Specific procedures
for shelter-in-place at a worksite may include the following:
· Close the business.
· If there are customers, clients, or visitors in the building,
provide for their safety by asking them to stay - not leave. When authorities
provide directions to shelter-in-place, they want everyone to take those steps immediately. Do
not drive or walk outdoors.
· Unless there is an imminent threat, ask employees, customers,
clients, and visitors to call their emergency contact to let them know where
they are and that they are safe.
· Close or tape-off all vents
in the room used for shelter-in-place
· Turn on call-forwarding or alternative telephone answering systems
or services. If the business has voice mail or an automated attendant, change
the recording to indicate that the business is closed, and that staff and
visitors are remaining in the building until authorities advise it is safe to
leave.
· Quickly lock exterior doors and close windows, air vents, and
fireplace dampers. Have employees familiar with your building's mechanical
systems turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems, and clothes
dryers. Some systems automatically provide for exchange of inside air with
outside air. These systems, in particular, need to be turned off, sealed, or
disabled.
· If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window
shades, blinds, or curtains.
· Gather essential disaster supplies, such as nonperishable food,
bottled water, battery-powered radios, first-aid supplies, flashlights,
batteries, duct tape, plastic sheeting, and plastic garbage bags.
· Select interior room(s) above the ground floor, with the fewest
windows or vents. The room(s) should have adequate space for everyone to be
able to sit. Avoid overcrowding by selecting several rooms if necessary. Large
storage closets, utility rooms, pantries, copy and conference rooms without
exterior windows will work well. Avoid selecting a room with mechanical
equipment like ventilation blowers or pipes, because this equipment may not be
able to be sealed from the outdoors.
· It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room(s) you
select. Call emergency contacts and have the phone available if you need to
report a life-threatening condition. Cellular telephone equipment may be
overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency.
·
Tape plastic sheeting over
vents, windows, and doors to prevent contaminated air from entering the room
· Take your emergency supplies and go into the room you have
designated. Seal all windows, doors, and vents with plastic sheeting and duct
tape or anything else you have on hand.
· Consider precutting plastic sheeting (heavier than food wrap) to
seal windows, doors, and air vents. Each piece should be several inches larger
than the space you want to cover so that it lies flat against the wall. Label
each piece with the location of where it fits. [See image at right]
· Write down the names of everyone in the room, and call your
business' designated emergency contact to report who is in the room with you,
and their affiliation with your business (employee, visitor, client, customer).
· Listen to the radio, watch television, or use the Internet for
further instructions until you are told all is safe or to evacuate. Local
officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your
community.