School Safety Training

School Safety Training Means of EgressWAC 296-800-310

Notice • This presentation is provided to all Educational Service District 101 (ESD 101) schools at no cost. • This presentation contains copyrighted materials purchased by ESD 101 for the exclusive use of training school personnel within ESD 101. • This presentation may not be reproduced except to print “handouts” or “notes pages” for use during training within ESD 101 school districts. • If the school district does not have Microsoft’s PowerPoint software available, a PowerPoint viewer can be downloaded from the internet at no cost. • Questions may be directed to the ESD 101 Risk Manager.

Goals • Exits • Means of Egress • Alarms • Emergency Evacuation • Quiz

Means of Egress • Continuous and unobstructed way of exit travel from any point in a building or structure to a public way • Consists of three parts: • the way of exit access • the exit • the way of exit discharge

Number of Exit Routes • Number of employees • Size of building • Arrangement of workplace • Building occupancy

Location of Exit Routes • Minimum of two exit routes • Exit routes must be remote from each other • If one exit route is blocked, the other is available • Single exit is allowed in rare cases

Size of Exit Routes • Large enough for maximum occupant load for each floor • Capacity does not decrease at any point • Minimum of 6 feet 8 inches high • Minimum 36” doors (min. 32” clear opening) • ADA requirements more restrictive in new construction

Unobstructed Access • Maintain exit routes free of obstructions • Exit route cannot require travel to a dead end • Exit route cannot go through a room that might be locked

Minimize Danger • No explosive or flammable items • No materials that burn quickly • No materials that emit poisonous fumes when burned

Marking Exits • Clearly visible sign reading “EXIT” • Exit sign in distinctive or contrasting color • Signs indicating direction to nearest exit • No obstructions or decorations

Non-Exit Doors • Any doorway or passage that might be mistaken for an exit • Mark with “NOT AN EXIT” • Mark doors to indicate actual use

Adequate Lighting • Exit routes illuminated • Exit signs illuminated or made of reflective material • Self-lighting signs maintained • No brightly lit objects near exit sign

Outdoor Exit Routes • Balcony, porch, roof • Guardrails to protect unenclosed sides • Covered if snow/ice likely to accumulate • Straight with level floor • No dead ends that branch off exit route

Doors Readily Open • Doors open from the inside • No keys, tools, or special knowledge required • Free of device that could restrict emergency use

Exit Route Leads Outside • Directly outside to a street or walkway • To an open space with access to the outside • Clearly show how to leave the building • Paths barricaded along exit route that lead elsewhere

Emergency Evacuation Plan • Escape routes • Alarm systems • Evacuation procedures • Training • WAC 180-41-035 • RCW 28A.305.130

Alarm Systems • Distinctive signal that warns staff and students of emergencies • Noticeable above surrounding noise and lights • Alarm heard/seen throughout entire school • Manual actuation devices • Automatic detection devices

Sounding Alarm Procedures • Manual pull box alarm • Public address system • Phones or radios • Air horns • Yell for help

Test Alarm Systems: • At least every two months • Annually for monitored systems • To ensure reliability • To ensure adequacy

Emergency Numbers • Post near phones • Post on Safety Bulletin Boards • Post in supervisors’ offices • Include fire, police, hospital • Include emergency response personnel

Evacuation Assignments • Evacuation coordinators • Head count/Class roster • First aid and CPR • Equipment shutdown • Fire responders • Evacuation of employees and students who need assistance

Evacuation Procedures • Recognize the evacuation signal • Listen for instructions • Shut down equipment • Assist and direct students • Follow the nearest exit route • Proceed to the assembly area

Staff Training • Location of evacuation routes • Alarm signals • Assembly areas • Evacuation assignments • Drills

Exits at Home • Determine exits • Develop an evacuation plan • Train your family • Have a pre-designated family assembly area • Teach your family to note the location of exits when in public places

Summary • Know the location of your exit routes • Keep exit routes clear of obstructions • Keep exit signs clearly visible • Recognize alarm signals • Take evacuation drills seriously

Quiz • Describe the exit route that is nearest to your normal workstation. • Describe an alternate exit route from your normal workstation. • Name some items that you have seen obstructing exit routes. • Signs along the exit route only need to say “EXIT.” True or False • Some doors might be mistaken for an exit; how should those doors be marked?

Quiz (cont.) • Exit doors cannot be locked from the inside. True or False • Once you exit the building, where should you go? • Describe what the emergency alarm in your building looks and sounds like. • Describe how you would sound the alarm in your building if you discovered a fire. • What is the minimum number of exit routes for any school area?

Quiz Answers • Various answers, depending on location of workstation • Various answers, depending on location of workstation • Various answers: file cabinets, storage boxes, janitorial supplies, chairs, etc. • False; the signs also need to point to the direction of the exit. • “NOT AN EXIT”

Quiz Answers (cont.) • True • Go to the designated assembly area. • Example: police siren and flashing white lights • Manual pull box, PA system, phone, air horn, yelling • Two exit routes that are remote from each other

School Safety Training