Preparedness

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Keep these instructions by your phone in case you receive a bomb threat call.

Procedures for a bomb threat:

Questions to ask. If you receive a bomb threat call try to get answers to the following questions:

1. When is the bomb going to explode?
   
2. Where is the bomb?
   
3. What does it look like?
   
4. What kind of bomb is it?
   
5. What will cause it to explode?
   
6. Did you place the bomb? If yes, why?
   
7. Where are you calling from?
   
8. What is your address?
   
9. What is your name?

Caller’s voice. Note if the caller’s voice matches any of these descriptions:
angry / accent / broken / calm / crying / deep / disguised / elderly / excited / fast / female / giggling / joking / lisp / loud / male / nasal / old / quiet / rapid / sincere / slow / slurred / squeaky / stressed / stutter / synthesized / young

Other details to pay attention to:

1. Is the voice familiar? Who does it sound like?
   
2. Were there any background noises?
   
3. Record the telephone number, the date and the time of the call.
   
4. Call 911 immediately to report the bomb threat.
   
5. Notify property management immediately at (206) 224-1201.

Observe if an object seems out of place. Do not touch any suspicious object. 

Earthquake

Procedures for an earthquake:
DO NOT try to exit the building.

Find a protected location.
Get under a table or desk, holding onto one of the legs, crouch against an inside corridor or hall, in a corner away from an outside wall, or near a pillar or support system. The elevator lobby is a good place to be.

Stay away from windows and glass.
If being near glass is unavoidable, turn your face away. Grab anything handy, such as a coat, cushion, pillow, blanket, newspapers or even a cardboard box, to shield your head and face from falling debris and splintering glass. 

Beware of falling objects and debris.
Watch out for falling ceiling tiles, plaster and heavy objects which might fall or slide across the floor.
 
Prepare for shaking and swaying.
If you are on one of the top floors, be prepared for possible swaying of the building. Most of the severe shaking will occur on the lower floors. 

Be calm and wait for instructions.
Stay in the building on the same floor and wait in the elevator lobby. Wait for instructions telling you how and where to make a safe exit. Don't be surprised if the electricity goes out or if the sprinkler system or fire alarms go on.

DO NOT use the elevators.
Even if the power is on, elevators could still be unsafe due to a warp in the shaft which could cause the elevator to stall and you would then be stuck between floors, or the elevator could stop on a floor which is engulfed in flames. During an earthquake, automatic safety devices will stop the elevator in case of a power failure.
 
DO NOT use the stairwells.
Unless you are certain that there is an exit and that the stairwells are lighted, stairwells should be avoided. There could be a blockage below, cutting off the exit to the outside, or an aftershock could jam the doors trapping you between floors. Stairwells are also where people rush to in a time of panic and you could be caught in a mob situation. We utilize a security system which prevents doors from being opened from inside the stairwell, increasing the possibility of becoming trapped. Emergency lighting in stairwells might fail in an earthquake, leaving them dark and hazardous. They may be filled with smoke or hazardous fumes. Wait for instructions telling you how and where to make a safe exit.

DO NOT rush outside.
Even if you are on a ground floor, wait for instructions from Property Management. If you feel you must exit the building, wait until the shaking stops, choose an exit carefully and then proceed with caution. Calmly walk out of the building to a safe area outside, away from buildings and overhead wires. 

Fire Prevention / Procedures

Make sure Tenant employees know what to do if a fire breaks out on your floor. Everyone should know where the fire extinguishers are located on the floor.

Procedures to follow if there is a fire:

On the Fire Floor:
Although the building systems will detect a fire and activate the alarm, if you discover a fire, first call 911, then Security at (206) 224-1203. If the fire is small enough and you have been trained, extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher.

Trained Floor Wardens will provide direction in the event of a fire or emergency and oversee the safe evacuation of personnel into stairwells.

Special assistants immediately contact and help their assigned disabled person.

Floor Wardens will check offices, restrooms and conference rooms after evacuation to ensure no one is left behind. All doors should be closed but not locked.

