13. Emergency Preparedness and Fire Department Coordination

An accurate inventory is only useful in an emergency if the people responding can actually access it. A surprising number of schools have a technically complete inventory that nobody outside the science department knows exists.

Checklist: Emergency Preparation

• Current chemical inventory shared with (or accessible to) the front office and site administrator

• Local fire department aware that hazardous chemicals are stored on site, and where

• Spill response procedures documented and posted in the storage area

• Staff trained on when to evacuate versus attempt containment

• Emergency contact list (district safety officer, hazardous waste contractor, CUPA) posted and current

• Eyewash stations and safety showers tested on a documented schedule

• A copy of the SDS library accessible without relying on building power or internet

Proactively sharing your inventory and storage layout with your local fire department — many welcome a walkthrough — turns an emergency response from a guessing game into a coordinated plan.

Internal link opportunity: Coordinating School Chemical Inventories With Local Fire Departments.

---