Emergency response procedures

When there is immediate threat to your safety, run, hide or defend.

Run if possible:

1. Evacuate the building if it is safe to do so without your personal items.
2. Help others, if possible, but evacuate whether others choose to follow you or not.
3. Keep the palms of your hands raised and visible to law enforcement.
4. Once outside, find a safe place to hide and call your local emergency number.
5. Warn others to avoid the area.

Hide if it is unsafe to run:

1. Move to a secure room such as an office or boardroom if possible.
2. Lock the door and use heavy objects to barricade it.
3. Turn off lights and cover windows to reduce visibility.
4. Hide as best as possible, behind a large object, stay away from doors and windows and remain silent.
5. Silence your cell phone (turn off vibrate mode) but leave your phone on.
6. If a fire alarm sounds, remain in your secure area unless you smell smoke, see fire or authorities tell you to leave, as it might be a ploy by the intruder.
7. Wait for instructions from law enforcement officials.

Defend as a last resort:

1. If confronted directly by an armed intruder, use any actions necessary to defend yourself.
2. Use aggressive force.
3. Use any object available as a weapon.
4. Act as a group to overwhelm the intruder.
5. Commit to your actions.
6. Keep defending yourself until the intruder is defeated.

Be alert for people who may be experiencing mental trauma, look out for your colleagues and get in touch with the Employee Assistance Program for support.

If you receive a bomb threat by phone:

1. Listen attentively and do not interrupt the caller and stay on the line as long as possible.
2. Ask about the bomb, if possible (e.g., where it is, when it will explode, why it is present).
3. Take note of voice characteristics and background noises (e.g., TV, cars, wind, other voices).
4. Note caller ID information and time.
5. If possible, flag someone to call your local emergency number (e.g., by passing a note).
6. When the caller hangs up, call your local emergency number.

If you receive a bomb threat in writing (e.g., email, text message, letter):

1. Call your local emergency number.
2. If the threat was received by mail, do not touch the message in order to maintain evidence for police.
3. If the threat was received by email, immediately advise the NRC Cyber Defence team or your NRC contact, who will inform the NRC Cyber Defence team.

Evacuations are used to get people away from a dangerous situation inside a building. The objective is to get everyone outside safely.

1. Warn anyone nearby to evacuate.
2. Leave the building using the nearest safe exit but do not use elevators.
3. Report issues (e.g., injury, suspicious activity) to a member of the building emergency organization.
4. Go to the designated assembly location and stay there.

If you are in a building and hear an explosion:

1. Take cover under a table, desk or other sturdy object to protect yourself from falling debris.
2. Once the situation has stabilized, activate the fire alarm and evacuate immediately but do not use elevators.
3. Report the emergency to your local emergency number.
4. Go to the designated assembly location and stay at a safe distance.

If you cannot evacuate:

1. Return to a safe location and close all doors and windows.
2. Dial the local emergency number to report your situation and location.
3. Seal all gaps where smoke could penetrate the room.
4. If possible, put signs on exterior windows to show you need help.
5. Stay low to the floor if smoke enters the room.
6. Remain calm while you wait to be rescued.

If you discover a fire or smell smoke:

1. Pull the fire alarm and warn everyone in close proximity to evacuate.
2. Evacuate the building using the nearest safe exit but do not use elevators.
3. Go to the designated assembly area, closing all doors on the way out.
4. Remain at the designated assembly area until further instructions are provided.

If you hear a fire alarm:

1. Evacuate and warn anyone nearby to evacuate.
2. Leave the building using the nearest safe exit but do not use elevators.
3. Report issues (e.g., injury, suspicious activity) to emergency responders.
4. Remain at the designated assembly area until further instructions are provided.

If you cannot evacuate:

1. Return to a safe location and close all doors and windows.
2. Dial the local emergency number to report your situation and location.
3. Seal all gaps where smoke could penetrate the room.
4. If possible, put signs on exterior windows to show you need help.
5. Stay low to the floor if smoke enters the room.
6. Remain calm and wait to be rescued.

The spill or release of substances in your work area can appear as a liquid on the floor or as a suspicious odor.  Carefully assessing the substance is of utmost importance.

If you know what was spilled/released and have the necessary knowledge and training, follow the appropriate spill response procedures.

Carefully assessing the substance is critical.

If control of spill or release is outside the scope of your knowledge and training:

1. Do not attempt to clean up any released materials
2. Warn anyone and establish a secure perimeter
3. If necessary, evacuate the area, close and lock doors if possible
4. If safe to do so, post signage warning others not to enter the area
5. Move to a safe area and call your local emergency number
6. Remain at a safe distance and available to emergency responders to share details of the spill or release

If a person is contaminated or exposed to hazardous materials:

1. Call your local emergency number and seek first aid assistance.
2. If necessary, use emergency showers if they are available.

If anyone experiences a medical emergency nearby or you witness a medical emergency outside a building:

1. Report the medical event to your local emergency number.
2. Call for first aid assistance and remain with the patient.
3. If it is safe to do so and you are confident in your ability to do so, provide assistance to the best of your ability using your knowledge, training and available resources.
4. If the patient is unconscious, not breathing or has no pulse, instruct someone to bring the automated external defibrillator.
5. Open the defibrillator, follow the provided instructions and the audio prompt.
6. Leave the defibrillator and pads connected until first aid attendants or first responders arrive.
7. Do not move the patient unless there is an immediate danger in the area (e.g., fire).
8. Remain with the patient until emergency responders arrive.

