Fire Safety/Emergency Evacuation

The emergency evacuation will be signalled by an electronic alarm, audible throughout the building. This alarm should not be confused with intruder alarms in the building, which are local and which will diminish in sound intensity as the individual moves away from them. Staff should familiarise themselves with the sound of the emergency alarm when it is tested.

When the emergency alarm sounds, all staff and students will leave the building by the most direct route, without using the lifts. For those individuals unable to use the stairs, a secure point will have been indentified for them to go to, and await Fire & Rescue Service evacuation if necessary. A number of staff have been designated as fire wardens, who will sweep the building as they leave, to check for signs of fire, and to ensure that the building is clear of people. Fire wardens will report to the senior fire warden present, at the fire panel, who will report the status of the building to the Fire and Rescue Service on their arrival. There is no formal roll call once staff have left the building. Staff hosting visitors are responsible for briefing them on the actions required on emergency evacuation.

It is the policy of Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service not to respond to an automated alarm call unless there is a further indication of a fire in the building concerned. Both the Physics Building and the Michael Atiyah Building have automated alarms, therefore once a fire has been confirmed, the Security Office must be informed on Ext 2023; this will usually be done by the senior fire warden present. The Security Office will confirm the fire to the Fire & Rescue Service.

Out of Hours Access

Departmental hours are 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. Outside these hours the Physics Building is locked. Access out of hours is by swipe card via the card reader next to the door nearest the Charles Wilson Building. All persons entering the building out of hours are requested to sign in the book provided. Should there be an emergency, Rescue Services will then have an idea of how many staff may be in the building. Exit out of hours is through this same door using the button on the inside.

The Space Research Centre in the Michael Atiyah Building requires a swipe card for access at all times, and for out of hours access to the building itself.

To request an out-of-hours access card, contact Stuart Lyon in the Physics Building or Janet Bee in the Space Research Centre.

In the case of any emergency out of hours, first contact Security on Ext 2023, or dial 888.

Lone Working

Staff are reminded that, when working outside normal working hours, lone working in laboratories or experimental areas is not permitted. There should be at least one other person nearby at all times, who would able to assist in an emergency.

Children

As a general rule, children of staff and students are not permitted in University buildings. All members of staff are required to seek specific approval from the Head of Department before bringing a child into work. This includes working out-of-hours. The full University policy is available at http://www.le.ac.uk/safety/documents/pdfs/children-policy-1203.pdf

First Aid

There are a number of trained workplace first-aiders within the Department. For the Physics Building, first-aiders are displayed on a board next to G41 on the Ground Floor. Currently the first aiders are:

• Stuart Lyon, Ext 1029
• Philip Stapleton, Ext 3532
• Grant Denkinson, Ext 2078
• Kiri Rhodes, Ext 3570
• Catarina Fernandes, Ext 3506
• Masaki Sakano, Ext 1890
• James Hutchinson, Ext 2083

All staff & students are reminded that in the event of a safety-related incident occuring at work, an incident form should be completed. These are available through the departmental office, G43.

Victoria Park

Please be aware that there have been occasional incidents in Victoria Park. If crossing the park at night, it is strongly recommended that individuals do not walk alone.  For further information, see http://www2.le.ac.uk/ebulletin/bulletin-board/2010-2019/2010/02/nparticle.2010-02-05.7488140380

For further information or advice, please contact the Departmental Safety Adviser, Stuart Lyon, on Ext 1029 or srl8@le.ac.uk