CHEMICALS

Read instructions prior to working with any chemicals (for example, cleaning agents, paint, or solvents). You need to know if there are any hazards associated with their use. If you do not feel confident that you are using a chemical safely, do not use it.

A Material Safety Data Sheet is available in the Custodian’s Room.

CLOSING PROCEDURES

Never transport the day’s receipts while the doors are open and patrons are in the building. Be sure all patrons etc. are out of the building prior to final closing.

     Lock days receipts in safe

     Be sure stoves/ovens/coffee makers are off

 Do not turn off any other computers unless specifically asked to do so.

     Be sure all lights are off

     Engage security system

You may only have immediate family members or the person who is giving you a ride inside the library while closing. You may not have friends or anyone else wait for you inside the building while you are closing. This is for your own personal safety.

It is best to never leave the building alone. Always leave with other employees for safety reasons. During inclement weather, wait until the other person has started their automobile prior to leaving.

If you work late hours, arrange to leave at the same time as a co-worker. Try to avoid parking far away from your worksite. Be aware of your surroundings at all times by making eye contact with passersby and glancing occasionally behind you. This type of "body language" will make you less attractive to a prospective mugger. If you sense that you are being followed, change direction or cross the street. If the person persists, run to the nearest place where you'll find people.

DON'T: allow a stranger to follow you to your doorstep. Go to a public place where you can call the police whenever you feel threatened. When fleeing from danger alert others as well as the person posing a threat. Yell "Fire...Fire...Fire!" or activate an alarm device such as an aerosol shriek alarm. This device is a hand held noisemaker that, when carried, may dissuade a crook from choosing you in the first place.

Drivers: Avoid fumbling for your keys; have them in your hand as you approach your car. Always check the back seat for uninvited guests before getting inside. Keep enough gas in the tank so you won't get stranded. Keep all doors locked and windows rolled up most of the way. Stay on well-traveled, well-lighted roads. If you are being followed by another car, drive into an open gas station, stay in your car, and ask the attendant to call the police. Better yet, drive straight to the nearest police station for assistance. Park only in well-lighted areas at night. Check for strangers who might be "casing" the area before you exit your car. Honk your horn and drive away if such a person advances toward you.

If you are "rear-ended" by another vehicle, motion for the driver to follow you to a public place. "Bump and rob" artists stage such accidents to lure unsuspecting drivers out of their cars to rob them of their wallet or purse. If a driver won't follow you, obtain as thorough a description as you can and report the incident to the police.

If your car breaks down, seek a phone or call box only if safe to do so. Place a "Call Police" banner in your rear window and raise the hood. If a "good Samaritan" approaches, crack a window and ask them to call the police or your tow company.

COORDINATORS FOR EMERGENCIES

    Contact the Director, Assistant Director or your senior staff member

The emergency coordinators are responsible for assisting the staff and visitors in the event of an emergency. Our primary goal is ensuring the safety of staff and visitors.

This includes:

•  Calling 911 at the earliest time to report an emergency (or assigning the first person out of the building to do so)

•  Warning all building occupants of emergency situations

•  Leading staff and visitors to alternate exit if the main exit is blocked

•  Helping with exit via windows and the roof if necessary

•  Ensuring that the building is completely evacuated in the event of an emergency

•  Working with fire extinguishers for minor fires after calling 911 and ordering building evacuation

•  Assemble behind library outside of staff entrance.

DIGITAL DISASTERS

A separate manual is being created for this section.

EARTHQUAKE

    If you are inside:

•  Stay inside. Watch for falling objects.

•  Crawl under a table or desk and hold on. If not possible, get against an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms. Do not go into a doorway.

•  Stay near the center of the building, away from windows, mirrors, overhead fixtures, filing cabinets, bookcases, and electrical equipment.

    If you are outside:

•  Stay outside. Move to an open area away from buildings, trees, and power lines.

•  If forced to stand near a building, watch for falling objects.

