Earthquake Preparedness

Gavi Begtrup

Zettl Group Safety Talk

10/16/06

California, the Land of Earthquakes

Earthquakes All the Time

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/

Earthquake Damage

Be Prepared

• USGS Guide– http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2005/15/

• Preparation website– http://www.72hours.org/

• Berkeley Seismological Laboratory– http://seismo.berkeley.edu/faq/

preparedness.html

What to do When It Hits (LBL)• During an Earthquake • If You Are Inside: Stay calm. If you are indoors, stay there. Get

under a desk or table and hang on to it, or stand under an inner doorway or in an inside corner of a room. Stay clear of windows, tall bookcases, and experimental setups. Do not rush outside; you could be injured by glass or pieces falling from buildings. Do not use the stairs or elevators while the building is shaking.

• If You Are Outside: If you are outside, get into the open, away from buildings and overhead power lines. Watch out for falling rocks and other debris that could have been loosened by the quake.

• If You Are Driving: If you are driving, stop in a safe open area away from buildings, trees, and overhead power lines. Stay inside your car. Do not stop or park close to the edge of a hill, because the road may give way and you and your car could slide down.

• http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/pub811/moreinfo/earthquake.html

After the Quake (LBL)• What to Do: Provide assistance, account for others in your area, but do not re-enter

the building looking for them. Remember that aftershocks and subsequent earthquakes can be even more damaging than the initial shock.

• Check for Injuries: Persons in your area may be injured or trapped. Summon or provide medical or rescue help if you can; otherwise, notify your Building Manager or call ext. 7911. Do not attempt to move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury.

• Check for Fires and Potential Hazards: Check for gas leaks. Shut off the main gas valve if a leak is suspected. DO NOT smoke or light matches. DO NOT operate electrical switches or appliances. If a gas leak exists, these actions could cause an explosion.

• Check for any hazardous chemical spills and for the release of any radioactive materials. If you suspect such hazards, evacuate the area immediately, and then call extension 7911.

• Evacuate the Building and Await Further Instructions• Leave the building/area and go directly to your specified assembly area. DO NOT

ATTEMPT TO USE THE ELEVATORS. Await instructions from the Security, the Fire Department, or from a member of the Building Emergency Team.

• Do not try to leave the Laboratory by car. Roads and access routes, if not blocked by landslides, must be kept clear for emergency vehicle use.

Securing the Lab

• OSHA does not regulate earthquake safety, so the campus suggests prudent practices, not regulations.

• Secure objects over 4’ high• Do not place heavy objects high up

– When putting things on shelves, keep in mind the following questions:

• Will this hurt me if it falls on me?• Will this obstruct an exit if it falls?• If this expensive and will break if it falls?

Q-Brace (campus)• Q-BRACE (Quake Bracing Assistance) is back!

When an earthquake shakes unrestrained objects, they can slide, swing, overturn, or strike people or other objects. File cabinets, freestanding bookshelves, office equipment, and items stored on shelves or racks can all cause serious injuries by their movement during an earthquake.

Most injuries that occur during earthquakes are caused by the movement of the building’s contents, not by the movement of the building itself.

The Q-BRACE program provides matching funds to campus departments to address non-structural seismic safety hazards.

The process in a nutshell: •Department Safety Coordinator (DSC) or designate conducts inspections of department areas;•Department obtains a cost estimate for the projected improvements;•Grant application and cost estimate is submitted to the Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S).After funds are granted, the department has spring, summer, and most of fall to complete the work.

The grant funding for successful applications will be equal to half of the cost estimate. The maximum award per application is $5,000 for an estimated $10,000 project.

Deadline this year is May 5, 2006. (application period is over for this year)

• We may be eligible for unclaimed money that was awarded to the physics department. We should make a list of projects and submit them to Eleanor Crump.

• http://www.ehs.berkeley.edu/qbrace.html

Q-Brace Guidelines• Securement details for the following:

– Computers– Door and Door Lathcres– File Cabinets

• Position against walls and fasten to wall– Shelving

• Bookshelves over three feet tall should be fastened to wall (best) or at least fastened to the floor. If not against wall, should be connected back to back

• Library shelving systems require evaluation by the Library Architect or campus building inspector (?)

– Shelf Restraints• Shelves containing heavy hardbound books or artifacts should have shelf

restraints to prevent the objects from becoming potentially deadly airborne missiles. (Emphasis added)

• Need minimum lip of 2”. Large or fragile containers should be restrained by individual straps.

• http://www.ehs.berkeley.edu/qbrace/qbrace.guid.html

Examples of Securement

More Examples

Lab Equipment

• Compressed gas containers– cylinders and tanks should

be protected against tipping, falling and rolling. The best way to do this is to chain or cable the top AND bottom of each container to a fixed object like the wall or a rack. Multiple containers can be chained or cabled into a rack.

• Benchtop Equipment• Refrigerators