Automated external defibrillators are life-saving devices. A trained defibrillator operator will be faster and more effective at using a defibrillator. However, they are designed for anyone to use. When you open the defibrillator case, audio instructions will guide you.

If you witness or are involved in a motor vehicle collision on NRC property involving an NRC vehicle or while performing NRC duties:

1. Get to a safe area if you are in danger.
2. Call your local emergency number to inform them and let them know if there are injuries or hazards (e.g., fuel leaking).
3. If it is safe to do so, provide first aid assistance to the best of your ability using your knowledge, training, resources and ability.
4. If you are involved in the collision, exchange information with the other drivers involved.
5. Call police using a non-emergency number (if available) to file a collision report.

A shelter-in-place procedure is used when there is a danger outside a building and occupants must stay inside for their safety. What people do inside may change depending on the nature of the threat (e.g., severe weather, dangerous wildlife, protest or demonstration, someone outside with a weapon).

1. Warn anyone nearby to shelter in place.
2. Close and stay away from all doors and windows.
3. Remain in place until the shelter-in-place procedure is lifted.
4. Follow instructions from the emergency responders if the situation changes.

A threat of violence may target an individual, a group of people or infrastructure.

If you receive a threat in person:

1. Remain calm and respectful and, if safe to do so, attempt to de-escalate the situation.
2. Walk away from the aggressor if the situation presents immediate danger to your health and safety.
3. Report the incident to your local emergency number and inform your supervisor.
4. Write down the details of the incident and the names of any witnesses.

If you receive a threat by phone:

1. Remain calm and respectful, get as much information as possible and take notes.
2. Listen attentively, do not interrupt the caller and stay on the line as long as possible.
3. If the caller mentions a bomb, refer to the "Bomb Threat" procedure.
4. Take note of voice characteristics and background noise (e.g., cars, wind, other voices).
5. Note Caller ID information and time.
6. When the caller hangs up, report the incident to your local emergency number and inform your supervisor.

If you receive a threat in writing (e.g., email, text message, letter):

1. Report the threat to your local emergency number and inform your supervisor.
2. Do not touch the message in order to maintain evidence for police.

• All incidents must be reported. Remain with the injured or ill person(s) until help arrives
• Provide information as necessary

1. Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head with your arms and hold on to anything sturdy.
2. Stay away from windows, tall furniture and anything that could fall or break.
3. Do not move until 60 seconds after the shaking has stopped in case there are aftershocks.
4. Leave the building using the nearest safe exit but do not use elevators.
5. Move cautiously and check for unstable objects and other hazards around you.
6. Go to the designated assembly area, if safe to do so.
7. Report any issues (e.g., injuries, anyone trapped, hazards) to emergency responders.
8. Remain at the designated assembly area until further instructions are provided.

If outside during an earthquake, get to an open area away from buildings, power lines and other overhead dangers.

If you are driving during an earthquake, pull over but do not block the road for emergency vehicles. Avoid bridges, overpasses and underpasses or anything that could collapse. Stay inside your vehicle and listen to the radio for instructions from emergency officials. Do not attempt to get out of the vehicle if there are downed power lines. Call for assistance and wait to be rescued.

If you notice flood or major water leak:

1. Avoid flooded areas and keep a distance from electrical equipment.
2. Report issues (e.g., injury, dangerous conditions) to emergency responders.
3. Stop the flooding only if you are confident in your ability to do so and can do so safely.
4. Warn anyone nearby to avoid the flooded area.

Severe weather can include different types of weather related to storms, such as blizzards, hail, heavy rain, ice storms, lightning, thunderstorms and high winds.

1. Keep all doors and windows closed.
2. During severe weather, stay away from doors and windows.
3. If lightning is present, stay away from items that conduct electricity including landline phones.
4. Remain calm and follow instructions from emergency responders as the situation could change.

Environment Canada is responsible for monitoring and warning the public of conditions that may produce tornadoes.

If indoors:

1. Take shelter in an inner hallway or room on the lowest floor, away from windows and doors
2. Hide under sturdy furniture in the centre of the room
3. Do not move until the tornado has passed and stand by for further instructions.

If outdoors:

1. Lay as flat as possible in the nearest low point of the terrain.
2. Protect your head and neck with your hands and arms.
3. Stay in position until the tornado has passed or emergency responders have indicated that the area is safe.
4. Follow any instructions provided by emergency responders.

If driving:

1. Do not try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle.
2. Pull over in a safe place where you will not block the road for emergency vehicles.
3. Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on and keep your head below window level and covered with your hands or a blanket.
4. If there is an area noticeably lower than the roadway, such as a ditch, lie down in it and cover your head with your hands.

1. Monitor local news for warnings or evacuation orders. 
2. If you see a fire, call your local emergency number.
3. Keep all doors and windows closed to keep smoke out.
4. Turn on all lights in case smoke reduces visibility.
5. Gather personal belongings and prepare to evacuate immediately.
6. Follow instructions from emergency responders or local authorities as the situation may evolve rapidly.