Local Safety Team

If you encounter an incident

• If you are in immediate danger, please dial 911 immediately.
• Leave the scene of the incident as intact as possible.

1. Notify your direct supervisor(s) or head(s) of unit immediately by phone or text
2. Next, please notify senior leadership and your direct supervisor(s) and head(s) of unit by email.  Please include the following in your email:  stefan.mladenovic@ubc.ca and executive.assistant@spph.ubc.ca
3. Fill out the UBC Security e-Alert submission here or call Campus Security at 604-822-2222.
4. Notify the RCMP by calling at 604-224-1322.

Additional UBC Links

• UBC Crisis Management Plan
• UBC Emergency Response Plan

If you discover a fire

• Pull the nearest fire alarm.
• Vacate the building
• Go to the designated SPPH assembly area.

If fire alarm is sounding

• Vacate the building
• If one of the SPPH Emergency wardens asks you to leave the building, please do so immediately.
• Go to the designated SPPH assembly area.

More fire safety Information

What to do if you discover a gas leak

• Immediately call 911.
• Report it to the SPPH Reception or the nearest SPPH Emergency warden.
• DO NOT PULL THE FIRE ALARM. This could cause an explosion.
• Contact the Local SPPH Health and Safety Team at: spph.healthandsafety(at)ubc.ca
• Vacate the building
• Go to the designated SPPH assembly area.

What to do if told to leave

• If told to leave the building by a SPPH Emergency warden
  • Immediately vacate the building
  • Go to the designated SPPH assembly area.

More gas leak information

Before an Earthquake

• Avoid storing heavy objects on high shelves.
• Secure bookcases, cabinets, and equipment.
• Install restraints on laboratory shelves and store glass cylinders in properly designed racks.
• Be familiar with emergency plans and procedures.
• Have an emergency kit at home, in the office, and in your car.
• Practise earthquake response often and participate in annual earthquake drills, such as ShakeOut BC.

During an Earthquake

Drop, Cover, and Hold On, and stay in this position for at least 60 seconds. If you are inside, stay inside until the shaking stops. Do not run outside or to other rooms during the shaking.

In Spring 2024, Natural Resources Canada and the BC government launched the Earthquake Early Warning System. The system is intended to give seconds to tens of seconds of early warning before the strongest shaking arrives. These warnings are intended to provide a few precious seconds to take action: usually to drop, cover, and hold on.

If indoors or in a classroom

• Drop down on your hands and knees to protect you from falling — an earthquake can knock you down. Keep clear of windows that could break and large objects that could fall over.
• Cover your head and neck, or your whole body if you can, under a sturdy table. If you can’t get under something strong, or if you are in a hallway, crouch against an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms.
• Hold on will help keep you safe during a big earthquake until the shaking stops — you might have to move with your piece of protective furniture if the shaking shifts it around. Wait 60 seconds after the shaking stops.
• Expect fire alarm and sprinkler systems to activate. Do not leave until the shaking has stopped.
• Make sure you have on protective shoes and clothes.
• Check for damage and hazards. Move carefully and check for unstable objects and other hazards above and around you
• There may be no need to evacuate your building immediately unless there is severe damage and/or if you smell gas or rotten eggs. Assess your situation and stay safe.
• If evacuating, be careful and watch for falling debris. Proceed to the designated assembly area
• Call 911 to report serious injuries or hazards.

If you have mobility challenges or in a wheelchair

• If you can, follow the Drop, Cover, Hold on procedure.
• If you are in a wheelchair, move to an inner wall if safe to do so.  Lock the brakes and cover your head with your arms.
• If available use a blanket or pillow to shield your face from falling debris/glass.
• When the shaking stops move to refuge areas. If your building doesn’t have a refuge area find a safe location to shelter-in-place until assistance arrives.

If you are outside

• Stay outside.
• Find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines, then Drop, Cover and Hold on.
• Move to an open area away from buildings, trees, glass, streetlights, and power lines, then Drop, Cover and Hold on.
• Do not enter any buildings until they have been approved for re-entry.

If you are in transit

• In a car — Pull over to a clear location, stop and stay there with your seat belt fastened until the shaking stops. Avoid overhead structures (i.e. bridges and overpasses). Set the parking brake and stay inside.
• On a bus — Stay seated until the bus stops. Sit in a crouched position and protect your head from falling debris. Stay inside if it is safe.

