The Careers and Employability Centre of the University of Sussex is conducting a series of events in the fourth week of spring term. Today, one of the events was on “Make it happen! Employer Panel” at 1.00 pm in the auditorium of Brighton and Sussex Medical School which is at the entrance of the University. Nearly 70-80 students, seven speakers and few staff members of the Careers and Employability Centre were present for this event. The event started on time with a formal welcome from the Director of the centre and at this moment suddenly fire alarm (siren) started and all of us had to leave the venue.
The University of Sussex has arrangements for securing fire safety and all the buildings are provided with Automatic Fire Detection (FAD) devices. These devices get activated by smoke or heat and the local siren of a building starts operating. The functioning of these units is regularly checked in every building on certain days in every week. This I had experienced from the beginning of my arrival to Sussex campus. But today I had an opportunity to witness the situation and how it is handled.
The University’s fire alarm panels are linked to the computer network and activation of any of the alarms will raise an alarm at the central security office. There are Fire wardens appointed by Deans and Directors of unit. It is the responsibility of the fire warden to evacuate the building. Every building has an assembly point and all of us assembled at this point. The security office informed the fire brigade and rescue team. The East Sussex fire and Rescue Service arrived within ten minutes. The team entered the building and checked. There was no fire and the cause of the alarm may be due to fault in the electrical system. Within half an hour it was declared by the warden that the building is safe to occupy. But mean while the Director of the Careers and Employability Centre had taken decision to shift the venue of the event to Falmer house.
Dear Dr. Ramesh Gaonkar,
ReplyDeleteIt appears that, the fire alarm system at Sussex University is automatic. Kindly let me know whether they organise the Mock Drills to acquaint the students and staff and how do they function? Whether they have committee for this as we have here in our college?
Regards and best wishes,
Shrikant More
Yes. The fire alarm is tested every week by operating the siren of each building. A particular day and time has been decided for operating the siren for each building. If the siren continues beyond certain time limit (say few seconds) then only the evacuation begins and not otherwise. The University has a fire safety and security centre.
ReplyDeleteDear Dr.Ramesh Gaonkar,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your quick response. Kindly get me some more information about the education of the students and staff for the response to the fire alarm. Who has undertaken this briefing to them. How do the University Authorities administer this entire exercise?
Who is in charge person and if any other people assisting him.
Shrikant More
The University of Sussex has a Health and Safety Office on the campus. Fire Safety procedures, arrangements and responsibilities have been announced on the website of University. The security office has a key role in coordinating and communicating the emergency call. The security will activate the emergency pagers which will summon Fire Marshals, inform the fire Brigade, University’s mobile Security Officers and Rescue Team.
ReplyDeleteDear Dr Ramesh Gaonkar,
ReplyDeleteThank you.
While coming back kindly collect if any literature is available on campus safety measures. with which we may be able to improve our safety system in the college.
Shrikant More