GRT and RA Fire and Safety Awareness

Craig Bryer, Officer, EHS Office

Topics to Cover

• Review of fire safety

• Roles/Responsibilities of GRT’s

• Tips: cooking, electrical, egress

• Emergency Preparedness

To request EHS Services

• DSL EHS Program Manager…

• Your Lead Contact in the EHS Office is Craig Bryer @ x2-3477

• You can contact several Safety Program employees @safe-project@mit.edu

• For any EHS issue: environment@mit.edu

You can contact any of us anonymously

Fire Quiz!

1. The average size fire that can be put out with an extinguisher…

-Average discharge time for type “ABC”: 8-30 seconds

Fire Quiz!

2. When are you or your students expected to fight a trash can fire?

MIT Policy:In the event of a fire, Institute policy is to evacuate immediately and activate the nearest fire alarm pull-station on your way out. Do not fight the fire. Fires are to be handled by trained responders only.

Fire Quiz!

3. The two LEADING causes of dormitory fires are…

#1 Arson: approx. 33%

#2 Cooking: approx. 21%

According to: NFIRS

Past Dormitory Fires/Events• Examples at MIT (not limited to this list)

– Senior House fire 1984– MacGregor cooking fire 1997– EC GRT set fire to the carpet 1998– EC 4th floor kitchen fire 2006– Building 66 sprinklers 2008– Next House sprinkler 2008– Trash Bin Fire 1995, 2009

– Ashdown Kitchen Fire 2013

General Issues and Consequences• Yourself, Friends, and Community

– Injuries or death– Loss of Housing privileges – Expulsion from MIT– Damaged Possessions (MIT does not cover)– Disruptive building repairs / renovations– Occupants removed from dorms (late, or periods of time)– Animosity from peers– Legal and financial ramifications

• MIT– Tuition / Housing costs rise– Insurance rates increase– Employee time

GRT/RA Roles and Responsibilities

• Early September: facilitate a meeting with your students:– Walk floor for exit routes/maps– No tampering with sprinklers/detectors/exit sign– Cooking rules/tips– No smoking– No open flames– Electrical distribution

• Clear egress routes• Exit signs lit• Propping egress/stairwell doors?

GRT/RA Role in Emergencies

•Most important: get yourself out safely

• Activate pull-stations

• Sweep area as you exit

• Be a leader- instruct and communicate

• Communicate with emergency responders

GRT/RA Role in Shelter in Place

• Entire building will be notified via fire alarm system, PA, bull horn, MIT Alert, etc.

• GRTs may be asked to convey information to students (Dean On Call will contact you)

• Facilities will turn off ventilation if necessary

• Housing will provide water, flashlights, and other necessities for a short-term situation

If All Exits Are Blocked

• Stay low to floor where the air is cooler &

cleaner

• Go to a smoke free room with a window

• Try to minimize smoke infiltration

• Identify your location on window

• Dial 100 or 617-253-1212

Cooking without Burning

• Keep paper/ plastic (bags, boxes, packaging, etc.) away from the stove top burners, toaster ovens, coffee makers & other cooking appliances

• Do not wear loosing fitting clothing, like nightgowns and bathrobes, because your sleeve could easily catch on fire

• Every year there are more than 90K cooking fires. This is the #1 cause of home fires

• The majority of these fires were caused by leaving food cooking unattended!

• Microwaves, hot plates, coffee makers, and other cooking appliances are only allowed in kitchen areas, NOT in bedrooms

Electrical

• Electrical hazards are the cause of numerous fires every year

• Examples:– Overloading circuits– Use of unapproved electrical devices– Damaged or worn wiring– Extension cords– Daisy chains

Electrical

Other…• Sprinklers and smoke detectors that are tampered with WILL

set off main fire alarms

– A covered smoke detector WILL NOT function correctly!

– Horseplay in the halls can also set off sprinklers (ex.-a ball

hitting the sprinkler head)

• A fire alarm should NEVER be ignored!

• Make sure you, and your students, are familiar with how to

evacuate or assist with anyone with mobility concerns

Resources

• ehs.mit.edu – Fire Safety Training Tools for GRTs

• Igot2kno.org – specific for college students: features info on

staying safe, the correct way to evacuate, and stories from fire survivors

• campus-firewatch.com• PLEASE share websites with your students

From our side…

• The Campus Right to Know Fire Regulations state that MIT shall post information about fires and submit a report to the Dept of Higher Education

• Applies to dorms AND FSILGs

MIT Alert…

• …is the name for the notification system that sends out information in a campus wide emergency

• To sign up, visit http://web.mit.edu/mit-emergency/mitalert/And follow the directions given

Important Contacts

MIT Police617-253-1212 or dial 100 from campus phone

Security & Emergency Management Office(617) 258-7366 or 8-7366

Environment, Health & Safety Office(617) 452-3477 or 2-3477

Craig Bryer: 2-3270

Thank You

• Questions/comments/concerns?