomb threat, do not handle it any more than
necessary. Place it in an envelope to preserve possible fingerprints. If you
receive a telephoned threat, note the exact time of the call and attempt
to write down the exact words of the caller. Ask the caller to repeat information.
Get as much information as possible by asking when the bomb is
set to explode, what kind of bomb it is, where it is located, and what it
looks like. If possible, signal another person and write a note explaining
the call is a bomb threat. The other person can then alert University
Police. Give all of the information you obtain to University Police when
you talk with them.
Theft and Missing Property
Theft or missing property should be reported immediately to University
Police. An officer will take a report of the loss and of the circumstances
surrounding the loss.
Suspicious Persons
If you see suspicious persons in your building or on your property, report
them to University Police immediately. You should provide a complete
description of the person, what he or she was doing, his or her last known
location, and his or her direction of travel (if known). University Police
will respond and require identification from the suspicious person. If circumstances
warrant, University Police will remove unauthorized persons
from the premises, issue them trespass warnings, or arrest them.
SECURITY
All employees should heed the following steps to ensure their personal
safety.
While working
• Keep all valuables locked away and/or lock your office door when you
leave your office, even if you are away for only a short period.
• Ask unescorted visitors entering your office to identify themselves and
whom they are meeting.
• Request identification from persons who wish to repair or remove property.
• Call University Police if a person entering your office area appears to
be suspicious, won’t identify him- or herself, or asks for a person who
does not work in your area.
• Secure computers and other valuable equipment. Facilities Management
can provide lockdown devices for most computers. Keep records of all
serial numbers on equipment. Consider engraving "Northwestern University"
and the name of your department on all equipment.
While working after hours
• Lock all doors to the outside.
• Keep your office door closed and locked.
• Never prop open a door for someone who will be joining you or allow
strangers to enter with you.
• Never leave your purse or wallet unattended.
• Remove valuable items from your desktop and close and lock file drawers,
windows, and doors when leaving your office for the day.
When walking at night
• Walk with someone you know, use the shuttle service, or call the
Student Escort Service (1-7000 from any campus phone).
• Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings.
• Plan the safest route to your destination, and use the same route
every time.
• Walk briskly and confidently in the center of the sidewalk.
• Avoid dark areas and shortcuts.
• If you think you are being followed, head quickly for a lighted area,
a group of people, or, if you are on campus, an emergency phone.
• Consider carrying chemical spray or a personal alarm.
• Be careful when walking to or from public transportation, and do not
ride the train, el, or bus alone late at night.
• Have your car or house keys in hand as you approach your vehicle
or home.
• Do not hitchhike.
Laboratory Security
Laboratory security is related to but different from laboratory safety. Security
refers to measures used to control access to the laboratory in order to prevent
theft of materials or equipment from the lab. Take specific actions to
prevent unauthorized entry to your lab. Secure highly hazardous materials
such as infectious agents, toxins, radioactive materials, acutely toxic chemicals,
carcinogens, teratogens, explosive or reactive chemicals, and compressed
gases against theft. Diversion of even small quantities of hazardous
materials can have serious consequences when they are used for criminal
or terrorist purposes. Bioterrorism regulations require compliance with
stringent risk-based security requirements. One easy way to increase security
is to make sure that your laboratory door is locked whenever the lab is left
unattended, even for a few minutes.
Security Suggestions
• Assess your laboratory for hazardous materials and security risks.
• Develop and implement security procedures for your laboratory group.
• Train your laboratory group on these security procedures and assign
responsibilities.
• Control access to areas where hazardous materials are used and stored.
• Close and lock laboratory doors when no one is present.
• Do not leave hazardous materials unattended or unsecured at any time.
• Lock freezers, refrigerators, storage cabinets, and other equipment where
hazardous materials are stored when they are not in use.
• Know who is in your laboratory area.
• Limit laboratory access to those individuals who need to be in the lab.
• Restrict off-hours access to individuals authorized by the principal
investigator.
• Escort guests to and from the laboratory. Approach people you do not
recognize and ask if you can help direct them.
• Know what hazardous materials are being ordered and shipped to your
laboratory.
• Get rid of unneeded hazardous materials.
• Take periodic inventory of all highly hazardous chemicals, biological
agents/toxins, radioactive materials, and controlled substances.
• Report any missing inventory or suspected unauthorized access immediately
to the Office of Research Safety and University Police.
Safety Inspections
Periodic and annual inspections are made by the Office of Risk Management,
the Office of Research Safety, and the Evanston or Chicago
Fire Departments for compliance with safety regulations. Keep your
space orderly.
MEDICAL TREATMENT PROCEDURES
Whenever you encounter a person who is ill or injured, follow these steps:
• Keep the victim as comfortable as possible.
• Do not move the victim any more than is necessary for his or her safety.
• Never administer liquids to an unconscious victim.
