Emergencies

An emergency is an unforeseen circumstance, a critical situation requiring immediate and appropriate response to prevent damage, solve problems or limit risks.

The most common emergencies in the work environment are:

• Internal or external fire
• Flooding
• Earthquake
• Release of harmful substances

• Reporting a bomb.

As to fire, the most common causes include:

• Accumulation of waste, paper or other combustible material that ignites easily;
• Misuse of open flames or heat sources, including cigarettes;
• Obstructed ventilation of electrical and heating equipment;
• Defective, overloaded or poorly protected electrical installations or equipment;

Poor equipment maintenance.

Special resources and procedures are in place to manage the situation and avoid damage during an emergency.

However, everyone can follow a few simple rules and measures:

• Comply with the ban on smoking and using open flames where prescribed
• Check that cigarette butts and matches have been put out
• Do not overload sockets with multiple plugs
• Switch off electrical equipment and technical gas lines or valves after use
• Do not tamper with, disable, damage or misuse fire-fighting and safety systems and devices
• Keep escape routes and emergency exits clear of obstacles

Keep access to fire-fighting equipment (fire hydrants, fire extinguishers, etc.) clear

The University takes measures to control emergency situations so that the workplace or hazardous area can be left in the event of severe, immediate and unavoidable danger.

For this purpose, emergency response staff are organised into emergency teams.

Emergency plans are in place at each University facility, setting out the actions to be taken by the team. In smaller workplaces, the plan may simply consist of written notices containing certain rules of conduct.

The University buildings are equipped with the necessary equipment to deal with emergencies (e.g. fire extinguishers, emergency lights) and with escape routes to safety.

An emergency plan is a document that contains information on the conduct and procedures to be followed in case of an emergency. The plan must be designed to take into account the peculiarities of the facility where it will be applied, e.g. any special risks, emergency equipment (alarm systems, lighting, etc.) or peculiar construction features.
It must be clear, easy to read and concise, and must be made known to all staff.
The emergency plan must be tested for operation by means of evacuation drills, the purpose of which is also to familiarise with emergency procedures. Drills must be repeated once or twice a year, depending on the facility.

• Stay calm;
• Immediately inform the person in charge of implementing emergency measures, who, if appropriate, will ring the alarm. The following must be reported:
• Your name;
• The nature of the emergency;
• The place of the emergency;
• The presence of any victims.

• Do not call the Fire Brigade, Police, Emergency Department directly;
• Do not keep the phone busy;
• Do not put yourself at risk;
• Do not use the lift;
• Do not attempt to get any personal belongings or other materials;
• Do not use water on electrical systems (turn off the power before using fire hydrants);
• Do not re-enter the evacuated area unless authorised. 

If the emergency is under control:

Remove any combustible substances and switch off the power supply of electric equipment to prevent the fire from spreading and, if the 

• emergency is outside the room you are in, to prevent the start of new fires;
• If applicable, turn off the compressed gas supply in the area you are in;
• If you feel you can manage, take direct action, using the equipment available if required.

If the emergency gets out of control:

• Leave the room, closing doors and windows to avoid feeding the flames with the oxygen in the air;
• Before opening doors, touch the top part to feel if it is warm and check for smoke. In these cases open doors only if you have no other alternative. Get on your hands and knees and protect yourself with the door or the wall, depending on which way the door opens;
• Move carefully along the walls, testing the floor with the foot that does not bear your body weight. Wood beams in the ceiling offer good protection as their surface burns but their resistance is guaranteed for a long time, unlike metal structures.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a wet tissue to protect your airways from smoke;
• Wrap wool clothing around your head to protect your hair from flames (avoid synthetic fabrics).

If the emergency is under control:

• Switch off the power supply of electric equipment;
• Close the water supply in the area you are in;
• If you feel you can manage, take direct action (close the tap, turn off the water main, etc.).

Take and enforce all known and tested self-protection measures.

In particular:

• Protect yourself from falling objects under a table or a beam;
• Turn on the radio, do not use your phone, wait for the authorities to arrive or instruct you.

• Stay in the building;
• Close windows and ventilation systems and seal gaps with wet cloths;
• Lay down flat on the ground and cover your nose with a wet cloth;
• Wait for the authorities to arrive and instruct you.

• Stay in the building;
• Close windows and ventilation systems and seal gaps with wet cloths;
• Lay down flat on the ground and cover your nose with a wet cloth;
• Wait for the authorities to arrive and instruct you.

If you notice a suspicious object or receive a reporting call, do not approach the object or attempt to identify or remove it.

• Make sure that everyone around you is leaving the premises and help disabled people and anyone who seems to need it;
• Close doors and windows; leave doors and windows open only if you have been specifically instructed to do so in order to limit the risk of explosion;
• Move away quickly following the routes to the assembly point without running or pushing;
• Hold on tightly to the railings as you go down the stairs so that you do not fall if someone pushes you;
• Remain at the assembly point for the headcount procedure.