System Failure

Loss of Power, Heat, Water, or Sewage Systems, Gas Leak or Structural Failure.

First Person on the scene – upon discovery or detection of a system failure –

• Notify Head Custodian, and Building Principal

Head Custodian –

• Evaluate the problem insofar as possible and notify the Building Principal.

Head Custodian and/or Building Principal –

• Activate fire alarm if there is any question as to the safety of the building occupants. The fire alarm system is explosion proof and can be used in the event of a gas leak.

Head Custodian –

• To the extent possible, restore systems that can be repaired safely as necessary.
• Notify the Director of Facilities at 315- 692-1250.

Director of Facilities –

• Evaluate problem and commence appropriate remedial action. In the event of a gas leak call the National Grid Emergency Service Line at 1-800-892-2345.
• Notify Superintendent, if situation warrants

Superintendent –

• Curtail or cease building operations as appropriate, and notify staff, parents and students and issue instructions

Director of Facilities and /Asst. Supt. for Business Services-

• Complete corrective actions and recovery.

Superintendent –

• Notify Board of Education and State Education Department, Bureau of Educational Management Services, if formal emergency resolution is needed (518-474-7770).

NOTES:

In the event of a power failure all buildings are equipped with emergency backup power to operate fire alarm system and emergency lighting for a duration of at least 90 minutes.

In the event of loss of water, water main break or contamination of drinking water, potable water must be provided during occupancy. Acceptable alternatives can be bottled water or similar dispensers.

In the event of a loss of water or water main break, alternative toileting facilities must be provided, i.e. Portable Toilets to maintain suitable occupancy.

In the event of a loss of heat, a minimum temperature of 65 degrees F must be maintained in occupied rooms

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FLUORESCENT LIGHT BALLAST SHORT-OUT

Burnt odor, little or no smoke:

1. First Person on Scene: Upon discovery or detection do the following immediately:
   • Move all persons out of the room.
   • Turn off lights.
   • Open windows in room/area.
   • Close door(s).
   • Notify Building Administrator.
2. Building Administrator:
   • Notify Head Custodian.
   • Notify Director of Facilities – Ext. 1250.
3. Head Custodian:
   • Utilize proper lock out-tag-out procedure to de-energize electricity to the unit
   • Wipe drips/leaks with rag using green Nitrile gloves.
   • Remove old ballast with gloves on, replace ballast.
   • Put rags and old ballast in plastic bag and place in outside dumpster.
   • Re-energize unit by reversing Lock-out-tag-out procedure
   • Notify Building Administrator when complete.
4. Building Administrator
   • When ballast is replaced, drips/leaks cleaned and odor dissipated return classroom to use.

Fire and/or heavy smoke:

1. First Person on Scene: Upon discovery or detection do the following immediately:
   • Move all persons out of the room.
   • Activate Fire Alarm and follow procedures in fire alarm section.
   • Turn off lights.
   • If possible, open windows in room/area.
   • Close door(s).
   • Notify Building Administrator.
2. Building Administrator:
   • Summon Fire Department 9-1-1 and explain situation.
   • Notify Superintendent – Ext. 1200.
   • Notify Director of Facilities – Ext. 1250.
   • Notify Head Custodian.
   • Upon clearance by Fire Department reoccupy building except for room with ballast short.
3. Head Custodian – When OK to reenter building and odor has dissipated in room:
   • Wipe drips/leaks with rag wearing green Nitrile gloves.
   • Remove old ballast with gloves on, replace ballast.
   • Put rags and old ballast in plastic bag and place in outside dumpster.
   • Notify Building Administrator when complete.
4. Building Administrator:
   • When ballast is replaced, drips/leaks cleaned and odor dissipated return classroom to use.

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Water Contamination

Response Action:

1. Upon discovery or detection of suspected water contamination, notify Building Administrator.
2. The Building Administrator will notify Superintendent and Director of Facilities.
3. The Superintendent or designee will notify the Health Department and follow their instructions.
4. The Superintendent or designee will ensure potable water as mandated for drinking and sanitizing associated with kitchen operations is available. If water is not suitable for drinking, cease operations of building unless equivalent provisions are made, such as bottled water and single-service disposable cups.

Recovery Action:

1. Complete work as directed by Health Department.
2. Once water supply is potable, notify staff, parents, and students. Resume building operation.

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Sewage

Response Action:

1. Upon discovery or detection of a water/sewage problem, notify the Custodial Staff.
2. Evaluate problem and notify the Building Principal – Custodians and Director of Facilities.
3. Cease building operations, as appropriate – Superintendent and Building Principal.
4. Notify staff, parents and students – Building Principal.

Remedial Action:

• Complete corrective actions so that the water/sewage system operates properly.
• Resume building operation.
• Notify staff, parents and students.
• Note:
  Drinking water and water for sewage system operation is mandated. If water system is totally inoperative or inadequate for occupancy use, cease operation of building unless equivalent provisions are made.Potable water is mandated for sanitizing associated with kitchen operations.

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  Electricity

  Response Action:,

1. Upon discovery or detection of an electrical system failure, sound the fire alarm if there is any question as to the safety of building occupants and notify the building principal – first person on the scene.
2. Determine the estimated period of time the utilities will be shut down – Director of Facilities.
3. Determine whether class may continue without the specific utility – Superintendent and Building Principal.
4. If decision is made for “Go-Home” procedure, notify staff, parents and students – Building Principal.
5. Evaluate problem, commence appropriate remedial action, and advise Building Principal and Superintendent if situation will be of extended duration – Director of Facilities.
6. Resume normal activities once the power is restored and notify staff, parents and students – Building Principal.

