SECTION C7: Emergency Information Posters

• Introduction
• Scope and Application
• Program Description
• Roles and Responsibilities
• For More Information

Introduction

When fires or other emergencies occur in University facilities several agencies may respond, including the University’s Department of Public Safety, the Princeton Police and Fire Departments, Hazardous Materials Response Teams from Trenton or Hamilton Township, the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, or the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. In most instances, the individuals that respond have little or no familiarity with either the building or the specific activities that take place within.

The purpose of the Emergency Information Poster is to provide an easily recognizable and consistent means of displaying essential information about the status and content of laboratories or other facilities, primarily for the benefit of the emergency responders. Such information is not only important for the safety of emergency personnel, but is often of considerable value in evaluating and mitigating the emergency.

In the absence of current and accurate information, responders may take an extremely conservative approach to handling the emergency and the response may become disproportionate to the actual hazard. This may lead to a delayed response that could result in an emergency of greater magnitude or, at the very least, lengthen the disruption of normal activities.

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Scope and Application

Emergency Information Posters are an important part of the University’s Emergency Action Plan and are required for any room or space where there are hazardous materials in quantities listed below. Posters may also be used for other rooms with lesser hazards at the discretion of the person responsible for that room.

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Program Description

Emergency Information Posters are designed to provide useful information on hazardous materials, as well as telephone numbers of persons familiar with the operations, within the room. This information is particularly useful during after-hours incidents.

Instructions for completing the poster are available on the EHS web site.

Each department, laboratory or work area designates a person responsible for creating and maintaining the posters. The responsible person determines whether posting is necessary, completes the poster form, and posts copies on or near every entrance to the room and sends a copy to the Department of Public Safety.

The responsible individual checks the poster at least every six months, recording the inspection on the space provided in the upper right corner of the poster. The poster should be replaced at least every two years.

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Roles and Responsibilities

Department

• Determine if posters are required.
• Provide posters for all rooms or spaces for which they are required.
• Maintain a file of master posters with room diagrams to simplify the preparation of revisions.
• Forward a copy of each completed poster to Public Safety.
• Remind supervisors of the need to update posters in February and September.
• Ensure that each work area or lab has designated a responsible individual.

Responsible Individuals

• Prepare posters for all rooms or spaces for which they are required.
  Review/Update posters at six month intervals.

EHS

• Provide poster forms.
• Provide assistance with poster preparation, as needed.
• Periodically audit Departmental Emergency Information Poster program.

Department of Public Safety

• Maintain file of submitted posters.
• Provide poster to emergency responders, as needed.

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For More Information

Contact EHS at 258-5294.

Poster forms, with instructions, are available upon request through EHS.

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