Laboratory of Pathology - Staff

Fire Safety

The Laboratory of Pathology (LP) adheres to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Division of the Fire Marshal's policies and procedures for fire safety and emergency evacuation. All laboratories in LP must have a posted fire evacuation route.

A) Responsibilities:

• The Office of Research Services (ORS), through the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOHS), the Division of the Fire Marshal (DFM) and the Division of Radiation Safety (DRS), have overall responsibility for Occupational Safety and Health at NIH.
• The NIH Occupational Safety and Health Committee (OSHC) provides safety policy recommendations to the Director of the NIH, or his/her designee, in matters pertaining to occupational health, accident control and fire prevention.
• The LP Clinical Manager will ensure that policies and procedures relating to fire safety are available to staff, and for overseeing the annual fire evacuation and extinguisher use training.
• Section Supervisors are responsible for ensuring their staff are trained on fire safety, evacuation routes, the alarm systems and use of fire extinguishers.
• All clinical employees are responsible for ensuring they complete their initial and annual fire safety and evacuation training, and for abiding by NIH and LP's fire safety policies.

B) Fire Alarm Pull Stations

Fire alarm pull stations are located throughout the facility. These manually-operated pull stations should be used by any building occupant to report fires, the odor of smoke, and other major hazardous incidents (e.g., chemical spill). Do NOT use the pull station to report bomb threats.

C) Audiovisual and Auditory Fire Alarm System

The fire alarm system serves as an early notification system for all occupants of the facility. The system divides the building into zones based on the risk of fire. Zones are separated by fire rated barriers. The fire alarm system is activated by manual pull stations, automatic smoke detectors, and water flow switches in the sprinkler system. When activated, the fire alarm system automatically flashes white strobe lights and broadcasts an electronic signal and instructions over the fire evacuation speakers to occupants in the zone of the emergency only. Simultaneously, it transmits the exact location of the emergency to the NIH Fire Department along with other designated personnel in the NIH Emergency Communications Center.

The fire alarm announcements are different depending on your location. The emergency message announced in all patient care areas states: “… A Code Red has been reported in your area. Please start your Code Red procedure.” In public and laboratory areas, the message will state, “… There has been a fire emergency reported in your area. While this is being verified, please close all doors and evacuate the area.”

The Fire alarm system can also be used during a Code Yellow to give specific instructions to the occupants. Occupants must follow these instructions. If you have questions, regarding the instructions announced via the fire alarm, contact your section chief, department head or call the CC Command Center.

D) Central Paging System

The central paging system is not part of the fire alarm system. However, it is used along with the fire alarm system to alert the staff of an emergency situation or other important information.

• Fire emergencies are announced on the central paging system as Code Red Emergency”" followed by the room number or area where the emergency exists.
• Medical emergencies are announced on the central paging system as “Code Blue” followed by the room number or area where the emergency exists.
• In the event of activation of the Clinical Center Emergency Management Plan, “Code Yellow” will be announced over the central paging system as well as via the fire alarm announcement system.
• If a child is known or suspected of being abducted from the CC, call the NIH Police immediately. Follow the instructions of the NIH Police. The response may include the announcement to alert staff of the situation.

E) How to report and respond to a fire emergency   

IF YOU DISCOVER A FIRE, SMOKE OR AN EXPLOSION

REMEMBER R.A.C.E.

FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF THE NIH FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICER IN CHARGE.

F. Responding to fires in Laboratories, Assembly Areas or Offices

• Remove anyone in immediate danger;
• Pull the fire alarm and Dial 911 to report;
• Close door to room of fire origin;
• Turn off any oxygen or flammable gas;
• Alert other personnel in the immediate area;
• Remove obstructing items from corridor;
• Confine the fire by closing all corridor access doors;
• Extinguish the fire if possible;
• Evacuate the zone in alarm and exit by the nearest stairs or emergency egress routes identified by the red EXIT signs.

G) How to Use Fire Extinguisher   

Remember P.A.S.S.

