Safety Plan

 

Emergency Action Plan

Skip to Emergency Action Plan Document

The purpose of this plan is to assist in moving employees and/or visitors within the Texas Tech University (TTU) Electrical Engineering building to a safe location in the case of an emergency. This plan also serves to provide information for employees, students, visitors and first responder personnel to facilitate a rapid and efficient response to various types of emergency situations which may arise in or around the Electrical Engineering building. Some examples of serious hazards which might create an emergency include, but are not limited to:

• Fire
• Bomb Threat
• Flood
• Tornado
• Active Shooter/Armed Subject

Electrical and Computer Engineering Building

The building is classified as an education and research use building. The building consists of two stories above ground level and a basement below ground level. The Texas Tech Police Department (TTPD) has primary responsibility for response to public safety issues in and around the building. Fire, hazardous material response, and emergency search and rescue services are provided by the City of Lubbock Fire Department. The building has a fire alarm system. There is no public address capability in the building. Utilities for the building are managed and maintained through Texas Tech University Building Maintenance and Utilities, a division of the Texas Tech University Physical Plant. Power for the building is provided by Lubbock Power and Light. The majority of the building is dependent on commercial power only. Boston Avenue Discovery Mall Canton Avenue R04 Engineering Center The building population is made up of faculty, staff, students, and visitors. The building population is generally highest during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Areas

Each area within the Electrical Engineering building shall ensure their employees have been fully informed of this plan, participate in drills, post any required documentation and assign Emergency Action Coordinators (EAC) sate following areas currently occupy the Electrical Engineering building:

• Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Program for Semiconductor and Product Engineering (PSPE) Lab.
• Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics.
• Computer Vision and Image Analysis Lab.
• Microwave Lab.
• Neuroimaging, Cognition, and Engineering Lab.
• Computer Vision and Image Processing.

In addition to those areas listed above, the following areas may routinely occupy the Electrical Engineering building outside of normal business hours:

• TTU Custodial Services
• TTU Building Maintenance, Construction and Utilities
• Various TTU academic departments

Building Emergency Manager

Richard Woodcock richard.woodcock@ttu.edu or 806.742.3533 is to serve as the Building Emergency Manager (BEM) for the Electrical Engineering building. The BEM is expected to normally be available upon short notice during what are considered to be normal work hours for the Electrical Engineering building (typically, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with the exception of holidays). If the BEM anticipates that he/she will be unavailable during these hours, he/she should notify the backup BEM.

The backup to the primary BEM is Dr. Brian Nutter.

Evacuation

In the event of an emergency that requires evacuation of the building (such as a fire, significant toxic gas release, explosion, etc.), first:

• Rescue: Try to rescue any personnel in immediate danger if it does not put you in imminent danger.
• Alarm: Activate the building fire alarm (by pulling a fire alarm pull station) and/or call 9-9-1-1 or 9-1-1. All of the fire alarm pull stations are labeled. If you talk with a 911 operator, state your name, address, and nature of the problem. Speak slowly and clearly. Wait for the dispatcher to hang up before you hang up.
• Confine: Close all doors, windows, and other openings that would aid in the spread of fire or toxic fumes.
• Evacuate: Evacuate the building.

For further information on Evacuation see page 5 of the full Emergency Action Plan.

Laboratory Safety Procedures

Objectives: The purpose of this document is to provide students, faculty, staff, and visitors with an explanation of general safety procedures that should be followed when working in the undergraduate laboratories. These procedures are intended to reduce risk of injury and to make the laboratory experience more enjoyable.

General Safety

• Wear proper footwear (closed-toe shoes, with skid-resistance) when working in the lab.
• Smoking is never allowed inside the building, including the laboratory.
• Food and drinks are prohibited in the lab area. A student lounge is located in room 04 down the hall from the basement lab. Keep all food and drinks there.
• Eye Protection must be worn when operating power tools, machinery, and live circuits. Goggles can be found in the lab or in the stockroom located in room 01.
• Avoid baggy clothing and long loose hair.
• Do not work with wet hands or large amounts of metal jewelry.
• Keep work space clean and free of clutter.
• Horseplay can lead to serious accidents, especially in the laboratory. Act in a mature manner and respect your group members.
• The use of chemicals must be preapproved by the Director of Undergraduate Labs or the unit coordinator in room 02. Always wear eye protection and other safety equipment for these cases.
• Use of etching solution is strictly prohibited. Use the milling machine on the first floor to create printed circuit boards.

Electrical Safety

• Check equipment and cables carefully before applying power. Return any faulty equipment to the cal lab or stockroom.
• Soldering irons are essential in the development of circuits; however, users should handle these tools with great care because they can cause fires, serious burns, and the release of fumes when heating the solder. For this reason, always:
  • Wear eye protection.
  • Be aware of your surroundings and those you are working with.
  • Keep soldering iron in stand and far away from flammable materials.
  • Work in an open and well ventilated area.
• Emergency Power Cut−off System: Both undergraduate labs have an emergency power cut−off system located near the exit doors. They are marked with a large sign. This system is intended to shutdown all power outlets in the workbenches. It should be used in the event of an emergency, such as electrical shock, where power must be turned off before care can be provided. Once activated, please notify the unit coordinator (Richard Woodcock richard.woodcock@ttu.edu) in room 02.