Each WSU owned/leased facility must have an emergency evacuation plan/procedure(s) specific to that location.  It is the responsibility of the highest-ranking individual user of each facility to develop and post such plan/procedure(s).  The University Fire Safety Marshal can assist facilities/departments in the development and implementation of evacuation plans/procedure(s).

In the advance of an emergency, prepare an evacuation plan specific to your building and have it available at all times.  The Enterprise Risk Management & Insurance Programs' Fire Marshal can assist you in preparing one if your building currently does not have one.  The Enterprise Risk Management & Insurance Programs can be reached at 577-3110.

In the event of a fire or other building emergency, the alarm system in your building may consist of strobe lights, audible horns, ringing bells, a slow whooping sound, emergency voice communication or any combination of these.

Highest-ranking individual user responsibilities

• Clearly identify the responsibilities of facility occupants to assist in evacuation procedures.
• Shut down any experiments, procedures, etc. that should not be left unattended.  Extinguish any open flames and shut off flammable or noxious gas supply valves.
• When exiting the facility due to an emergency condition, proceed to a pre-determined location and begin verifying that everyone in the facility has been accounted for.

When a fire alarm is sounded at any WSU owned/leased facility, everyone should immediately leave the building in an orderly manner by means of the nearest exit.  Under no circumstances are any personnel (excluding the WSU Police Department, Environmental Health and Safety, Detroit Fire Department) to remain in the building.

• Close the office, classroom, and lab door as you leave.
• Leave the building via the nearest available exit.  Always know a secondary means of egress to use in the event your first choice is unattainable.
• Use the stairwells to evacuate (do not use elevators).  Once in the stairwell, check to see that the door closed, proceed down to the level of exit discharge.
• If the facility is of a high rise occupancy (75' or 7 stories above grade) evacuation procedures are as follows:  evacuate fire floor above and the floor below.
• Do not re-enter any facility until advised by the WSU Police Department.

Evacuation Procedures for Mobility Impaired/Disabled Persons

In the event of an emergency condition at a university facility, the following procedures with respect to mobility impaired/disabled persons should be followed:

Highest-Ranking Individual User Responsibilities

• Clearly identify responsibilities of occupants to assist in evacuation procedures.
• Identify all mobility impaired/disabled persons within facility (faculty, staff, student assistants).
• A list of mobility impaired/disabled persons should be kept with each Building Coordinator.  The list should be updated at least annually and contain the name, phone number, and floor/area assigned location of these persons.
• It is the responsibility of the Building Coordinator to provide the responding WSU Police Department and Detroit Fire Department personnel with the list and location of mobility impaired/disabled persons.

Building Occupant Responsibilities

• During the evacuation of any WSU facility, all mobility impaired/disabled persons that are above the level of exit discharge, shall be placed in an "area of refuge" i.e., a fire rated construction room or enclosed emergency exit stairwell.
• Pre-determined facility occupants who are assigned responsibility for evacuation of a particular floor, shall assist mobility impaired/disabled persons into the area of refuge after all persons on that floor have evacuated.
• Unless department/facilities have special evacuation equipment i.e. emergency evacuation wheelchair, the responsibility for removal of mobility impaired/disabled persons rests with the WSU Police Department or the Detroit Fire Department.