In these rapidly changing situation, three situations arise:

Containment

• Stay in the local or head to the nearest open office
• Lock the door and barricade if possible
• Hide windows overlooking corridors with paper or cardboard
• If possible, stop and secure your activities
• Turn off the light, computers, projectors. CELL PHONES must be put in silent mode
• If a containment kit is present in the room, fix the sheet with the number of people and the room number on an outside window
• Keep quiet and calm
• Hide yourself if possible
• Sit or lie on the floor along a wall, behind furniture or away from interior doors and windows
• Do not open to anyone
• Wait for instructions by speaker or phone from Polytechnique for evacuation by the authorities

Escape

If you can leave building without risk:

• Leave the place discreetly
• For your safety, keep your hands up when you move
• Don’t trigger the fire alarm
• Bring the people you meet with you
• Once secure outside, call 911 to report the situation
• Then call the Sûreté at 514 340-4444
• Follow the emergency instructions for your safety

Trapped with an armed individual

There is no well-established procedure in this case. However, there are guidelines:

• Don’t do anything that could provoke the individual
• Stay calm and keep quiet
• If the individual doesn’t shoot, do what the individual says and don’t move suddenly
• Don’t trigger the fire alarm
• If possible and if you are not visible from the individual, dial 911. If you can’t speak, leave the line open so the police can hear what is going on
• If the individual starts shooting, either stay still or run for an exit while zigzagging
• It is not recommended to attack an individual who shoots. It must remain the last resort. In that case:
  • Find an object that could serve as a weapon (fire extinguisher, stick, chair ...)
  • If there are other people with you, coordinate your actions
  • The goal is to slow down, block or control the individual

Containment procedure

Some situations require containment (armed individual, contaminants, weather conditions...)

• Stay in the local or head to the nearest open office
• Lock the door and barricade if possible
• Hide windows overlooking corridors with paper or cardboard
• If possible, stop and secure your activities.
• Turn off the light, computers, projectors. CELL PHONES must be put in silent mode.
• If a containment kit is present in the room, fix the sheet with the number of people and the room number on an outside window
• Keep quiet and calm
• Hide yourself if possible
• Sit or lie on the floor along a wall, behind furniture or away from interior doors and windows
• Don’t open to anyone
• Wait for instructions by speaker or phone from Polytechnique for evacuation by the authorities.

If you see fire or smoke:

• Ensure your own safety
• Move, evacuate, or warn anyone near the fire
• Pull the closest wall-mounted red fire lever
• Notify Security using the wall-mounted red phones (don't forget to take note of your location)
• Close the doors and windows when leaving any rooms
• Don't use a hallway or staircase without first checking:
  • door temperature with the back of your hand (hot = keep the door closed)
  • if smoke is present
• Follow the instructions given by Emergency Coordination Team Volunteers.

What is a hazardous material?

According to the environment quality act (RLRQ, C.Q-2, art.1):

“Hazardous material” : a material which, by reason of its properties, is a hazard to health or to the environment and which, within the meaning of a regulation under this Act, is explosive, gaseous, flammable, poisonous, radioactive, corrosive, oxidizing or leachable or is designated as a hazardous material, and any object classed by regulation as a hazardous material                                                                                         

Spill

Spills must be cleaned up by an OSH advisor or a member of the intervention brigade who was trained for this purpose

In case of a spill

• Ensure your own safety
• Avoid spreading the spill
• Prevent hazardous substance from spilling or draining into a drain
• Locate the name of the hazardous material
• Don’t try to use any equipment to eliminate the spill
• If possible, stop and secure your activities.
• Don’t use your cell near the spill
• Evacuate the room and close the door(s)
• Contact Sûreté by dialling 4444 from a campus phone and specifying the name of the spilled product, amount spilled and the room number
• Alert others to stay clear of area
• Wait for the security agents to inform them about the spill

Contamined individual

In case of a contaminated individual

Skin contact

• Wear personal protection if you attend someone
• Remove any contaminated clothing and put it in a bag
• Rinse with lukewarm water the contaminated part of body for a minimum of 20 MINUTES while awaiting the arrival of help
• If necessary, use an emergency shower
• Contact Sûreté by dialling 4444 from a campus phone and specifying the name of the spilled product and the room number

Eye contact

• Use an eye wash to rinse the eyes for at least 20 MINUTES until help arrives
• Contact Sûreté by dialling 4444 from a campus phone and specifying the name of the spilled product and the room number

Inhalation / Ingestion

• Contact Sûreté by dialling 4444 from a campus phone and specifying the name of the spilled product and the room number

Suspicious odors

In case of suspicious odors

• Ensure your own safety
• If possible, stop and secure your activities
• Don’t use your cell nearby
• Evacuate the room and close the door(s)
• Contact Sûreté by dialling 4444 from a campus phone and specifying the name of the spilled product and the room number

If you discover or receive a suspicious package:

•  DON'T TOUCH THE PACKAGE
•  Isolate the parcel
•  Don't open, smell or taste it
•  Locate the room where the package is
•  Don't use your cell phone near the object
•  Contact Sûreté by dialling 4444 from a campus phone
•  Wait for Sûreté agents
•  Be prepared to evacuate

What a suspicious letter look like:

•  No return address
• Misspelled words
• Excessive postage
• Unknown powder or suspicious substance
• Mailed from a foreign country

What a suspicious package look like:

• Strange or suspicious odor
• Lopsided or uneven parcel
• Stains or discoloration on wrapping
• Excessive tape
• Protruding wires

If an individual exhibits disordered or unusual behaviour:

• Stay calm
• Don't do anything that could provoke them
• If there is no imminent safety risk, then call Polytechnique Security by dialling 4444 from a red campus phone

If the individual is not dangerous but there is a safety risk:

• Don't put yourself in danger unnecessarily
• Listen to the individual without interrupting them
• Speak slowly and calmly, and use simple words
• Avoid justifying or arguing
• As soon as possible, contact Polytechnique Security at 514 340-4444.

Unless otherwise specified, Polytechnique Montréal is considered open.

If a significant snowstorm is announced, a closure notice will be posted on:

• Homepage of Polytechnique website: https://www.polymtl.ca
• PolyAlerte mobile app
• Institutional social media:
  • Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/polymtl
  • Twitter: http://twitter.com/polymtl  
• Email (address with @polymtl.ca)
• Welcome message of the telephone system (514 340-4711)