Remedial Action:

1. Complete corrective actions so that electrical system operates properly.

Pre-Plan Action:

1. Emergency power supplies should be maintained on standard maintenance program and tested monthly.
2. Generators should provide alternate power source for critical services like electrical controls, freezers, and communication centers.

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Gas/Propane Leak

Response Action:

1. Upon discovery or detections of a gas leak call 911 and National Grid to shut off gas supply – first person on scene.
2. Evaluate problem and access expert help from fire department or local gas supplier – Director of Facilities.
3. Route students to the safest alternative shelter and make decision on “Go Home” plan – Superintendent and Building Principal.
4. Notify staff, parents and students – Building Principal.

Remedial Action:

1. Complete corrective actions so that gas leak is corrected – Director of Facilities.
2. Resume building operations – Building Principal

Note on Gas/Propane Leaks:

1. Do not permit unauthorized personnel to find the leak.
2. If possible, open as many windows and doors as you can ventilate the building during the evacuation.
3. Avoid all use of electric, i.e. – Non intrinsically safe devices

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Leaking Roof

Response Action:

1. Upon discovery or detection of a roof leak, notify custodial staff- first person on scene.
2. Evaluate problem and notify Building Principal and Director of Facilities – Custodial Staff.
3. Cease building operations, as appropriate – Superintendent.
4. Notify staff, parents and students – Building Principal.

Remedial Action:

• Complete corrective actions so that roof is water tight. Resume building operations when safe to do so. Notify staff, parents and students – Building Principal and Director of Facilities.

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Explosion

Response Action:

1. Upon occurrence of an explosion in a building, sound the building fire alarm and notify the Building Principal and the Director of Facilities – first person on the scene.
2. Call 911 – Building Principal
3. Begin evacuation of building in accordance with the established evacuation plan.
4. Determine if there are injuries. Request adequate number of ambulances through the fire department – school nurse or designee.
5. Upon their arrival, advise fire department of the situation and follow their instructions – Building Principal.
6. Notify the Superintendent or designee – Building Principal.
7. Make “Go-Home” decision – Superintendent.
8. Notify staff, parents and students – Building Principal.

Recovery Action:

1. National Grid, custodial, and fire personnel will clear buildings for clean up and repair. Superintendent and Director of Facilities will determine if school can be continued in that building, pending repairs.

Note on Explosion:

1. Explosions are often followed by secondary explosions and/or fire. Students should be removed from exposure to possible flying glass (at least 1000 feet from building).
2. An explosion will probably not set off an automatic fire alarm. It is important to confirm that the local alarm has been sounded and that the fire department has been notified.
3. Upon a fire alarm, the fire department cannot be refused admission to a building; only the fire department can determine that a fire is out or that the building is safe for occupancy.

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Energy Loss Reduction Governmentally Imposed Fuel Shortage

Response Action:

1. Upon notification of problem:
   • Determine the extent to which school can operate – Superintendent, Transportation Supervisor, Director of Facilities.
   • Contact prime supplier to determine availability of fuel – Assistant Superintendent for Business Services.
   • Implement procedures for reducing fuel consumption further – Director of Facilities, Transportation Supervisor, Building Principal.
2. Inventory of fuel supplies by location – Director of Facilities.
3. Contact local director of disaster preparedness – Superintendent.
4. If necessary, Superintendent or designee to implement plan for alternative school day or alternative building use schedule; shorter day, shorter periods, no after-school activities, etc.
5. If necessary close school – Superintendent.

Pre-Plan Action:

1. Maintain fuel supply by location. Include alternative fuels.

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Structural Failure

Response Action:

1. Upon discovery of an imminent structural failure or actual collapse, notify custodial staff – first person on the scene.
2. In the event of an actual collapse, call 911 and evaluate the situation to either evacuate or to seek immediate shelter either in room or hallway. Get under desks or tables. Avoid glass windows, heavy fixtures, shelved objects and objects that might fall.
3. Evaluate problem insofar as possible and notify Building Principal –Director of Facilities.
4. Set up a Command Post in a visible and secure location.
   1. Each teacher should attempt to account for his/her students who were in his/her care at the time of the collapse.
5. The school nurse or building principal shall call 911 to request ambulances to serve the injured.
6. Activate pre-plan for alternative shelter for students, if weather conditions warrant – Building Principal and Superintendent.
7. Activate “Go-Home” plan for students who have been checked out as healthy and uninjured – Superintendent.
8. Record each student’s locations or destination through the teachers – secretary and administrative staff.

Recovery Action:

1. Students and staff should be reassigned to another building until corrective actions can be completed so that the building can be reconstructed for use – Superintendent and Director of Facilities.
2. Once certified by a qualified source (e.g. – engineer), resume normal activities.

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Loss of Building (Continuity of Operations)

Response Action:

1. Contact the State Education Department on potential relocation of school programs – Superintendent.
2. Relocate educational programming displaced by an emergency, which renders all or parts of the building unusable for school purposes – Superintendent and Building Principal.
   • Surplus existing teacher areas: within building, within district or in separate school districts.
   • Double sessions – obtain approval from State Education Department, Bureau of School Supervision, 518-474-5894.
   • Temporary quarters – obtain approval from State Education Department, Bureau of Facilities Planning, 518-474-3906: rented within community or manufactured buildings for purchase or rental.
3. Revise pupil transportation system as necessary – Transportation Supervisor.
4. Notify staff, parents and students – Superintendent and Building Principal.

Remedial Action:

1. Assess damage – insurance company adjustor.
2. Clean-up site – following insurance company concurrence.
3. Ascertain insurance settlement, if any.
4. Develop architectural/engineering solution as needed (pursuant to State Education Department requirements) and cost estimates.
5. Develop instructions to contractors – plans and specifications, bid procedures (if not formally declared an emergency).
6. Process work in accordance with procedures for any public capital construction project.