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Utilities (Outages, Gas Leaks, Floods)

Electrical outage

  1. Remain calm and use emergency lighting.
  2. If no emergency lighting is available, proceed cautiously to a lighted area.
  3. If you are in an elevator, remain calm and press the emergency call button or phone.
  4. If the campus has not released communication regarding the outage, contact the Trouble Call Desk at 310-825-9236 with the following information:
    • Location (building and room number)
    • Best or closest entrance for responders
    • Nature and extent of an emergency
    • Your name and the number you are calling from
  5. Turn off all light switches except one (so you know when power is restored)
    • Keep red switches in the “ON” position
    • Do not plug additional equipment into the red outlets
  6. Turn off and unplug computers and other equipment sensitive to power spikes and surges.
  7. Turn off hot plates and other sources that produce heat.
  8. Do not open refrigerators/freezers unless necessary to maintain their temperature for longer periods.
  9. Contact Facilities Management (FM) to address accessibility.
  10. Do not use a gas stove for heating or operate generators indoors.
  11. Stand by for instructions from emergency personnel if the power cannot be restored.
  12. Review lab shutdown procedures.

Elevator Problem

  1. Use elevator phone to call 911.
  2. If trapped inside, use the elevator emergency phone and activate emergency alarm. 

Gas Leak

  1. Immediately notify those in the building to evacuate.
  2. Pull the fire alarm.
  3. Shut the doors and secure the area.
  4. Contact 911 and EH&S and provide:
  • Building, floor ad room
  • Specific chemical name of gas involved
  • Source of the gas leak.

Plumbing/flooding

  1. Proceed with caution. Electric shock may occur in flooded areas.
  2. Call 911 and report the flood.
  3. Provide the location (including building and room number, your contact, emergency details and source (if known).
  4. If safe to do so, meet the responders to report the contents in or around the flooded area, ways to enter the area safety and hazardous or unknown conditions.
  5. If the affected area is a laboratory or hazardous materials are involved, call 911 and evacuate if necessary.
  6. See lab shutdown for further procedures. 

Heating or ventilation

  1. If odors come from the ventilation system, immediately, call 310-825-9236.
  2. If necessary, stop all operations and evacuate the area.