Handling Emergencies

EVACUATION

There may be emergency situations that will require you to leave your work area or even the building. Employees and students are required to follow all evacuation directions when necessary.

• Exit the building in a quick but controlled manner

• If the nearest exit is blocked, proceed to the secondary exit

• Assist any injured or disabled co-workers with exiting the building, IF you cannot safely do so, EVACUATE and ALERT emergency personnel

• Ensure all patients in the facility are evacuated

• Meet at the designated accumulation meeting point. This area will be discussed with you by your supervisor.

The location of the emergency evacuation plan will be reviewed with you by your supervisor. Labcorp Walgreens locations do not have a posted evacuation plan. Employees are to exit out the PSC door then through Walgreens door.

FIRE EMERGENCIES

Upon reporting to work, familiarize yourself with the locations of fire extinguishers and exits nearest your workstation. All fire extinguishers and exits are marked with a sign directly above them for easy identification.

When fire/smoke is observed, remain calm, notify others in the direct area and:

RESCUE and remove person(s) in immediate danger from the hazardous area to an area of safety. Rescue should only be performed when it does not put the rescuer in immediate danger.

ACTIVATE alarm, if applicable, or call 911 or emergency phone number and report the fire/smoke as quickly as possible in the following manner:

• Give full name

• Identify what is burning and how extensive the situation is

CONTAIN the area to isolate the fire by closing all doors and windows. Do not lock the doors.

EVACUATE the facility through the nearest safe exit available (see site specific safety plan). Everyone must vacate the building when the alarm sounds or when directed by a staff member. All personnel will evacuate the facility through the nearest safest exit available and congregate at the designated Employee Accumulation Areas outside of the facility, which are at least 50 feet from the building (see site specific Emergency Evacuation Plan). You should remain calm and quiet when evacuating and keep corridors free of obstruction. 

The use of elevators in a fire emergency is prohibited. DO NOT get in your car or leave the premises during an emergency evacuation.

Extinguishing Fires

Do not attempt to extinguish large fires.

Small Fires

Small fires can be extinguished by employees who have received proper training on the use of the fire extinguisher.

LabCorp has predominately ABC type extinguishers in the lab/office areas. ABC type extinguishers are good for paper, wood, plastic, flammable liquids, and electrical equipment.

Monthly inspections are to be performed on all extinguishers and documented on the tag located on the fire extinguisher. Your supervisor will provide the appropriate training on the monthly inspections and documentation.

MEDICAL

Treatment of on-the-job injuries are broken into three categories:

• Routine first aid

• Clinical treatment required, and

• Emergency personnel required

Routine First Aid: Examples of injuries that would require routine first aid may include minor cuts, bumps, or sprains. All routine first aid injuries must be reported to your supervisor and a determination will be made if any further treatment is necessary. All locations should have basic first aid kits or supplies to treat minor cuts or scrapes.

Clinical Treatment Required: Examples of injuries which would require a visit to our contracted health care clinic for treatment may include laceration requiring stitches, foreign material in eyes which cannot be removed through irrigation, chemical burns, over-exposure to hazardous materials, minor bone breaks, or exposure to blood borne pathogens. All injuries that would require treatment at our clinic must be reported to your supervisor. Your supervisor will provide you with instructions and the proper paperwork needed to receive treatment. All paperwork from the clinic should be given to your supervisor to verify if any special work accommodation must be made.

Emergency Personnel Required: Examples of injuries which may require emergency personnel to be dispatched to a site are heart attacks, severe asthma attacks, falls involving loss of consciousness, major burns, and shock. In case of a medical emergency, if possible, stay with the injured employee and have someone dial 911. Make sure to explain the type of emergency to the phone operator then notify your supervisor.

In any medical emergency, utilize universal precautions and proper personal protective equipment to prevent contact with blood and body fluids.

All work related non-emergency injuries must be handled through our contracted health care clinic. This will ensure that treatment costs will be covered through our worker’s compensation insurance agency.

Non-Labcorp Employees or student interns –Non-Labcorp employees should follow their agency protocol for workplace injuries and illness. Injury and illnesses should be reported to the supervisor.

BOMB THREAT

If a bomb threat is received by telephone indicating that a bomb or similar device has been placed within the Labcorp location, you should perform the following actions:

• All threats should be taken seriously. Do not assume this is a prank call.

• Remain calm and get as much information from the caller as possible utilizing the Bomb Threat Checklist. (located on the Global Security intranet page).

• Notify your supervisor, local police, building management or other building occupants.

• Should an employee locate a package or object that is suspicious or looks like a bomb, the employee must not attempt to move or touch the item. Immediately notify your supervisor and follow the site evacuation and notification procedure. The area where the object is located should be avoided and access should be blocked.

• In the event the facility is notified of a bomb threat in an adjoining or nearby building, the evacuation plan should be implemented with specific instructions to avoid the area or building where the threat occurred.

• Supervisor will report to Global Security.

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

Workplace violence may be any incident in which any employee is threatened, intimidated, harassed, verbally or physically attacked or injured. Acts of violence should be reported immediately to your Supervisor, Human Resources and Global Security. Labcorp will address threats and potential or actual acts of violence and take appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination.

OTHER EMERGENCIES

Tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods are other emergencies you will receive site specific training in the event your location falls in an area that is prone to this type of emergency. For example, during tornado conditions, do not evacuate. Move to an inside, low area of the building.