Elevator Emergency
When an emergency alarm from an elevator is sounded, the following procedures shall be followed. The Public Safety dispatcher shall determine which car is in trouble, and its building/floor location. By way of the intercom systems (if elevator is equipped with one), or in person by Public Safety personnel, contact the car, and ask if the passengers are all right, and if the emergency buttons are in the out position.
The passengers should be informed that service is on the way. If the car remains stalled, the passengers should be advised:
- Not to Panic;
- That emergency elevator service has been called;
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Not to attempt to open the doors;
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To stay clear of the doors; and
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Not to exit until told to do so.
During regular office hours, the Facility Operations Office should be contacted so it can call the elevator service company and send additional building personnel to assist if necessary. During off-hours, service personnel should be called immediately. The engineer on duty should be dispatched and informed that a car is down with passengers trapped. If the engineer on duty is unable to resolve the situation, a request for service should then be made.
If service response time exceeds 30 minutes, the Fire Department should be called to report the entrapment first, then call the respective Facility Operations Manager.
All information should be logged in the Public Safety Dispatcher’s radio log and complete Public Safety report.
Emergency School Closure
The decision to cancel classes or close the offices of the entire University due to inclement weather (or any other reason) is the responsibility of the President of the University or, in his absence, the highest ranking available member of the EERT.
In the event of a large-scale class cancellation or closure, University-wide e-mail and voicemail announcements will be issued. A voicemail message will also be posted on the University’s general announcement line at 312/362-6226 or main telephone number at 312/362-8000. Additionally, the DPU Alert system may be utilized.
The University will report campus closures or class cancellations to the Emergency Closing Center, a communal source of information used by local television and radio stations, including:
CBS-TV (Channel 2)
NBC-TV (Channel 5)
ABC-TV (Channel 7)
WGN-TV (Channel 9)
WFLD-TV (Fox Channel 32)
WGN radio (720 AM)
WBBM radio (780 AM)
Isolated class cancellations will be handled more personally on a smaller scale, as required by the situation.
Structural Failure
In the event of structural damage to a University-owned building, the entrances to the floor/area containing the damage are to be blocked off to prevent any pedestrian traffic, and the area should be secured to prevent theft of University or personal property.
Facility Operations will coordinate a structural inspection of the damaged building. Because of the unknown condition of many structural elements, no one shall be allowed in the damaged area for any reason until the facility is deemed safe by all appropriate authorities.
In the event of injury or entrapment, Public Safety will contact local authorities and call them to the scene, as appropriate.
Facility Operations will coordinate the assessment of how to proceed with the reconstruction process as soon as possible.
Utility Failure
Utility and Facility Related Emergencies
Utility failure emergencies should be reported immediately to the respective campus Facility Operations office. Public Safety should also be notified if the utility failure is potentially threatening to the safety of persons or facilities. The following list provides examples of utility and facility-related emergencies:
- Widespread power outages
- Water leaks
- Broken pipes
- Broken windows
- Elevator/escalator malfunction
- Heating or air conditioning problems
- Bathroom clogs or overflows (sinks/toilets)
- Gas leaks or odors
- Broken locks
Work Orders - Non-Emergency Issues
Utility issues that do not constitute an actual emergency should be reported to Facility Operations via the online work order system. The following list provides examples of non-emergency utility and facility related issues:
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Excess trash
- Minor clogs or slow-moving drains
- Limited power outages or burned-out light bulbs in non-critical areas
- A need or desire to change locks