    If you are in a car:

•  Stop your vehicle in the nearest open area. Do not stop under bridges, overpasses, or overhead wires.

•  Stay in the vehicle until the shaking stops.

    After and earthquake:

•  Be prepared for aftershocks.

•  Do not move seriously injured people unless they are in immediate danger from fire, building collapse, etc.

•  Open doors carefully. Watch for falling objects.

•  Do not use matches or lighters.

•  Replace telephone handsets on cradles to free up phone lines for emergency use.

•  Discourage the spreading of rumors which can cause confusion and panic.

ERGONOMICS

THE LIBRARY must provide a safe ergonomic work space for all staff members. If you need an equipment or furniture upgrade to prevent injury or provide better working conditions, request it.

    Rules of good ergonomics:

·  Adapt the job to your body--don’t force the body to fit the job.

·  Be prepared to change positions and movements to reduce the risk of ergonomic injury.

·  Keep hands, wrists, and forearms straight and parallel to floor while working with elbows at 90 degree angle.

·  Take breaks periodically to stretch, shake out hands.

EVACUATION IN AN EMERGENCY – emergency map is at end of document

In the event of fire, smoke, or another emergency that requires building evacuation, please follow the following instructions:

Before evacuating staff and patrons, be sure that it isn’t a false alarm.

           For a true fire emergency – 2 STAFF MEMBERS

If it is a false alarm (Pull Station activated by “accident” and you are sure it is a false alarm):

FIRE INFORMATION

The building is equipped with a fire/smoke detection system throughout the building including all furnace rooms. Pull stations for notifying building occupants of a fire are located at most exits, but the locations are:

To activate fire alarm, simply pull down on lever. Small glass bar will break and system will go into alarm.

Be aware of the location of all fire extinguishers and pull stations.

Do not break windows.

Never allow the fire to get between you and the nearest exit.

If there is smoke or fire in an area, close the door(s) to that area and inform another staff member or supervisor and call 911 .

Stay low to the ground to avoid smoke.

If you have visitors, escort them out of the building meet south of the sign in the front yard. If you have visitors, you are responsible for taking the headcount. Therefore, you must be aware of how many there are.

FIRE OR SMOKE

1.   Call the emergency phone number 9-1-1. You should remain in communication with the person who answers the emergency number until they tell you to hang up.

2.   Fire extinguishers are located in the following areas:

Across from the multi-media desk.

Near window in Café.

Near sinks in Children’s Program Room.

Near kitchenette in Adult Program Room.

On wall across from Reference Desk

Staff kitchenette

Across from water coolers near public restrooms

Immediately inside door to mechanical room

3. Instructions for fire extinguisher

      The building is being evacuated (fire alarm is pulled)

     The fire department is being called (dial 911).

     The fire is small, contained and not spreading beyond its starting point.

     The exit is clear, there is no imminent peril and you can fight the fire with your back to the exit.

     You can stay low and avoid smoke.

     The proper extinguisher is immediately at hand.

     You have read the instructions and know how to use the extinguisher

IF ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS HAVE NOT BEEN MET, DON'T FIGHT THE FIRE YOURSELF. CALL FOR HELP, PULL THE FIRE ALARM AND LEAVE THE AREA.

Whenever possible, use the "Buddy System" to have someone back you up when using a fire extinguisher. If you have any doubt about your personal safety, or if you can not extinguish a fire, leave immediately and close off the area (close the doors, but DO NOT lock them). Leave the building but contact a firefighter to relay whatever information you have about the fire.

Pull the pin on the fire extinguisher.

Stand several feet from the fire, depress the handle and sweep back and forth towards the fire. Note:

Do not walk on an area that you have "extinguished" in case the fire reignites or the extinguisher runs out! Remember: you usually can't expect more than 10 full seconds of extinguishing power on a typical unit and this could be significantly less if the extinguisher was not properly maintained or partially discharged.

