HEALTH, SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION PLAN

HEALTH, SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION

FOR

EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS, & GUESTS

 Introduction

This program follows the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) “Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines”, for Adult Student training guidelines, as published in the January 26, 1989 Federal Register.

Management Leadership and Employee Involvement

Management commits the necessary resources of staff, money, and time to ensure that all persons at Quest College are protected from injury and illness hazards. In addition, management visibly leads in the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the site’s safety and health activities. Management ensures that all students have knowledge of site hazards applicable to them and how to protect themselves against those hazards, including emergency alarms and procedures.

Worksite Analysis

Surveys are conducted that identify all safety and health hazards on an annual basis. All hazards found during these surveys are eliminated whenever possible or controlled. All employees who may encounter the controlled hazards are trained in appropriate job procedures to follow to protect themselves from these hazards.

In Cases of Sickness

Student illnesses or minor emergency medical care requirements will be reported to the nearest staff or faculty member. These problems will be resolved utilizing the first aid kit only or by referral to the appropriate medical facility or physician. No medical care will be administered by staff or a faculty member.

In Cases of Accidents

Accidents are a part of life, and even though Quest College strives to maintain a safe work and learning environment, sometimes they may happen. In the case of an accident involving a student or faculty the following should happen at once:

1. Ensure everyone involved is alright and no further harm can happen to anyone else, refer involved parties to seek medical care if needed or desired.
2. Inform the School Director of the accident.
3. An incident report is filled out by the instructor of the persons involved and getting witness statements if possible; then turned into the School Director.
4. The School Director studies to determine what went wrong and if anything can be done differently to deter further incidents. Training will be provided when a course of action is determined. A copy of completed incident reports is maintained in central files.

In Cases of Emergency Health Care Needs

All students, staff and faculty should immediately report a medical emergency to the next nearest staff or faculty member.

Examples of life-threatening situations include, but are not limited to:

• Choking
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Loss of consciousness
• Severe chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Seizures
• Immobilizing injuries

1. If there is any indication of a life-threatening situation; the school administration will immediately dial 911.
2. Send a by-stander to await the ambulance and direct emergency response personnel to the scene.
3. Give your name; describe the nature and severity of the medical problem and the exact location of the victim.

• DO NOT MOVE THE VICTIM unless an immediate life-threatening emergency situation dictates.
• Immobilize victim if potential head, neck or back injury.
• Help prevent shock by keeping victim warm, dry, and calm.
• Check for medical alert tags.
• Explain to the victim who you are and that you are there to help.
• Ask the victim “Are you okay? What is wrong?”
• Check breathing and start CPR if necessary and trained to do so.
• Control bleeding by applying direct pressure and elevation.
• Ask bystanders what happened.

4. Personal safety is your first priority. Use personal protective equipment (i.e. gloves) when in contact with body fluids.

Hazard Prevention and Control

Management ensures that this priority is followed to protect persons at Quest College:

1. Hazards will be eliminated when economically feasible, such as replacing damaged or broken furniture.
2. Barriers will be placed to protect persons from the hazard; i.e., availability of disposable gloves (protective equipment (PPE); for cleaning with chemicals.
3. Exposure to hazards will be controlled through administrative procedures.

Management ensures that workstations and all equipment are cared for properly so that the environment remains safe and healthy. If maintenance needs exceed the capability of the workplace employees, building management or contract employees are hired to do the work. All employees and students are held accountable for obeying site safety and health rules. When necessary, the emergency procedures are revised as a result of the evaluation report. Persons needing emergency care are transported by community ambulance to the hospital, located within five miles from Quest College. Onsite designated persons fully trained in cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and the requirements of OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, are the first responders to any emergency. One of these designated persons’ safety and health responsibilities is to ensure that first aid kits are stocked and readily accessible in the designated locations throughout the school, specifically the Registrar’s office and the Medical Assistant lab.

Through review of the OSHA Small Business Safety Standard, management has assessed all work and services offered at Quest College and determined that the following OSHA standards apply. Individual safety and health programs for each of these standards have been written and implemented. Employees affected by these standards have been trained to understand them and to follow the programs’ directions. These standards are:

• Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan
• Emergency Medical Care and Evacuation

Fire /Safety Prevention

Quest College works with appropriate outside agencies, such as property management, fire department, police department, local media, and the hospital to develop emergency plans for all potential emergencies, including fire, explosion, accident, sever weather, loss of power and/or water, and violence from an outside source. Drills are conducted quarterly so that all employees and students experience a drill on each type of emergency. Each drill, whether table top or actual evacuation, is evaluated by the School Director.

Intruder

Notify the School Administration immediately of anyone suspicious of being an intruder.

1. AAsk unauthorized visitor to identify him/herself.
2. If visitor is uncooperative, contact the Security (210-383-8018).
3. Security asks unauthorized visitor about purpose for being on campus.
4. If no legitimate reason, Security asks unauthorized visitor to leave.
5. If unauthorized visitor remains uncooperative, Security contacts Law Enforcement.
6. If unauthorized visitor leaves before security or law enforcement arrives, witnesses should write down individual’s physical description, type and color of automobile, registration number and any other identifiable information.
7. If unauthorized visitor stays in area, Security and Facilities staff work with Law Enforcement to keep area clear of faculty, staff, and students.