When all emergency assigned duties have been completed, Floor Wardens will proceed down four (4) floors or as directed by the Seattle Fire Department or Property Management.

Floor Wardens will provide necessary assistance during the evacuation. If needed, the intercom in the stairwell can be used and Property Management or Seattle Fire Department personnel will assist you.

On the Receiving Floor and “Safe Refuge Area”:

During a partial building evacuation, the "Safe Refuge Area" is in the building elevator lobby on the receiving floor, located four (4) floors down from the fire floor.
Evacuated personnel should wait in the “Safe Refuge Area” on the receiving floor until an announcement is made to return to your floor.

Follow your company's procedure for roll call, etc. before returning to your floor.

All Tenants should familiarize themselves with guidelines recommended by the Seattle Fire Department (opens in new window).

Property Management will:

Investigate the alarm location prior to arrival of the Seattle Fire Department.

Escort the Seattle Fire Department to the alarm location and assist in the investigation.

In the event of an actual fire, the Seattle Fire Department will assume control of the incident and direct

Tenants and Property Management accordingly.

Reset the fire alarm system and make a building-wide announcement after the "All Clear" has been given by the Seattle Fire Department.

Building Evacuation

Procedures for a partial building evacuation:

Most evacuations happen after activation of the fire alarm system. If you hear the fire alarm on your floor and you have not been advised that it is a test, follow these steps:

1. Close your office door behind you, but do not lock it.
2. Proceed to the nearest exit stairwell. There are two stairwells in the building, one on the east side and one on the west side of the elevator lobby.
3. Walk down four (4) floors and enter that floor. During a partial building evacuation, the “Safe Refuge Area” is in the building elevator lobby on the receiving floor, located four (4) floors down from the fire floor.
4. Wait in the elevator lobby on the receiving floor until an announcement is made that it is safe to return to your floor. Be respectful of the Tenants residing on the receiving floor.
5. Follow your company’s protocol for roll call, etc., before returning to your floor.

Procedures for a full building evacuation:

1. Proceed to the nearest exit stairwell. There are two stairwells in the building, one on the east side and one on the west side of the elevator lobby. Take only necessary personal belongings (coat and purse).
2. Do not use elevators unless instructed to do so.
3. Keep to the right when moving down hallways and stairwells.
4. Listen for announcements over the P.A. system.
5. Exit the building and wait in your designated company meeting location for further instructions.

Please follow partial evacuation instructions unless there is a clear instruction that a full building evacuation in necessary.

Medical Emergencies

Make sure Tenant employees know what to do in a medical emergency and where to locate a first aid kit.

Procedures to follow in a medical emergency:

• Tenants should keep a first aid kit unlocked and fully stocked in their suite and make sure all employees know where it is located.
  
• Tenants are asked to provide Property Management with a list of office personnel trained in CPR.
  
• If a medical emergency occurs, dial 911 and then Security at (206) 224-1203.
  
• Do not move the injured or ill person unless they are in immediate danger.
  
• Stay with the injured or ill person and wait for medical personnel to arrive.

Power Outage

Both Property Management and Tenants have roles and responsibilities during a power outage.

Procedures to follow in a power outage:

• Remain calm and in place. If possible, call Security at (206) 224-1203 and tell them the specific problem, i.e. loss of outlet power, no lights, etc.
  
• If you experience a total power failure, turn on a battery-operated radio to find out what is happening in your area. Listen for an announcement from property management.
  
• In the event the building sustains a power failure, emergency lighting is available in the stairwells and common area hallways.
  
• Unplug all electrical equipment and turn off light switches. When power returns it may surge and damage equipment that was left on prior to the outage.
  
• If evacuation is necessary, evacuate to your designated area as described in the Building Evacuation procedures (four (4) floors down).
  
• If it is necessary to close the building, watch your local news or contact property management at (206) 224-1201 to find out when the building will re-open again.

Property Management will:

• Make a building-wide announcement to provide further instructions.
  