The metal parts of CO₂ extinguishers tend to get dangerously cold -- practice using one beforehand or have someone show you the proper way to hold one.

Again, proper training is usually required by state or federal OSHA!

Direct the extinguisher at the base of the flames until the fire is completely out.

     Recharge any discharged extinguisher immediately after use. If you discharge an extinguisher (even just a tiny bit) or pull the pin for any reason, call your campus or corporate Fire Marshal's office to arrange a replacement.

FIRST AID PROCEDURE WHILE WAITING FOR FIRST AID ATTENDANT OR AMBULANCE

a)  Breathing stopped – if you know how to perform CPR

·    if no neck injury is suspected, tilt the head back to open the airway; if a neck injury is suspected, open the airway by lifting the lower jaw;

place the person on his/her back;

·    remove any obstruction from the respiratory tract;

·    

·    pinch the nostrils and blow into the casualty’s mouth so that the chest expands.

·    if the chest does not expand, check again whether the respiratory tract is clear, tilt the head a little further back and blow again into the mouth;

·    let the victim exhale and then repeat the operation at 4 to 5 second intervals.

b)  Bleeding

·    apply pressure on the injury using a clean cloth;

·    lay the person down in such a way that the wound is at a higher level than the heart;

·    cover the victim to prevent shock.

c)   Unconsciousness

·    continually ensure that air passages are clear and that the victim is breathing;

·    loosen clothing about the neck, chest and waist.

d)  Ingestion of Chemicals

·    determine the exact nature of the ingested substance;

·    check label or Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for treatment;

·    call the Poison Control Centre).

e)  Falls

                       Since there may be serious unseen injuries, do not move the patient unless there is a life-threatening situation. Keep the patient warm.

f)   Chemical Splashes Over a Large Area of the Body

·    IMMEDIATELY FLUSH WITH COOL WATER FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES AND REMOVE CONTAMINATED CLOTHES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE;

·    while removing clothing, avoid further contamination of other parts of the body, especially the face and eyes;

·    never use chemical neutralizing agents, ointments, creams, lotions or salves.

g)  Chemical Splashes Over a Small Area of the Body

·    rinse with cold water for at least 20 minutes, then wash with soap and water;

·    remove jewelry and contaminated clothing to assure the removal of all traces of chemicals.

h)  Accidental Injection and Contaminated Cut

·    wash surface with water;

·    apply pressure using a clean cloth;

·    put affected part on ice;

·    keep body part below level of heart. Inform medical staff which chemicals and/or solvents were injected.

i)   Chemical Splashes into the Eyes

·    if contact lenses are worn, remove them immediately;

·    flush the eye with clean water for at least 20 minutes (use fountain, eyewash station, or tap water). While flushing the eye, keep it open, and roll it constantly to wash the mucous membranes of the eyelids.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

Call for Emergency Medical Service if appropriate at 911 and/or a staff member knowledgeable in first aid.

Do not attempt to move an injured person if it can be avoided.

Avoid any uneasy conversation about the incident or about the ill or injured person. You might add to the person’s distress or fears, increasing the risk of medical shock. Limit your communication to quiet reassurances.

OLIVE ELEMENTARY – library as evacuation site for

The library is the evacuation site for Olive Township Elementary. In the event that the school children must be brought here, please follow these guidelines.

Children will probably exit OTE via the school’s east doors, cross Bray Street and enter through the library’s front doors. Teachers, students or library staff can hold doors open. The Director, Asst. Director or Childrlen’s Coordinator will direct “traffic”.

    Kindergarten – to Children’s program room

    Grades 1-3 to Main Meeting Room

    Grades 4 to Children’s Department

    Grades 5-6 to Adult Department

Mrs. Bailey and Mrs. DeLaurentis are to be provided every necessity including portable phones from the Director’s and Assistant Director’s offices.

Buses will enter from the Dunn road entrance and begin a line up at the Bray Street entrance.

