This manual is a guide for establishing and maintaining safe working conditions at St. Scholastica, and for promoting safe work practices by faculty and staff. We hope that implementing these safety guidelines will set a good example for the entire college community.

Contact the Staff:
Michael Turner -mturner@css.edu

Reporting an Emergency | Medical Emergencies | Fire Emergencies | Bomb Threats | Vehicular Accidents | Chemical Spills | Severe Weather | Utility Failure | Personal Security Checklist | Reporting Injuries & Accidents | Electrical Safety | Ergonomics | Workplace Violence

Reporting an Emergency

To report any emergency requiring response from the Duluth Police Department, Duluth Fire Department or Gold Cross Ambulance, call 911.

Tell the 911 dispatcher: "This is an emergency" and give him/her the following information:

• The nature of the emergency
• Location of the emergency
• Your name
• The phone number you are calling from
• Your location

Do not hang up until you are sure no further information is required, or unless there is an immediate threat to your safety.

Wait for the emergency crew to arrive and direct them to the location of the emergency.

Medical Emergencies

A. What to do during a medical emergency
In the event that you, or someone you have encountered on campus is in need of medical attention, the following guidelines should be followed:

• Minor Injuries or Illness - Call Campus Security at #6175. They will assess the situation and provide emergency first aid. They will also advise as to the need for further treatment or attention.
• Serious Injuries or Illness - Call 911 and Campus Security.If it is obvious to you that someone needs immediate assistance and/or hospitalization such as for severe trauma, loss of consciousness, chest pains, paralysis, or broken bones, have someone dial 911 and Campus Security at #6175. Give the 911 dispatcher all pertinent information and the exact location. This will help insure that the proper responder is summoned and that help will arrive in the shortest possible time. Stay with the victim until help arrives.

Please remember that an injury or illness could be more serious than it first appears, so do not hesitate to call for assistance. Do not attempt to treat or transport the person yourself.

Fire Emergencies

A fire emergency exists when there is uncontrolled burning, the presence or the odor of smoke, or an uncontrolled release of a toxic gas or a flammable liquid spill.

A. During a fire emergency:

1. Sound the building alarm. If possible, locate the nearest emergency pull station and activate the building alarm. If you can not find an emergency pull station, warn the other occupants by knocking on doors and shouting as you leave.
2. Leave the building. Move away at least 100 feet from the building and do not block the way for emergency vehicles responding to the fire alarm. Do not go back into the building until the fire department says it is safe to do so.
3. Call 911. Give as much information as possible about the fire emergency.

B. Surviving a building fire:

1. Get down. If you get caught in smoke, get down and crawl. Cleaner, cooler air will be near the floor.
2. Feel doors before opening. Before opening any doors, feel the metal knob. If it is hot, don't open the door. If it is cool, brace yourself against the door, open it slightly, and if heat or smoke are present, close the door and stay in the room.
3. Go to the nearest exit or doorway. If the nearest exit is blocked by fire, heat, or smoke, go to another exit. Do not use the elevators because they may fill with smoke or the power may fail, leaving you trapped.

Total and immediate evacuation is safest. Only use a fire extinguisher if the fire is very small and you know how to do it safely. If you can't put out the fire, leave immediately. Be sure to call 911even if you think the fire has been extinguished.

C. If you get trapped:

1. Keep the doors closed. Seal cracks and vents if smoke comes in. If you're trapped in a room and there's no smoke outside, open a window and yell for help.
2. Signal for help. Hang an object at the window (a bed sheet, jacket, shirt) to attract the fire department's attention. If there is a phone in the room, call 911 and notify the 911 dispacher your location and that you are trapped.

Bomb Threats

All bomb threats should be taken seriously, and reported to Campus Security immediately.

A. If you receive a written bomb threat pay attention to when you received it, who has touched it, and how it was delivered. Call Campus Security at #6175 immediately.

B. If you receive a bomb threat over the phone try to keep the caller on the line long enough to fill out the bomb threat checklist, which asks for:

• Date & time of call
• Description of caller's voice
• Emotional state of caller
• Background noises
• Any information given about the bomb

C. If you find an object that could be a bomb or receive any unexpected packages: do not attempt to move the suspicious object or to tamper with it in any way. Call Campus Security immediately at #6175.

Chemical Spills

In the event of a chemical spill, call Campus Security at #6175 immediately. Let the security officer know where the spill occured, what type of chemical was spilled, and any injuries people may have obtained.

Until help arrives

• Move away from the accident scene and alert others to stay away.
• Try not to inhale gases, fumes, or smoke. If possible, cover your mouth with a cloth while leaving the area.
• Stay away from the accident victims.
• Try to stay upstream, uphill, and upwind from the accident.
• In case of contact with skin, flush the body area with water for 15 minutes. Seek medical attention immediately.

Severe Weather

1. Tornado Watch
A Tornato Watch means that probabilities are high that severe weather or a tornado could occur. The National Weather Service will issue a watch bulletin to local authorities as well as to the local radio and TV stations.

2. Tornado Warning
A Tornado Warning means that a tornado has been sighted in the area. The National Weather Service alerts all weather stations and local authorities. If a tornado is approaching, the warning will be signaled by a continuous sounding of emergency siren located on the roof of Tower Hall.

If campus Security is notified of severe weather, they will make the appropriate contacts.

3. Tornado Dangers

1. An approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible.
2. Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still.
3. Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.

4. Severe Weather
When the emergency warning sirens sound, it is everyone's responsibility to go to the nearest designated shelter area.

Don't leave the shelter until you hear the "all-clear" signal.

Utility Failure

Utilities are sources of power that run the campus. They include electricity, natural gas, water, sewage, heating, and telephones. All utility failures should be reported to Campus Security at #6175.

1. If there is there a potential danger to building(s) and/or its occupants, call 911 immediately. Be prepared to report your location and the nature of the emergency to the 911 dispatcher.

2. For all other utility problems call campus security at #6157. Tell them the type of utility failure occurring and your location.