• Do not remove objects that may be embedded in the victim’s skin.
Life-Threatening Injuries and Illnesses
Life-threatening conditions include severe chest pains, gunshot wounds,
severe burns, hemorrhaging, severe head injuries, and open (compound)
fractures, among others.
In the event of a life-threatening medical situation, call 911. Fire
department paramedics will respond for treatment and transportation to
a hospital emergency room.
Other Injuries and Illnesses
In you encounter an injured or ill person, help that person seek medical
attention and notify your supervisor of the incident.
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
Employees who are exposed to human blood, body fluids, and other potentially
infectious human materials in the course of their work — including
employees who draw blood, work with human tissues, or provide first aid
— are covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Bloodborne pathogens include
HIV, Hepatitis B virus, and Hepatitis C virus. Exposure can occur via a
percutaneous injury, such as a needle stick or cut with a sharp object, or
by contact of mucous membranes or nonintact skin with blood, tissue, or
body fluids that are contaminated with visible blood.
The Northwestern University Exposure Control Plan and the OSHA
Bloodborne Pathogens Standard are available for review by all employees.
Observing universal precautions is the single best strategy to reduce
the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. This involves treating all
human blood and potentially infectious human material as if it were known
to be infectious. Initial and annual training of all employees who have
occupational exposure is required. This training must be job specific and
should include information about personal protective equipment such
as gloves and safety glasses, the use of safety devices on needles and intravenous
equipment, specialized waste disposal, and how to obtain the hepatitis
B vaccination. Vaccination is available at no cost to the employee.
If exposure should occur, the following steps should be taken:
• Thoroughly wash and/or irrigate the exposure site.
• Employees on the Evanston campus should seek prompt evaluation from
Occupational Medicine Evanston/Glenbrook Association (OMEGA) at
847-657-1700; after normal working hours, they should seek attention
at the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare emergency room and identify
themselves as OMEGA patients.
Employees on the Chicago campus should call the Northwestern
Memorial Hospital Employee Health HOT-LINE pager at 6-8282.
Employees who are off campus can call 312-926-8282.
• If the exposed individual is an employee, the claims manager in the
Office of Risk Management should be notified at 1-5582.
• Report all exposures immediately to the employee’s supervisor and to the
Office of Research Safety for review through an incident report form.
CHEMICAL SAFETY
Knowing and understanding the hazards of the chemicals you use is one
of the first steps in ensuring a safe workplace. The term chemical applies
not only to laboratory chemicals, but also includes all industrial chemicals
(e.g., paints, oils, welding rods) and office products (e.g., toners).
Every chemical poses an inherent hazard that must be respected.
When the hazards of the chemical are defined, listed, and understood,
proper safety measures may be instituted to protect your health and safety.
A chemical is considered to be hazardous if it poses either a health or
physical hazard or both on exposure. Health hazards are illnesses or health
problems that may develop in the event of overexposure to the hazardous
chemical. These may range from acute health effects such as headaches,
dizziness, and skin irritation to chronic health effects such as cancer and
organ damage. Physical hazards may result from the improper handling of
the chemical or product. Examples of physical hazards include fires, explosions,
and sudden releases of pressure. Therefore, a hazardous chemical is
any substance or mixture of substances having properties capable of producing
adverse effects on your health and safety.
The University’s Hazard Communication Program is designed to
alert you to the hazards of the chemicals in the nonlaboratory workplace
by providing you with access to information on the health and physical
hazards of chemicals, safe handling precautions, and emergency and first
aid procedures. The program is based on the OSHA Hazard Communication
Standard.
The Hazard Communication Program provides you with the right
to know
• what chemical substances are present in your workplace
• what health hazards may be caused by overexposure to the chemicals
in your workplace
• what physical hazards may result from improper handling
• what precautions or safety measures must be instituted to protect your
health and safety
The Hazard Communication Program consists of the following
elements:
Hazard Evaluation
Manufacturers, importers, or distributors of chemicals are required to assess
the health and physical hazards of their chemical products. Information
concerning a chemical’s hazards must be supplied on the product label and
material safety data sheet (MSDS).
Labeling
The manufacturer, importer, or distributor must label all containers of
hazardous materials. The label must provide the following information:
• the identity of the hazardous chemical(s)
• hazard warnings in words, pictures, or symbols
• the name and address of the manufacturer, importer, or distributor
The hazardous material container’s label must not be removed or
defaced. If the hazardous material is transferred from its original container
to another, the new container must be labeled with the identity of the
hazardous chemical(s), hazard warnings, and the name and address of the
manufacturer, importer, or distributor.
If you transfer the hazardous chemical from a labeled container to a
portable container intended for your use that same day, the container does
not need to be labeled as previously described. If, however, you leave some
of the hazardous chemical in the portable container at the end of the day,
you either have to label the container or return its contents to the original
labeled container.
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