OTHER EMERGENCIES

Report emergencies to a senior staff member. If the building must be evacuated, do so via the intercom, and follow emergency evacuation procedures.

PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED VISITORS TO THE LIBRARY

If library patrons are physically challenged, i.e. wheel chair or other assistance device, be sure that there are capable and competent staff members are available at all times to evacuate that person in such an event. If there is an emergency and the library must be evacuated, contact 911 and note that there is a person on the premises who needs assistance in exiting the library.

REPORTING SAFETY HAZARDS AND ISSUES

Report all safety hazards to your supervisor.

Safety hazards/issues include:

•    wet floors

•    broken glass

•    sharp edges on furniture

•    any other situation which could be hazardous

•    torn carpet

    If in doubt, ask your supervisor.

SECURITY SYSTEM

The building is wired for an internal building security system. To deactivate the security system during normal working hours punch in your pre-approved security code and hit the off button.

If the system is in alarm mode and there is no emergency, i.e. opened door and forgot to disarm security system, punch in your security code and hit the off button. Immediately after deactivating the system you MUST contact the Monitoring Service at 1-800-827-3624. You will also need to give them the library’s account number. Write that # in this manual for future reference

The security system has a special ambush mode that is activated by adding one to the first number to your security code. If your number is 4444 and you are being threatened while engaging or disarming the security system, punch in 5444. The system will go into silent alarm and contact local authorities. Try to remain calm, help is on the way.

TELEPHONE CALLS – PRANK AND OBSCENE

•  Hang up.

•  If caller was threatening you in any way contact police at the non-emergency number of 654-3544 or 911 if necessary.

TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR EMERGENCIES

           For Fire, Police, Sheriff, Emergency Medical Service, State Highway Patrol dial: 9-1-1

           Non-Emergency/Administrative Numbers:

                       POLICE – 654-3544

FIRE DEPT– 654-3211

TORNADO

Go directly to a windowless room: staff restrooms, family toilet, public restrooms.

WATER LEAKS

    In the event of a leak, stay away from all electrical equipment which may have become wet. You could be electrocuted! All fawcets/fountains etc have shut off valves. The key to turn then off is in the key cabinet in the staff work area.

    Contact Library Director immediately at 654-3224 or cell # 250-2595 or the Assistant Director at 654-7676 cell # 339-2586.

    TURN OFF ELECTRICITY USING BREAKERS IN MECHANICAL ROOM.

WIRES AND CABLES

     Do not run wires and/or cables across a floor area where someone may walk.

·   If you must run a cable across the floor, use a cable protector which attaches the cable to the floor and eliminates the hazard of tripping.

·   When using vacuum cleaners, be sure to use orange extension cords. Be sure that plugs are in good shape and that no bare wires are exposed throughout the chord.

LIBRARY Accident/Injury or Incident Report

All accidents, injuries or incidents on LIBRARY property involving LIBRARY staff, patrons or other people in the library must be reported immediately to the Library Director, Assistant Director or Supervisory Staff Member. Failure to make a report, in writing or by phone, in a timely fashion (usually within two hours of the accident or injury) could result in disciplinary action (including dismissal). One circumstance which would preclude reporting within two hours is a medical emergency. If you cannot make a timely report, report it as soon as possible.

Reported by (If not by staff member, put the person reporting

the incident here) :____________________________________________________

Name:____________________________________________________

Address:___________________________________________________

Phone:____________________________________________________

Parties involved:

Name:____________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________

Phone:____________________________________________________

Name:____________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________

Phone:____________________________________________________

List additional parties on extra page.

Date of incident: ________        Time of incident: _____________ 

Location of incident: __________

Witness/s to incident

Name:____________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________

Phone:____________________________________________________

Name:____________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________

Phone:____________________________________________________

Describe incident in detail (use extra sheet(s) if necessary)

Signature of person making report: __________________________ Date: ___________

Full Name:

Address:

Phone: