A. Building Evacuation

  1. In the event of an extended period of power outage (not a blinking of lights) the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code as enforced by the Kingston Fire Department requires the patrons and staff to take the following action:
    • Patrons and staff vacate basement area and lock basement door.
    • Patrons and staff vacate all rooms on the second floor. Staff is to make certain this is done and that the doors to stairways on the first floor are locked.
    • Patrons are to vacate the building, or remain inside the building behind the wooden doors in the hallway, but not beyond the entrances to the fiction or reference room. The staff will supervise this area.
    • When conditions allow, the building is to be vacated and secured by staff.
  1. In the event of a fire alarm, New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code as enforced by the Kingston Fire Department requires that patrons and staff take the following action:
    • Patrons and staff vacate basement area and lock basement door.
    • Patrons and staff vacate all rooms on second floor. Staff is to make certain this is done, and that the doors to stairways on the first floor are locked.
    • Patrons and staff vacate the building going either to their vehicles and remaining there, or away from the building to the Franklin Street garden area, to allow unobstructed entrance of fire vehicles.
    • No person, including staff, may return to the building before a fire officer gives direction.

B. Injury on Premises

In order to maintain a safe working environment and hazard-free building for public utilization, the Library Director, in conjunction with the head custodian shall make periodic tours of the library building in order to identify areas in need of repair or replacement. A Safety Checklist shall be used as an aid and guide in this endeavor. The public and employees are encouraged to call attention to any unsafe condition by notifying the Library Director.

Any accident on library property is to be immediately reported to the director using a Kingston Library Accident Form. If Employees are involved in an accident while at work, a New York State form C-2 EMPLOYER’s REPORT OF WORK-RELATED INJURY/ILLNESS must be completed as soon as possible following the accident and submitted to the director. If an accident involves a patron, the patron should be given a copy of the Kingston Library Accident Form available at the circulation desk. If the patron declines to fill out a report, the staff member on the scene shall fill out the report to the fullest extent possible. All reports should be forwarded to the Director as soon as they are completed.