JRML Emergency Guidelines

These are the instructions for handling laboratory emergencies. This document is

posted in strategic areas around the lab, usually near the telephones. It is also

available in various formats at the bottom of this page.

JRML EMERGENCY GUIDELINES

(Revised: 16 February 2004)

****IN CASE OF EMERGENCY****

1)     CALL 911.

2)     Give the operator your name.

3)     Tell the operator that you are (or the emergency is located) at the Macdonald Laboratory in Room 56 of Cardwell Hall at Kansas State University.

4)     Give the operator the laboratory telephone number (532-6777) (or the number of the telephone from which you are calling).

5)     Tell the operator the type of emergency you have.

6)     Follow any instructions that the operator gives you.

Laboratory personnel to be contacted in the event of an emergency:

FIRE - If there is evidence of a fire (fire alarm sounding, smoke, etc.):

1)     If you can do so safely, determine the location of the fire and sound an alarm by activating one of the fire alarm pull stations or call 911 as described above.

2)     Evacuate all personnel from the laboratory.

3)     If the fire is small and you have had fire extinguisher training and you can do so safely, attempt to extinguish it.

4)     If the fire cannot be extinguished, stay near the laboratory entrance to guide Fire Department personnel to the fire.

5)     Call one of the laboratory personnel on the above list.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY

1)     Call 911 as described above.

2)     Arrange for someone to stay near the laboratory entrance to guide Emergency Medical Service personnel to the patient.

3)     If you can do so safely and you have first aid training, render first aid to the patient.

4)     Call one of the laboratory personnel on the above list.

TOXIC GAS LEAK - If there is evidence of a significant toxic gas leak:

            1)     Evacuate all personnel from the laboratory.

2)   Call one of the laboratory personnel on the above list.

3)     Call 911 as described above from a safe place.

4)     If you can do so safely, stay near the laboratory entrance to guide emergency response personnel to the leak.  

FLOODED TRENCHES

1)     Shut off the water source if possible.

2)     Call one of the laboratory personnel on the above list.

OXYGEN DEFICIENT ATMOSPHERE - If there is evidence of an oxygen deficient atmosphere (oxygen monitor alarm sounding):

1)     Evacuate all personnel from the area of the alarm.

2)     Call one of the laboratory personnel on the above list.

AREA RADIATION MONITOR ALARM

1)     Evacuate all personnel from the area of the alarm.

2)     Contact a member of the group running the accelerator in the area of the alarm and advise them that the alarm activated.

3)     Confirm that all personnel evacuated the area of the alarm and secure the area by closing and interlocking the gates at the entrance(s) of the area in question.

RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL SPILL - In the event of a release of radioactive material:

1)     Evacuate all personnel from the laboratory and have them wait in a safe location until the radiation safety officer has released them.

2)     Call one of the laboratory personnel on the above list.

3)     Call the University Radiation Safety Officer:

CIVIL DISTURBANCE

1)     Call 911 as describe above.

2)     Call one of the laboratory personnel on the above list.

OTHER EVENTS AFFECTING LAB OPERATIONS - Power Failure, Vacuum Accident, etc.

1)     Check the LABORATORY OPERATIONS notebook in the control room for proper guidelines.

2)     If guidelines are not found, call the laboratory staff member responsible for the system in question.

3)     If you cannot make contact with the person primarily responsible for the system in question, attempt to contact other staff members on the list above.  Many of the staff members have experience with systems outside their primary responsibility.  If no other staff members are available, contact Kevin Carnes (Associate Director for Operations) at 776-0259 (home) or

      2-2662 (office).