Environmental Health & Safety

Earthquake Mitigation

While no one can prevent an earthquake from happening, you can take steps to ensure that when it happens you will be prepared. By taking preventative disaster mitigation measures you can lessen the effects of natural disasters to your property and to yourself.

Planning Ahead

1. Check for Hazards in the work area

• Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves.
• Store breakable items such as bottled foods, glass, etc in low, closed cabinets with latches.
• Hang heavy items such as pictures and mirrors away from couches and anywhere people sit.
• Contact Facilities Management if there is any possibility of defective electrical wiring or leaky gas connections. These are potential fire risks.
• Contact Facilities Management when repair is needed to any deep cracks in ceilings or foundations. Report any signs of structural defects.

2. Identify Safe Places to Go

• Under sturdy furniture such as a heavy desk or table.
• Against an inside wall.
• Away from where glass could shatter around windows, mirrors, pictures, or where heavy bookcases or other heavy furniture could fall over.
• In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, overpasses, or elevated expressways.

3. Educate Yourself and Co-workers

• Contact Jennifer Wamboldt, Emergency Programs Manager, or your local American Red Cross chapter for more information on earthquakes.
• Alert everyone in your immediate area of potential hazards.

Securing Items

Rolling Carts, Shelf and Cabinet Items

• Install latches on cabinets and drawers so that they will remain closed during an earthquake.
• Fasten shelves securely to walls.
• Contact Facilities Management if you think overhead light fixtures might need to be braced.
• Put guard rails or "fences" on open shelves so that items can't slide off.
• Store extra keys on cup hooks so that you can find them in a hurry.
• Block heavy appliances or items that are on wheels with doorstops, or remove or lock their wheels to prevent them from rolling.

Bookcases and Large Furniture

• Anchor large pieces of furniture, such as display cases, bookcases and file cabinets, so that they will remain upright during an earthquake. Use flexible strapping.
  
• Either bolt directly through the back of the furniture into the wall studs or use steel angle brackets.
• Make sure anchoring screws penetrate not just the wall but the studs behind it as well.
  

Computers and Peripherals

• Velcro
• Chain
• Cables
• Elastic cord

Stabilize Framed Pictures

• Eye-hooks must be long enough to penetrate the wall stud as well as the drywall or plaster.
• Make sure the hooks, screws, or other types of mounting hardware are securely attached to the  frame.
• Don't hang large pictures or mirrors in places where they are more likely to fall on someone.