Workplace Emergency Tips

If a fire or other emergency happened in your workplace, would you know what to do? Planning ahead and staying calm can mean the difference between safety and injury.

"We're calling everyone to action to start thinking about fire safety not just at home, but at your place of work or any building you're in," said John Drengenberg, global consumer affairs manager at UL. "Preparation now could lead to an effective escape in the event of a fire."

UL safety professionals offer these common sense steps that should be taken now to prevent serious injury or even death in the event of a workplace emergency.

Preparations

  • Know the location of the nearest fire alarm; know how to use it and be familiar with its signal.
  • Learn the location of the two nearest exits from your work area.
  • An escape in the dark might be necessary due to smoke or power failure, so count the doors, desks, work stations, etc., between your work space and the nearest exit.

Emergency Steps

  • Call 911 -- do not assume anyone else has called for help. When talking to emergency personnel, remain calm and give the dispatcher as much information as possible.
  • Never take the elevator during a fire. You may be trapped if the power goes out.
  • Feel a door handle with the back of your hand for heat, then feel the door itself, starting from the bottom and moving to the top. If the door is hot, do not open it as smoke and flames may rush into the room. If the door is cool, open it slowly and be prepared to quickly shut it if smoke or heat rushes in.
  • Leave quickly and close doors as you go to contain fire and smoke.
  • Use another exit if you encounter smoke or flame during your escape. Heat and smoke rise so cleaner air will be near the floor. Get as low as possible to the floor and move toward the exit.
  • Once outside, move away from the building and stay out until emergency personnel say it is safe.
  • If coworkers are still inside, notify the fire fighters. Do not attempt to rescue coworkers yourself once you have made it outside.

Trapped Personnel

  • If you cannot escape safely, remain calm and protect yourself by closing as many doors as possible between you and the fire.
  • Seal all cracks where smoke can enter by using wet materials such as jackets, towels, etc.
  • If there is a telephone in the room where you are trapped, call the fire department emergency number and tell them exactly where you are located.
  • Wait at a window if possible and signal for help by waving an object that can be seen from a distance.
  • Open a window for air, but do not break it as you may need to close the window if smoke rushes in.
  • Try to remain patient as rescue can take several hours.

Employer's Role

  • Conduct regular mandatory fire drills at least twice a year.
  • Post building evacuation routes throughout workplace buildings.
  • Employees with special needs should be included in the emergency planning process.
  • Fire exits and doorways should never be blocked or locked. Promptly report any signs of malfunction or blockage to building management.
  • Commercial buildings are constructed with fire-resistive materials that repel fire spread, allowing occupants greater time to evacuate. Ultimately, fire safety, whether at home or the workplace, should be practiced by everyone.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.