AVOID the following in an earthquake

• Doorways — Doors may slam shut and cause injuries.
• Windows, bookcases, tall furniture and light fixtures. You could be hurt by shattered glass or heavy objects.
• Elevators — If you are in an elevator during an earthquake, hit the button for every floor and get out as soon as you can.
• Downed power lines — Stay at least 10 metres away to avoid injury.
• Coastline — Earthquakes can trigger large ocean waves called tsunamis.

After an Earthquake

• Stay calm, help others if you are able and be prepared for aftershocks.
• Assess your immediate surroundings for dangers, especially broken glass.
• If you are able to remain inside, assess the evacuation route and muster area for potential risks, e.g., falling debris or exposed electrical wires, before proceeding out of the building.
• If you have to leave your area, take your emergency kit and other essential items with you and proceed to an evacuation route.
• Once you exit the building, go directly to your building’s designated assembly area. If you have difficulty negotiating the stairs, or if you need assistance in evacuating, go to the designated area of refuge if your building has one.
• Be prepared for aftershocks! Repeat Drop, Cover, and Hold On each time you experience any shaking.
• If you have evacuated due to safety concerns (severe damage and/or if you smell gas or rotten eggs). Do not re-enter evacuated buildings until cleared to do so by emergency personnel.
• Don’t tie up phone lines, if it’s not a life-threatening emergency, use text messages and social media.
• There may be impacts to the plumbed water system, look for any regional water advisories.
• Follow instructions of first responders and campus response personnel — they will direct you to safety and to emergency resources.

More earthquake information

A lockdown of a building or group of buildings is an emergency procedure intended to secure and protect occupants who are in the proximity of an immediate threat.

This procedure is used when it may be more dangerous to evacuate a building than stay inside.

By controlling entry/exit and movement within a facility, emergency personnel are better able to contain and handle any threats. A notification of lockdown may be sent to building occupants by Campus Security, emergency personnel, or from the School Director and/or Senior Administrator. As each building on campus is unique, individuals may receive notification to lockdown through various means.

It is essential for the safety of occupants and emergency responders that individuals comply with instructions provided by emergency personnel at all times.

Upon Alert to Lockdown

If you are in a classroom, room or office, stay there, secure the door and windows and await further instructions or escort from emergency personnel.

• If the door does not lock, consider barricading the door with tables and chairs.
• If you are in a corridor go into the closest office not already secured and lock or barricade the door and windows.
• Close curtains or blinds where possible.
• Stay away from windows and doors.
• Stay low and quiet.
• Cell phones should be put on quiet or vibrate mode. Do not make non-essential calls.
• During a lockdown, if the fire alarm is activated, remain where you are and await further instructions over a PA or portable loudspeaker.
• Follow instructions from emergency personnel only.
• For their own safety, emergency personnel must initially consider all individuals as potential threats. It is important to follow instructions from police at all times to avoid harm and ensure the best possible response.
• If possible, monitor the UBC website homepage for updates. Media reports may be unreliable.

Actions to Avoid

• Do NOT open the door once it has been secured until you are officially advised ‘all clear’ or are certain it is emergency response personnel at the door.
• Do NOT use or hide in washrooms.
• Do NOT travel down long corridors.
• Do NOT assemble in large open areas (e.g. lobby)
• Do NOT call 911 unless you have immediate concern for your safety, the safety of others or feel you have critical information that will assist emergency personnel in the response.

Following the Lockdown

• Cooperate with emergency personnel to assist in an orderly evacuation.
• Proceed to the designated SPPH assembly area: across the street – East Mall – in front of Michael Smith Laboratories (2185 East Mall), under the cover, if advised to do so.
• The police may require individuals to remain available for questioning following a lockdown.
• SPPH Emergency wardens may be present as you exit the building to provide additional information.

More lockdown information

SPPH Warden Zones By Floor

• Basement
• 1st Floor
• 2nd Floor
• 3rd Floor
• 4th Floor

*Please note that we’ve removed the basement from this list*

Updated: March 2025

SPPH Dogs in the Workplace Policy (as of September 30, 2021)
SPPH Dogs in the Workplace Agreement (as of September 30, 2021)
Local SPPH Health and Safety Team Terms of Reference (as of February 1, 2018)
SPPH Building Emergency Response Plan (as of June 11, 2020)

Minutes:
2017 – September 7
2017 – August 1
2017 – June 1

Updated: August 3, 2016