Chapter 3    Emergency Procedures

A separate English-Chinese bilingual pamphlet titled HKUST Emergency Procedures was published by HSEO. The content of that pamphlet is based on information contained in this revised Chapter.

Issue Date: November 1, 2006 Issue Number: 3

Requirement Abstract

Priority

SECTION ONE - FIRE

A. Responsibilities

B. Reporting of Fire

C. Fire Emergency Procedures

D. Fire Fighting at the Incipient Stage by HKUST Personnel

E. Assembly Points

SECTION TWO - TYPHOON AND RAINSTORM

A. Campus-Wide Typhoon and Rainstorm Management

B. Departmental Emergency Standby Personnel

C. FMO Typhoon Response Team

D. FMO Typhoon Response Procedures

SECTION THREE - INJURIES AND ILLNESSES

A. When someone is injured or ill ...

B. Reporting of Injuries and Illnesses

SECTION FOUR - HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILL

A. Hazardous Material Spill Response Principles

B. Responsibilities

C. Hazardous Chemical Spill in a Research Laboratory

D. Hazardous Chemical Spill in a Teaching Laboratory  

E. Hazardous Chemical Spill in Dangerous Goods Stores

F. Hazardous Chemical Spill during Delivery within Campus

G. Radioactive Material Spill

H. Biohazardous Material Spill

SECTION FIVE - LIFT ENTRAPMENT

A. If you are trapped in a lift...

B. Action by Security Staff

Appendix 3A   Fire Emergency Procedures for Departmental Safety Officers & Their Assistants

Appendix 3B General Fire Emergency Procedures

Appendix 3C Designated Assembly Locations

Priority

Adhere to the following priorities when encountering an emergency:

1. Personal Safety - yours and others

2. Protect University Property

3. Preserve Academic Programs

Important Phone Numbers

When calling for help, always give:

• Location of the accident/incident

• The nature and severity of the accident/incident, e.g. how many persons are injured, how serious is the injury, emergency situations such as gas leakage, extent of property damage, etc.

• Your name and location

Emergency Preparedness

PREVENTION is the key to avoiding accidents. Prevention is also the essence of safety training. However, accidents can still happen. Major accidents may lead to emergencies which threaten human lives and university property. The idea of EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS is to help everyone to prepare for such situations so as to minimize personal injury and property damage.

It Is Everyone’s responsibility

Supervisors are responsible for establishing safe procedures and providing protective equipment, on-the-job safety training and information needed in hazardous works. They must instruct their staff and students about the hazards, the safety precautions, and the actions to take in case of an accident, which may include general procedures as published below and specific ones tailored for special work places or operations. Drills should also be organized by supervisors to familiarize concerned students and employees with execution of such emergency procedures.

Employees and students are required to learn and understand the hazards they work with and to follow all necessary precautions. In case of unexpected malfunctioning, damage, or injury, the employee or student should act to protect him- or herself and others in the area. He/she should also report any unsafe or hazardous condition in the area to the supervisor and/or HSEO.

Be Prepared for Fire

• Do not tamper with any fire detection or fire fighting devices.
• Do not block fire escape route.
• Keep all fire doors closed.
• Know the escape routes in your environment.
• Know the locations of breakglass fire alarm buttons and fire fighting equipment, and make sure they are easily accessible.
• Know the designated assembly points.
• Learn to use fire fighting equipment.
• For laboratories or special work areas, develop emergency shut down procedures for processes which may create hazards when unattended.

For more information on Fire Safety, see Chapter 6 of the HKUST Safety and Environmental Protection Manual.

Be Prepared for Injury

• Learn first aid.
• Make sure first aid kits, including specific antidotes if applicable, are well stocked at all time.
• Learn how to use the antidotes if hydrofluoric acid or cyanide is used.
• Laboratory users should know the location of emergency shower and eyewash, and make sure they are easily accessible.

Be Prepared for Laboratory Emergency

• Know the chemicals you use by referring to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) which provide information on the physical, chemical, and toxicological properties of a chemical and procedures for handling spill, fire, and disposal. MSDSs are available from the Center of Laboratory Supplies (CLS) and the Library. If MSDSs are not available or if the manufacturer’s MSDS lacks information needed for safe use of the material, request assistance from HSEO.