1. Pull pin from the extinguisher handle
2. Aim the hose at the flames starting at the perimeter
3. Squeeze the handle
4. Spray the fire starting at the perimeter using a sweeping action.

Most areas are provided ABC extinguishers that can be used on most types of fires. Water extinguishers are available in patient care areas for small fires (e.g., trash can) or fires involving patients.  The Division of the Fire Marshal trains employees on when and how to use an extinguisher. All employees who use an extinguisher also need to follow the fire response procedures by calling 911 and outlined above for R.A.C.E.

H) Annual Fire Safety and Evacuation Drills

The Clinical  Manager coordinates in-services for Fire Safety Training conducted in coordination with the NIH Fire Marshal, and in accordance with the NIH Clinical Center’s Safety Officer. Evacuation Training covers emergency procedures to be employed before, during, and following a fire incident. The Laboratory of Pathology (LP) is housed in Building 10 (Clinical Center), which adheres to fire zone evacuations. In the event of an activated fire alarm, LP staff members are expected to meet in the central corridor between the N and B corridors (elevator bank) for roll call. Each corridor is considered a fire zone, and is protected by fire-rated doors to prevent the spread of fire from one zone to another until the fire department can arrive on scene. The Fire Marshal will provide further instructions when onsite regarding the need to evacuate the building if necessary. The designated meeting place for all LP employees evacuating the building is the parking lot behind Building 1.

Fire drills are conducted at least annually with the guidance of the Fire Prevention Inspector. The Safety Officer is responsible for notifying hearing impaired persons or alarm situations. Evacuation routes are posted in each section. During the annual drill, the audible/visual alarms are activated, and staff is expected to evacuate laboratories and offices and meet in the 2N/2A corridor intersection for roll call. The Fire Prevention Inspector will complete an in-service on the proper use of the fire extinguisher and discuss evacuation plans.

Specific plans for any persons with disabilities are established in appropriate sections as needed. Fire Prevention Safety (FPS) monitors the effectiveness of the drill and the Clinical Center Safety Committee, which is a standing committee of the Medical Executive Committee (MEC), reviews the collective data. If an employee is unable to take part in a fire drill, he/she must complete the Make-up Fire Safety and Emergency Evaluation Drill Evaluation.

I) Emergency Evacuation

Employees must follow evacuation policy 1430 -- See NIH Manual #1430 “NIH Occupant Evacuation Plan” 

1. Occupants should follow the instruction broadcast over the fire alarm system or instructions given by the Fire Officer in Charge. Individuals who are the designated floor and area occupant emergency coordinators shall assist visitors and employees in moving to exits and evacuation routes. Individuals should leave the zone in alarm via the closest stairs. 

2. Persons with disabilities:

   1. Staff should assist individuals with disabilities to one or two levels below the zone in emergency. 

   2. Individuals should call the NIH Fire Department on 911 for immediate assistance to evacuate mobility-restricted occupants.

   3. Persons who use TTY telephone lines can call the NIH Police or Fire Department on 301- 496-0063.

3. The Occupant Emergency Coordinator (OEC) for LP is an NCI Administrator on duty (e.g., LP Clinical Manager, Medical Director, Section Head)

4. The LP Safety Committee Members and Chair work together to function as the Floor Team/Area Team Coordinators (FTC/ATC) for evacuation procedures.

5. The FTC/ATCs:

   1. Expedite evacuation

   2. Assist individuals requiring assistance

   3. Report conditions and evacuation status to the OEC

   4. Advise the location of persons needing evacuation and/or assistance by the fire department.

   5. Monitor stairways, restrooms and elevators

6. The designated meeting place for all LP employees (except off-site and ancillary LP labs) evacuating the building is the parking lot behind Building 1.

7. Specific plans for any persons with disabilities are established in appropriate sections, as needed. The Safety Officer is responsible for notifying hearing-impaired persons of alarm situations.

8. Evacuation routes are posted in each section.