Plan Ahead! It’s important that everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire.

Employees should:

• Count the doors or desks between your work areas and the nearest exit. During a fire, you may have to escape in the dark.
• Learn the location of alternative exits from all work areas.
• Know the location of the nearest fire alarm and learn how to use it.
• Post the fire department’s emergency number on or near your phone.
• Be sure that someone in authority knows if you have a disability that could delay your escape and that they make special plans to help you.

Employers should:

• Post building evacuation plans and discuss them during new-employee orientations.
• Conduct regular fire drills.
• Include disabled employees in the fire emergency planning process.

When a Fire Strikes

• Sound the alarm and call the fire department, even if the fire looks small.
• Leave quickly, closing doors as you go to contain the fire and smoke.
• If you encounter smoke or flame during your escape, use another exit. Since heat and smoke rise, cleaner and cooler air will be near the floor. If you must exit through smoke, crawl on your hands and knees toward your exit, keeping your head in the “safety zone.” 1 to 2 feet above the floor.
• Test doors before you open them. Kneel at the door; reach up as high as you can and touch the door, the knob, and the space between the door and its frame with the back of your hand. If the door is cool, open it slowly and be prepared to slam it shut if smoke pours in.
• Follow the directions of fire and security personnel.
• Once outside, move away from the building, out of the way of firefighters and stay out until the fire department says you may go back in.
• In some high-rise buildings, the fire emergency plan requires that workers in areas not directly involved in the fire remain in the building until instructed otherwise by firefighters.