Emergency exit plans win safety award

The evacuation plan shows “You are here,” and includes a diagram of the building and red lines leading to exits. In addition, a meeting location away from the building is shown with a photograph of the meeting area.

4:42 p.m., Aug. 27, 2004--UD’s evacuation plan for buildings in case of fire or other emergencies received an Award of Recognition from the Campus Safety, Health and Environmental Management Association Division of the National Safety Council, in the Unique and Innovative Program category.

Submitted by Bernie Alexander, fire protection engineer with Occupational Health and Safety, the project won recognition as a creative solution to a difficult safety problem. Among other criteria, the submission was judged by its cost- effectiveness and its applicability to other institutions.

The UD project involves posting evacuation plans in prominent places on each floor of each major building and residence hall on campus. The plan shows “You are here,” and includes a diagram of the building and red lines leading to exits.

In addition, a meeting location away from the building is shown on the diagram, plus a photograph of the meeting area. This is important so that persons can be accounted for, Alexander said. For example, the plan posted on the first floor in Graham Hall shows a meeting place near Pearson Hall.

Joseph Filippone, plans room technician, and Bernie Alexander, fire protection engineer

Joseph Filippone, a plans room technician with Facilities planning and construction group, designed and created the signs.

UD also took top honors in the Complete Safety Program awards category from the National Safety Council.

Article by Sue Moncure
Photos by Kevin Quinlan

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