• Assist the Seattle Fire and Police Departments in their emergency response.
  
• Evacuate and close the building until power is restored, if it is known the power outage will continue for an extended period of time.

Suspicious Package

Procedures to follow if you come in contact with a suspicious package:

Remain calm and in place.

Call 911, followed by Security at (206) 224-1203.

Become familiar with the warning signs of a suspicious package (i.e., lopsided or uneven, strange odor, oily stains, discolorations, excessive tape, badly typed address, excessive postage, etc.). All employees, particularly those who handle mail frequently, should be trained on the following suspicious package procedures.

1. Do not open the article.
2. Isolate the package and the people who may have been exposed and secure the immediate area.
3. Cover the article with a trash can or place in a plastic bag.
4. Do not place the package in water or a confined space such as a drawer or filing cabinet.
5. Wait for further instructions from Property Management and Seattle Fire and Police Departments.

Property Management will:

• Isolate the floor by shutting down the elevator.
  
• Shut off the HVAC to the floor to minimize air movement.
  
• Escort the Seattle Fire and Police Departments to the floor with the suspicious package.
  
• Support the Seattle Fire and Police Departments while they investigate the package.

Suspicious or Hazardous Substance

Procedures for dealing with a suspicious or hazardous substance:

• Remain calm and in place.
  
• Call 911, followed by Security at (206) 224-1203. It is important that the phone call come from the affected floor so the Seattle Fire and Police Departments will know exactly which floor the call came from.
  
• A point person on the floor should be identified to speak with the Seattle Fire and Police personnel. They will want to talk with that person on the phone before going to the floor.
  
• If possible, isolate the substance by closing a door, or if in an open area, putting an empty trash can or other container over it.
  
• Anyone in contact with the substance should wash their hands with soap.
  
• Those in contact with, or in the immediate area of the substance, should isolate themselves from everyone else on the floor to prevent cross-contamination.
  
• Make a list of every person in or near the location of the substance.
  
• Do not allow anyone to exit or enter the floor via the elevators or stairwells. It is important to know who may have been exposed, to not have others exposed, and to be sure that if anyone needs treatment they are readily identifiable.

Property Management will:

• Isolate the floor by shutting down the elevators and/or the card access system.
  
• Shut off the HVAC to the floor so that air movement does not disturb the substance.
  
• Coordinate and assist the Seattle Fire and Police Departments until given the "All Clear."

Floor Wardens

Floor Wardens serve as the contact point between the Property Management office and Tenant employees. Floor Wardens ensure that every employee is aware of all emergency procedures and plans, and coordinate Tenant response in an emergency.

Floor Warden Role

Be a visible leader in your company and on your floor. Share information, encourage advanced planning and act as the calming force in any building emergency. See our example of a Floor Warden Letter (opens in new window). to distribute to all employees on your floor.

Maintain a current roster of all physically disabled persons on your assigned floor and assign at least two Special Assistants per physically disabled person. Provide this information to property management and update routinely. Ensure that each Special Assistant for physically disabled persons knows his/her role in an evacuation or emergency.

Know emergency exit routes, stairwell locations and where the stairwells exit onto the street. Take a walk down both stairwells to become familiar with the evacuation experience and stairwell exit locations.

Know where emergency intercoms are located and how to use them. Intercoms are in the stairwells on every fifth floor starting with Floor 5.

Report any potential fire hazards to property management through your Office Manager or Corporate Facilities Manager.

Be familiar with your company's own emergency response and security procedures, along with those for the building. Also be sure to have additional safety resources and important numbers readily available. Information specific to 1201 Third Avenue is provided on the Office Security Tips (opens in new window). and Emergency Procedures (opens in new window). pages on this website.

For a full explanation of Floor Warden responsibilities, please click here for the Floor Warden Handbook (opens in new window). in PDF format.

Property Management will:

• Maintain a current list of Floor Wardens.
  
• Provide annual Floor Warden training classes.
  
• Provide current information to support Floor Wardens.
  
• Conduct annual fire drills.

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