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IMMEDIATE LOW-COST
FREE BUILDING &
SAFETY
MODIFICATIONS
Residents, Staff, and Visitors
Create and review
emergency procedures
and run periodic emergency drills with residents, staff, and volunteers.
Orient visitors to emergency procedures
Orient visitors to emergency procedures
Create a list of
emergency
emergency
contact
numbers
- fire
- ambulance
- medical help
- landlord
- real estate
- owner
- Plumber
- carpenter
- electrician
- locksmith
- construction workers
- local emergency supports
whether run by state, county, grassroots, etc
You can also include contact information for first responders such as EMT and police, and be aware that minimizing police involvement and using alternatives to police is itself a harm reduction strategy when many vulnerable and informal communities are threatened and unsafe in police presence.
Keep a list of staff and residents’ emergency contacts
Keep a list of staff and residents’ emergency contacts
Each resident should prepare
an emergency kit
(for fire or earthquake) that can be stored in their space or in a secure outside location. The kit can include extra set of clothes/shoes/sweater, toiletries, flashlight, safety helmet, goggles, extra batteries, first aid kit, extra cash, emergency numbers, spare phone charger, gloves, etc.Speaking of earthquakes:
Review placement of large furniture and objects on shelves.
Anchor furniture into wall studs. Secure objects to surfaces with museum wax or
other safety tethering. Also consider whether there are fragile objects, including
those made of glass, placed on unsecured shelves. If possible keep such objects
in a cupboard with shelves. Examine hanging decorations or lighting and make
sure they are adequately secured.
Anchor furniture into wall studs. Secure objects to surfaces with museum wax or
other safety tethering. Also consider whether there are fragile objects, including
those made of glass, placed on unsecured shelves. If possible keep such objects
in a cupboard with shelves. Examine hanging decorations or lighting and make
sure they are adequately secured.
Obtain
Kidde KL-2S Two-Story Fire Escape Ladder is approximately $35.
Make sure to test on windows. Train key people on use.
escape ladders
upper-story rooms and make sure they are easily usable in emergencies.Kidde KL-2S Two-Story Fire Escape Ladder is approximately $35.
Make sure to test on windows. Train key people on use.
Complete risk assessments
for your space
taking all possible risks into account
taking all possible risks into account
These Australian/Canadian/British resources from CCOHS and WorkSafe Victoria have information that can be applied in many other places. Document potential risks, as well as measures to mitigate them into a single document that can be referred to when necessary.
Hold
regular drills
regular drills
Practice = safety
The more realistic the drill, the better.
The more realistic the drill, the better.
The more realistic the drill - the better.
Look to Street Medic communities on how they run situational drills and apply similar techniques. Some possible options: hold a fire drill with the lights out; bring in smoke machines; add disorienting background noise; practice evacuating someone who is injured; practice using emergency ladders and carriers (if applicable); simulate mock phone calls to emergency personnel.
These drills may be traumatizing to participants so be sure to work in space for self care afterward. However, drills will ensure that all key residents and volunteers are fully prepared in time of emergency.
Look to Street Medic communities on how they run situational drills and apply similar techniques. Some possible options: hold a fire drill with the lights out; bring in smoke machines; add disorienting background noise; practice evacuating someone who is injured; practice using emergency ladders and carriers (if applicable); simulate mock phone calls to emergency personnel.
These drills may be traumatizing to participants so be sure to work in space for self care afterward. However, drills will ensure that all key residents and volunteers are fully prepared in time of emergency.
Have non-flammable,
non-power-dependent lighting
available indoors, for example, battery-operated candles and flashlights.
Keep all
electrical panels,water and gas valves, meters,
and other infrastructure
accessible and identifiable, with a minimum 3' of
space at their front and sides at all times,
in case someone needs to access them in an emergency.
Depending on the area of the building, you may want to use chain-link fence to define space around panels/meters to prevent objects from being stacked against them, while offering a visual connection.
Limit the sizes of
storage rooms
whenever possible
Unless the room has sprinklers, or the walls are fire-rated.
This is one of the most important things you can do,
as storage rooms are major sources of fires.
Do not use the spaces under stages for storage,
unless they have adequate fire attenuation.
Unless the room has sprinklers, or the walls are fire-rated.
This is one of the most important things you can do,
as storage rooms are major sources of fires.
Do not use the spaces under stages for storage,
unless they have adequate fire attenuation.
Have a
cleaning day
Including removing hazardous substances
and unused objects, de-cluttering, etc.
Dispose of toxic materials and large objects safely, per your city’s process.
and unused objects, de-cluttering, etc.
Dispose of toxic materials and large objects safely, per your city’s process.