Emergency evacuation information for staff

All staff have a legal responsibility under Section 7 of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 to co-operate with their employer with regard to health & safety. Please read this information carefully.

Fire Safety Awareness

The London Fire Authority and the Governors of Birkbeck require all staff to receive regular fire safety training/information. This is accomplished via on-line safety induction packs, fire instruction notices and fire drills.  The College Safety Officer also holds occasional fire safety awareness sessions.

To keep-up-to-date, read the Fire Instructions that are displayed at strategic points around all buildings and become familiar with all the fire escape routes in the buildings you work in or visit - including any non-Birkbeck buildings where evening classes are held such as Friends House, LSE, UCL etc . If you have students, inform them of the local fire procedures - they will all be quite similar to Birkbeck's arrangements.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES: Malet Street main building, Gordon Square, Russell Square, Torrington Square, Tavistock Square, Egmont House and Gower Street. The fire alarm is a continuous ringing bell or siren in all buildings.

When a continuous alarm sounds, leave your area promptly, close doors and encourage others to leave too. Inform the Duty Attendant or the Fire Brigade if you know of an area where disabled persons require assistance with evacuation.

If you are in charge of students or visitors, direct them to the nearest exit and take them well clear (100 metres) of the fire exits. This will allow space for others to exit safely, provide unrestricted access for the emergency services and put a safe distance between yourself and any debris from possible explosions. Discourage students or colleagues from standing in the road.

At the larger buildings, the Duty Attendant is in charge of implementing Birkbeck's emergency evacuation procedures but he/she will require assistance with crowd control outside buildings from members of staff. All Birkbeck staff are expected to act as Fire Marshals in this respect if they are free to do so. The duties are:

a) to instruct persons leaving buildings to move well clear of exits and not to stand in the road. At some exits several staff are needed to keep evacuees from congesting the pavements and forcing others into the street.

b) to instruct persons not to re-enter buildings until the all-clear has been given by the Duty Attendant or a senior fire brigade officer.

In the event of an emergency evacuation at buildings without a duty attendant, all staff are expected to act as Fire Marshals and provide assistance as in (a) & (b) above until further assistance arrives.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES:  Emerald Street, UCL South Wing, Birkbeck Stratford, evening Nursery and all external teaching venues.

These buildings are not under the direct control of Birkbeck and staff based in or visiting them should read and follow the fire instructions posted in the rooms and corridors and communicate these to their students as necessary.