Fire Safety#

Detailed fire safety instructions are in every accommodation unit located on the back of every door. Please read them carefully. As you become familiar with the layout of your House, please note the location of the fire exits, particularly those closest to your room/flat. In the United Kingdom, it is your legal responsibility to familiarise yourself with the nearest means of escape.

Please be alert to the College’s fire safety measures:

  • toasters, rice cookers, sandwich makers and any other cooking devices are prohibited in single rooms;
  • kettles and coffee makers are permitted in rooms for boiling water only;
  • candles, incense and other naked flames are prohibited in College buildings;
  • when cooking in a flat or Buttery, never leave cooking pots unattended on stoves;
  • when cooking in a flat or Buttery, turn on the cooker extractor fan;
  • when cooking in a flat, close the doors and open the windows in the area in which your cooker is located.

Emergency/Evacuation Procedures#

The following section details the safe procedures to follow in the wake of a fire or bomb threat in any of the College buildings, which may or may not require evacuation. It is relevant to Members (and visitors) in both London House and William Goodenough House.

Fire alarms are tested at 10.30am on Fridays in William Goodenough House, and at 11.00am on Fridays in London House. The alarm should last no longer than 20 seconds.

In the Event of Hearing the Fire Alarm#

If you hear a continuous alarm outside the Friday test times, do not panic. Evacuate your building. Make your way to the Assembly Point (the middle of Mecklenburgh Square Garden).

  • Do not stop and pick up your personal belongings.
  • Walk calmly to the nearest fire exit in the area you are in, following signs as necessary.
  • Do not use the lifts.
  • Follow any instructions given to you by Reception or the yellow-vested Fire Marshals.
  • Do not re-enter the building until you are told it is safe to do so.

Gather at the Assembly Point and report to the most senior staff member present.

In the Event of Discovering a Fire#

If it is safe to do so, raise the alarm by activating the nearest fire alarm (situated near exits check where your nearest one is) or phone 02078378888 to inform Reception. Then evacuate the building via the nearest fire exit and assemble in the middle of Mecklenburgh Square Garden.

In the Event of Spotting Suspicious Objects/People/Other Threats#

Move rapidly away from the threat if possible. Inform Reception in person or by phoning 1000. Follow the instructions provided by Reception or other members of staff.

Fire Evacuation Assembly Point Guide

For all situations, plan what you would do in case of a fire, be aware of all escape routes and make sure that exit routes are always kept clear.

Basic Electrical Safety#

Electricity can be dangerous if misused. There are several things you can do to minimise the risks of electrical shocks or electrical fires in your room/flat and elsewhere on College premises.

You should:

  • check and follow manufacturer’s instructions when using any electrical equipment;
  • regularly check the condition of plugs, cables and extension leads and stop using any that look damaged or are overheating;
  • be careful when using hand-held electrical appliances and ensure that they are switched off and unplugged when you have finished using them;
  • check that all adaptors or extension leads comply with British Standards and are adequately rated for the connected load;
  • be careful with hair driers, hair straighteners and tongs, which can get very hot. Make sure that you have an appropriate heat mat to put them on whilst in use and while they are cooling down. Keep them well away from other items;
  • turn off or unplug electrical equipment when it is not in use;
  • check regularlythat electrical items are securely plugged in and that the plug has not become loose or partly fallen out. Check that extension leads and plugs are not hot (except for chargers), since this may be a sign of a fault and can cause a fire;
  • make sure that any flammable liquids (alcohol, nail polish remover etc) are in sealable bottles and in a secure location where they are unlikely to get knocked over;

You should not:

  • overload wall sockets and adaptors, particularly with high current appliances such as kettles, irons and heaters;
  • use mains-powered portable appliances in a bathroom;
  • plug extension cables into each other in a chain or use adaptors plugged into other adaptors. Do not use multi-way adaptors;
  • trail cables from electrical appliances (including extension cables) underneath carpets or rugs, or across doorways;
  • ever touch any electrical equipment or switches with wet hands;
  • wrap cables around any equipment when it is still warm;
  • clean an appliance such as a kettle whilst it is still plugged in;
  • ever retrieve toast stuck in a toaster whilst it is still plugged in, especially not with a metal knife - there are often live parts inside!
  • Leave laptops or phones charging whilst room/ flat is unoccupied
  • fill a kettle or iron with water whilst it is plugged in.

College-supplied items in your room are tested for electrical safety once a year.

For advice on electrical safety on College premises, please contact Facilities via the Facilities Help Desk (FacilitiesHelpdesk@goodenough.ac.uk).

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