Safety Issues in ACC Libraries

Thanks for the careful read and comments on my "Safe and Sound" email post Monday. As we all know, IRT administration takes staff safety and security and comfort levels very seriously. To list our work in this area let me reiterate what is out there for you regarding these issues and what is in the works.

Wiki Content - The wiki has a variety of types of information that include links to college information, copies of guidelines I have sent out in emails, scripts to use in relevant situations and information we have created over the years, updated in '07 and '08 and are now reviewing, updating again, and adding to. Although we have an "Emergency Preparedness" area, it combines a number of things that we are separating out.

As to the presence of the Staff Development Team on the wiki, the SDT is:

• reviewing the content on the wiki and revising as needed
• adding scripts to the wiki for handling these situations
• reviewing older emails for current accuracy and adding content from past memos such as the 2008 "Memo from the Dean of Library Services on Campus Alarms: Required Behavior by LS Employees during Emergency Evacuation/Fire Drills"

Training

1. Part of the review of ACC content is the identification of college training related to what we do. We will be recommending some of these trainings for this year.
2. As we all know, our LS all meeting last year was a panel of our ACC police with content in general as well as content prepared just for us/in our space. We received excellent feedback from that meeting and will schedule another one of those when our content has been updated.
3. I will be coming around to each campus and meeting with staff there regarding their own/unique safety issues of their buildings. If you will remember, 10/21/2009, I sent an email around regarding those elements that needed to be in first day/first week training for each staff member. See the content I have included at the end of this email labeled "do you know" as it includes that information and more. HL's/Managers will be working with staff (all staff....all levels and no matter how many hours they work for us) to determine if all staff know the answers to these critical questions prior to my coming out to the campus.

SO...do you know regarding Emergency Management (EM) in your building?

1. Visit each floor of your buildings on campus. Review the following information:

Where are the posted floor plans and specifically where are the emergency exits?
What are the floor plan notations for emergency evacuation locations?
Where are emergency boards/marquees located?
What do the instructions near the elevators say regarding evacuation/in case of emergency?

2. Review the external areas of the building(s) on your campus.

Where is the shelter-in-place on your campus in case of emergency?
Where are the rally points in case of emergency?
Who are the floor managers in case of emergency? How can you recognize them?

3. Note any equipment on the floors outside the library.

Where are the defib machines? Who is supposed to use those? When are they to use them?
Where are the fire extinguishers on each floor?

4. What are the posted/written EM elements?

What number is on the phone for emergencies?
Where is the notification button (right now only at Round Rock) in the library?
If we call for an emergency what is the code?
Who decides an emergency exists and who manages us through that emergency at your campus?

5. Where are any safety materials libraries have for staff?

Where are your non-latex gloves for handling possibly toxic materials?
Where are your face masks staff can and should use if smells or dust or mold make it difficult to breathe?