• Plan your operation or experiment carefully, taking into consideration the hazardous properties of materials involved. Also think about what to do if something goes wrong in the process. Stock appropriate spill control materials, personal protection equipment, first aid materials, and antidotes.

• Get proper training. The procedures below make reference to “significant amounts of hazardous materials”, and performing certain actions “if it is safe to do so” or not doing something “if it is unsafe to do so.” These are judgment calls. A large quantity of low toxicity material may be safe to handle, while a small amount of highly toxic substance may be significantly hazardous. In order to make the correct “call”, you must have prior knowledge concerning the potential hazards of the materials, operations and proper control measures; have participated in hands-on safety training and emergency drills; and be confident enough in that knowledge and training to make the judgment call.

• Know the locations of the "Emergency Ventilation" button affecting your laboratory, fire alarm button, fire fighting equipment, spill control materials, personal protective equipment, and first aid kit.

• Be conservative if you have doubts or reservations about whether or not “it is safe/unsafe to do so”. Always take the conservative approach (e.g. sound the alarm, exit the lab and leave clean-up or other response action to the emergency response team).

SECTION ONE: FIRE

SECTION TWO: TYPHOON AND RAINSTORM

SECTION THREE: INJURIES AND ILLNESSES

A. When someone is injured or ill...

• Call Security Control Centre (SCC) by dialing 8999.

• Call for Community Emergency Service directly by dialing (9)999 if the situation is urgent or serious and inform SCC subsequently as soon as practicable.

• DO NOT conduct rescue operation unless you know for sure how to perform a proper rescue or you know the situation is safe for you to do so. Careless rescue operation may endanger the rescuers when, for example, the victim is inside a room filled with toxic gas, or is still in contact with live electricity.

• DO NOT move an injured person, especially when there are signs of spinal injury or bone fracture, unless it is absolutely necessary to do so for safety reason.

• Keep the injured or ill person comfortable, warm, and lying down.

• First aid treatment should be given, preferably by trained persons.

  i)	Acid and alkali burns—flush with running water; use emergency shower if necessary. Do not attempt to neutralize.
  ii)	Heat or cold burns—flush with cold water.
  iii)	Chemical in eyes—flush eyes with emergency eyewash.
  iv)	Major bleeding—apply direct pressure to the wound using a clean cloth.
  v)	Toxic gas inhalation—expose to fresh air.
  vi)	Hydrofluoric acid exposure—use antidote immediately
  vii)	Cyanide exposure—use antidote immediately

B. Reporting of Injuries and Illnesses

SECTION FOUR: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILL

A. Hazardous Material Spill Response Principles

• GET AWAY

• ALERT OTHERS

• GET HELP

• SEAL OFF THE AREA

B. Responsibilities

The person in charge of a laboratory where a chemical spill has occurred, or the person who initiated contact with Security, should be present at the scene (but at a safe distance) to provide information about hazardous materials, and situations that may be encountered in the affected laboratory.

C. Hazardous Chemical Spill in a Research Laboratory

• Alert co-workers.

• If safe to do so, perform the following. Ask for assistance if necessary.

  i)	Confine the spill with appropriate materials.
  ii)	Turn off remotely all heat/ignition sources if flammable vapour is involved.

• Press the Emergency Ventilation button (do not activate this button in case of fire).

• Inform the Security Control Centre by dialing 8999 from a safe location.

• Evacuate everyone in the affected area. Leave contaminated clothing and close the door.

• Activate local warning system to prevent others from entering the room.

• If possible, maintain a safe distance from the scene, keep the entrance or access routes in sight and help to prevent entry to the affected room.

• If conditions allow, remain to assist the emergency response team.

D. Hazardous Chemical Spill in a Teaching Laboratory

Students or technicians upon discovering a chemical spill:

• Alert all persons in the vicinity.

• Inform the person-in-charge of the laboratory.

Person-in-charge upon notification of a chemical spill:

• If safe to do so, perform the following actions.

  i)	Confine the spill with appropriate materials.
  ii)	Instruct the students to turn off remotely all heat/ignition sources if flammable vapour is involved.