Bomb Threat

BOMB THREAT BY PHONE

1. Record exactly what the caller says.
2. Ask the caller:

• Time bomb set to detonate
• Is it visible or hidden
• Type of bomb
• How it got in college
• Where it’s located
• What it looks like
• Why placed in college or on grounds

3. Note any caller accent, age, sex, background noise, mental state, etc.

ANY BOMB THREAT

1. School Administration will Call 911.
2. Local Fire and Police will combine to form the Incident Command,
3. Team orders college evacuation based on information obtained about the bomb.
4. All faculty and staff scan work area for unusual objects while evacuating the building.
5. Report suspicious objects to the Team once evacuation procedures are complete.
6. Law enforcement staff works to keep incoming and outgoing travel lanes clear for emergency vehicles and prevent unauthorized people from entering campus.
7. The Team decides appropriateness of moving students and staff to relocation sites during extended evacuation.
8. Do not touch or attempt to move device.
9. If device is located, the State Police will then take over the situation.
10. Upon approval from local Law Enforcement and Fire Department authorities, buildings will be reoccupied.

Assault

1. Relocate the victim to a safe environment and treat injuries, if trained to do so.
2. Contact school administrator.
3. If sexual assault, advise the victim not to take a shower. If victim has already showered, have clothing worn at the time of assault placed into a paper bag to be turned over to Law Enforcement.
4. Contact counselors to meet with victim.
5. Obtain a description from victim and witnesses of suspect.
6. School Administration will decide if additional resources and support will be needed.
7. President, or designee, immediately contacts emergency notification contact person of victim.
8. School Director prepares a written statement for faculty to read to students describing the facts known at the time and procedures for accessing support as needed.
9. Administration may contact media with predetermined message that has been coordinated with Law Enforcement.
10. Initiate grief counseling as determined by need and severity of the situation.

Procedures to Be Followed in Specific Situations

Active Shooter

1. Do not initiate a building evacuation.
2. Find a safe area.
3. Immediately call 911 and describe the emergency situation.
4. Adequately describe your location, critical time may be lost if responders are directed to the wrong location or building.
5. Stay on the line until you are told it is ok to hang up because there may be other critical information you will be asked to provide.
6. If you are in an office, classroom, or other closed room, lock the door, turn off the lights, and hide in a location not visible from the hallway. If you are in a class, assist your students or classmates to be calm and quiet.
7. Prepare to defend yourself in any way possible, including arming yourself and others with heavy objects.
8. Do not huddle together in groups occupy separate locations to the extent possible to make it more difficult for a shooter to cause injury.
9. Remain hidden until an ‘all clear signal’ is given by police authority.
10. Always immediately obey the commands of police authority. Do not approach police officers keep your position and obey their commands. Always keep your hands open and visible to police officers at all times. Remember that police officers may not be able to know immediately which persons are victims and which are perpetrators.

Active Shooter Incident & Personal Preparedness

If you are involved in a situation where someone has entered the area and started shooting, the following is a list of actions that are recommended. It should be noted that these types of incident are unpredictable. The below guidelines are recommendations that are based on past experiences. You may have to alter some of these suggestions, depending on the situation.

1. Exit the building immediately.
2. Notify the nearest staff member and anyone you may encounter to exit the building immediately.
3. Report to your building assembly area which is the parking lot.
4. Call 911.

a) Give the 911 operator/dispatcher the following information:
b) Your name
c) Location of the incident (be as specific as possible)
d) Number of shooters (if known)
e) Identification or description of shooter
f) Number of persons who may be involved
g) Your location

If you are directly involved and exiting the building is not possible, the following actions are recommended:

1. Go to the nearest room or office.
2. Close and lock the door.
3. Cover the door windows.
4. Turn out the lights.
5. Keep quiet and act as if no one is in the room.
6. DO NOT answer the door.
7. Notify the 911 operator/dispatcher and Quest College at 210-366-2701.
8. Give the 911 operator/dispatcher following information:

a) Your name
b) Your location (be as specific as possible.
c) Number of shooters (if known)
d) Identification or description of shooter
e) Number of persons who may be involved

     9. Wait for local police or building security to assist you out of the building.

Police Response

Police are trained to respond to an active shooting incident by entering the building as soon as possible, and proceeding to the area of the shooter(s). They will move quickly and directly. Early on in an incident, they may not be able to rescue people because their main goal is to get to the shooter(s). People need to try to remain calm and patient during this time, so as not to interfere with police operations. Normally, a rescue team is formed shortly after the first responding officers enter the building. They will be the Officers who will search for injured parties and get everyone safely out of the building.

Availability to Employees and Students

A Health and Safety Plan is available for employees at the front desk of the reception area and registrar’s office. The Health and Safety Plan will be distributed to employees via the Employee Handbook. The plan will also be available on the institution’s website.

The Health and Safety Plan is available in each classroom and break area bulletin board for students to review. A copy of the plan can be obtained from the front desk receptionist or the registrar. Additionally, students can access the plan via the institution’s website.

Evaluation of Plan

The Health and Safety Plan is regularly evaluated/revised with appropriate input from employees and students. Students are provided an opportunity to evaluate and make suggestions for revisions to the facility via Student Graduate Surveys. Employees are provided the opportunity at any time to make recommendations or suggestions to evaluate/revise the Health and Safety Plan. The plan is also evaluated on an annual basis by the Occupational Advisory Committee and updated as needed.