Safety Protocols and School Closure Procedures.
In an emergency, dial 617-358-4444. It is best practice to save this phone number in your cell phone so you have it available in an emergency.
a. Emergency Preparedness
The following links provide useful guidelines for students, faculty, and staff on emergency preparedness:
For access to BU premises, everyone must carry their BU Terrier card at all times. At the beginning of each semester, everyone should familiarize themselves with:
- Classrooms, office, or workspace
- The location of the closest emergency equipment (fire extinguishers, AEDs, first aid kits, etc.)
- Two emergency exit routes out of the building
- Evacuation routes and emergency plans
- RACE and
- What “shelter in place” means and the BU Shelter in Place Procedures
Staff should also familiarize themselves with their department’s Continuity of Operations plans.
b. Prepare Before Emergencies
The best way to stay safe during an emergency is to prepare beforehand. Emergencies may vary from weather incidents to human-made ones. The following links provide helpful guidelines on handling emergencies:
Natural Conditions/Weather Incidents
Man-Made Incidents
- Active Shooter
- Bomb Threat/Suspicious Package or Mail
- Boston Med Flight Crash
- Protest and Civil Disorder
- Work Place Violence (Code Green)
Protective Actions
c. Crisis Action Teams
The SPH Crisis Action Team is responsible for ensuring proper communication and collaboration during an emergency to reduce any potential risk. The Crisis Action Team provides helpful guidance for handling emergency circumstances. The contact list is maintained by the Associate Dean for Administration and Director of Buildings and Operations.
d. Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP)
A Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) addresses how critical operations will continue in emergencies and fosters recovery and survival in and after emergencies. A COOP establishes policy and guidance, ensuring that essential functions continue and that personnel and resources are relocated to an alternate facility in case of emergencies. The plan details procedures for:
- alerting, notifying, activating and deploying employees
- identifying critical business functions
- establishing an alternate facility
- providing a personnel roster with authority and knowledge of functions
SPH’s COOP is updated annually by the Associate Dean for Administration and Director of Buildings and Operations.
e. Building evacuation procedures, fire marshals, and procedures in the event of a fire
SPH building evacuation procedures
In the event of a fire, call out “Code Red,” pull the fire alarm, and dial 617-358-4444 to report the exact location of the fire.
Exit the building using the enclosed stairways. Do not use the Talbot historic stairs or the elevator.
Assembly areas:
- Talbot Building – Talbot Green. The green between Talbot and L Building; in the event of inclement weather — L Building.
- Crosstown Center – retail parking section of the garage on the Albany Street side.
- Fuller Building – Talbot Green. The green between Talbot and L Building; in the event of inclement weather — L Building.
Fire marshals
Each SPH unit or floor must have a designated fire marshal and alternate fire marshal. These individuals have several responsibilities, including:
- On an ongoing basis, in advance of an emergency:
- Know the location of the nearest fire alarm pull station.
- Note the location and designation of the nearest enclosed stairwell. Stairwells in Talbot and Crosstown Center are numbered with the designation sign inside and outside the door leading to it from the hall.
- Maintain a list, including name, contact information, emergency contact information, and location of all employees. Make a note of who, if any, may need assistance in evacuating the building. Each department/unit should keep a list of this information on a clipboard that is readily accessible.
- In an emergency:
- Call for assistance: 617-358-4444
- Check each room, including restrooms and conference rooms, to alert occupant(s) to leave the building utilizing the enclosed stairwells – do not use elevators or the historic stairs in the Talbot building – and to meet at the designated Assembly Area. The Fire Marshal is not responsible for requiring occupants to leave but should make a note of those occupants remaining behind.
- Ensuring mobility-impaired individuals have assistance to make it at least as far as the enclosed stairwell. If the individual is unable to exit the building, report the person’s exact location (stairwell number and floor) to the Control Center (617-638-4144) and the Evacuation Director at the Assembly Area.
- In the event of a loss of power, check elevators for people stranded in them and report to Control Center (617-638-4144).
- As time permits, close doors and shut off equipment.
- Upon reaching the Assembly Area, Fire Marshals report to the Evacuation Director noting:
- Occupants still in offices
- Individuals stranded in stairwells or elevators
- The condition of floor/area (fire, smoke, all clear, etc.)
The Evacuation Director reports to the BUMC Incident Commander and then reports to the Boston Fire Department Incident Commander or Liaison Officer.
Occupants should remain outside the building until the Fire Department gives the all-clear, and the alarm is off.
f. School Closure Procedures
When conditions exist that warrant a possible cancellation of classes or closing of a school, or the BUMC, the Provost (or the Associate Provost) will communicate with BUMC leadership to assess the situation and take appropriate action.
- This communication may take place either in person or via conference call that can be facilitated by the ERPD via the BMC/BU ECRS
- When the situation is weather-related, the BUMC Deans’ Team Group will be engaged.
| Provost | Karen Antman |
| Administration | Derek Howe/Amanda Bailey |
| Medical School | Karen Antman |
| Graduate Medical Science | Hee-Young Park |
| Dental School | Cataldo Leone and/or Tim McDonough |
| Public Health | Sandro Galea and/or Lisa Sullivan |
| Communications | Maria Ober or her designee |
For events other than weather-related emergencies, the BUMC Incident Commanders Group includes Gary Nicksa, Kevin Tuohey, and Thomas Robbins.
The BUMC ICS Resource Group, consisting of the following people, should be included as necessary to provide information relative to the incident of conditions.
| Public Safety | Stephen Taranto |
| Emergency Management | Renee Fielding |
| Facilities | John Barton |
| Health and Safety | Bob Whitfield |
| Human Resources | Amanda Bailey |
When the decision is made on a full-day closure, delayed opening, or early dismissal, the ERPD will notify the students, faculty, and staff.
The ERPD will notify the BUMC and BU Switchboard Operators of any outgoing emergency notification before being sent.
Emergency Communications and Notifications
Upon a decision to implement a full-day closure or a delayed opening for the entire campus, the BUMC Office of Human Resources shall notify the following media outlets of the status of BUMC:
- WBUR 90.9 FM
- WBZ News Radio 1030 and WBZ-TVWBZ-TV Channel 4 and CBSBoston.com
- WCVB-TV Channel 5
- WHDH-TV Channel 7
- WLVI-TV Channel 56
- WFXT FOX 25 and myfoxboston.com
Announcements and information regarding cancellation of classes or patient appointments will be made on these radio and television stations between the hours of 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M.
The EMD is responsible for:
- notifying the BUMC School Closing Group via the BMC/BUMC ERCS.
- advising students, faculty, and staff via the BU Alert System.
- updating the Emergency Communication web page and all other BUMC web pages.
- providing continuous updates during the event.
- updating the BUMC Emergency Information Telephone Line.
- requesting that each school update its web page.