• Press the Emergency Ventilation button (do not activate this button in case of fire).

• Evacuate everyone in the laboratory, leave contaminated clothing and close the door(s).

• Inform the Security Control Centre by dialing 8999 from a safe location.

• Activate local warning system to prevent others from entering the area.

• If possible, maintain a safe distance from the scene, keep the entrance or access routes in sight and help to prevent entry to the affected laboratory.

• If conditions allow, remain to assist the emergency response team.

E. Hazardous Chemical Spill in Dangerous Goods Stores

• Alert co-workers.

• If safe to do so, perform the following. Ask for assistance if necessary.

  i)	Confine the spill with appropriate materials.
  ii)	Contain the spill inside the DG store.

• Evacuate everyone in the affected area. Leave contaminated clothing or articles and close the door.

• Inform the Security Control Centre by dialing 8999 or other means. At least one staff should remain at the scene at a safe distance.

• Activate local warning system to prevent others from entering the room.

• Staff at the scene should keep a safe distance from the store, try to keep the entrance or access route in sight and help to prevent entry to the store.

• Assist the emergency response team upon its arrival.

F. Hazardous Chemical Spill during Delivery within Campus

• Alert people in the vicinity.

• Confine the spill if safe to do so.

• Inform the Security Control Centre by dialing 8999 or by other means. At least one staff should remain at the scene.

• Staff at the scene should keep a safe distance from the spill, keep the area in sight, and help to prevent entry to the area.

• Assist the emergency response team upon its arrival.

G. Radioactive Material Spill

• Alert co-workers.

• If safe to do so, confine the spill with appropriate materials.

• DO NOT activate Emergency Ventilation UNLESS radioactive gas or vapour (e.g. Iodine-125) is involved.

• Inform the Security Control Centre by dialing 8999.

• Evacuate everyone in the room. Leave contaminated clothing or articles and close the door.

• Activate local warning system to prevent others from entering the room.

• If possible, maintain at a safe distance from the laboratory, keep the entrance or access routes in sight and help to prevent entry to the laboratory.

• If conditions allow, remain to assist the emergency response team.

Decontamination Procedures

Persons contaminated by radioactive material should go through decontamination as soon as they arrive at a safe location.

• Treat any injury first. First-aiders should protect themselves against contamination by using protective equipment and avoiding splashing/spreading of contaminant.

• Remove any other suspected contaminated clothing or articles, seal in a plastic bag.

• Wash contaminated skin area with water and detergent. Avoid aerosol generation (e.g. scrubbing with brush).

• Immediately seek medical attention for any internal contamination.

For other personnel and area decontamination details, see Chapter 10, Section O.

H. Biohazardous Material Spill

• Alert co-workers.

• If safe to do so, contain the spill with appropriate material.

• If the spill occurred in a biosafety cabinet, leave the unit on.

• Evacuate everyone in the affected area. Leave contaminated clothing or articles and close the door.

• Inform the Security Control Centre by dialing 8999 from a safe location.

• Activate local warning system to prevent others from entering the room.

• If possible, maintain a safe distance from the laboratory, keep the entrance or access routes in sight and help to prevent entry to the laboratory.

• If conditions allow, remain to assist the emergency response team.

Decontamination Procedures

Any person contaminated by the biohazardous material spill should go through decontamination as soon as they arrive at a safe location.

• Treat any injury first. First-aiders should protect themselves against contamination by using appropriate protective equipment and avoiding splashing/spreading of contaminant.

• Remove any other suspected contaminated clothing or articles, seal in a plastic bag.

• Wash contaminated skin area with water, appropriate disinfectant and soap.

• If eyes have been contaminated, flush with water.

• Immediately seek medical attention for any internal contamination.

For other personnel and area decontamination details, see Chapter 9, Section F.

SECTION FIVE: LIFT ENTRAPMENT

All lifts on the campus are monitored by close-circuit televisions (CCTV) and equipped with intercom systems which are connected to the Security Control Centre (SCC). In the case of a lift entrapment emergency, the SCC will respond promptly to assist in resolving the problem. Remember not to use the lift when there is a fire.