In addition to providing tenants with a separate Emergency Procedures Plan booklet, Esperson utilizes a Tenant Warden system to facilitate implementation of the Emergency Procedures Plan in times of emergency. Each tenant shall appoint two individuals, one to serve as Warden and the other as Assistant Warden. The names of the Tenant Wardens are to be listed on the Tenant Warden Information form, a copy of which can be found in the Forms Section of this Manual.
In recent years, the term “Life Safety” has been accorded new emphasis, as it affects all aspects of modern office building operations. The Management at Esperson, utilizing the guidance of the Houston Fire Department, has developed a plan of action to help protect the lives and property of Esperson occupants in the event of an emergency.
The successful execution of the Esperson Emergency Procedures Plan will depend upon the degree of confidence, cooperation, and coordination achieved by the Tenant Wardens and their fellow employees.
Each tenant can assist in the successful implementation of an outstanding Life Safety program by realizing a responsibility to:
The Management at Esperson will periodically contact all tenants for an update on Tenant Warden assignments and to coordinate Tenant Warden training. Tenant Warden training will be conducted on a yearly basis and will be scheduled in a manner to provide the utmost in convenience for both tenants and the Tenant Wardens.
The success of the Tenant Warden system and the safety of all building occupants require a commitment from everyone involved. If there are any questions or suggestions concerning any part of the Esperson Emergency Procedures Plan, please do not hesitate to contact the Management Office at (713) 224-1663.
The assigned Wardens and Assistant Wardens for each tenant/floor are responsible for the following:
If an emergency should arise, the best way to provide for the safety of building occupants is to have a well-conceived plan of action that is implemented by competent and trained leaders. The Tenant Wardens are the very heart of the successful implementation of the Emergency Procedures Plan.
The Management at Esperson will provide training and assistance for all Tenant Wardens. Responsibilities and situations that will be covered in this training will include:
A good training program, coupled with the leadership provided by Tenant Wardens, will help facilitate a safe and secure work environment at Esperson.
Various aspects of the Fire Safety Plan at Esperson will be tested on a deliberate, systematic and periodic basis, in accordance with instructions from the Management Office or the Fire Department. Such testing will familiarize key personnel with their emergency duties and responsibilities, evaluate these duties and the Emergency Procedures Plan, and will help identify any existing deficiencies and the need to make official corrections or adjustments.
Office buildings vary in size, shape, square footage, and tenant mix. Because of these factors, each building relates differently to Fire Evacuation Procedures and Emergency Plans. Therefore, plans regarding procedures for Esperson have been specially designed by Cameron Management and reviewed by the Houston Fire Department. The following information represents the procedures that will be followed by the tenants and the Management at Esperson.
If you see flames or smoke, smell smoke or something that is definitely burning:
If you think you smell smoke or something burning, perform actions 3 and 4 above.
Each tenant and/or floor will have a minimum of two Wardens assigned. In the event that the automatic fire alarm is sounded, it will be the responsibility of the Wardens to systematically inform every individual on the floor of the alarm.
At this point, everyone on the affected floor will take their immediate personal belongings and proceed to their pre-designated stairwell and evacuate the building. Verbal communication from the building personnel will be maintained in the stairwells with the individuals. Floor and Tenant Wardens will be the last individuals to leave the affected floors.
Regularly scheduled fire drills will be conducted with the tenants to perfect these procedures and increase the efficiency of the Wardens.
During the fire drills and during an actual evacuation, the Warden is in charge of the evacuation of his/her fellow employees.
The three designated meeting areas are Pennzoil Place (Milam at Rusk), 919 Milam @ Travis, and Two Shell Plaza (Walker & Milam). Employees are asked to evacuate to these areas to enable emergency equipment easy access to the building.
Esperson has been designed and equipped with a fire control and alarm system. The following will activate an alarm:
What to expect:
In emergencies, communication is vitally important to the success of any plan or procedure.
The Management Office and main telephone number will be the control point for all emergencies. Tenant’s employees are requested not to call the Management Office during an emergency. Only appointed Floor/Tenant Warden Contacts should confer with the Management Office during an emergency. An alarm should be the signal for everyone to leave.
Building Management personnel and Fire Wardens will give directions and other information to the tenants as they evacuate the building.
Please refer to the Tenant Emergency Procedures Manual for the following possible occurrences:
Hurricane season is a time for preparation.
Please use this notice as your reminder to prepare your office for this major storm. Leasehold improvements and furnishings are the responsibility of each tenant and its insurance company. See the below Hurricane Preparedness Checklist, which may be a helpful guide in your preparations. We at Cameron Management encourage everyone to take all necessary precautions to keep your families, workers and communities safe.
Please monitor the below websites for updates:
City of Houston Website
Harris County Office of Emergency Management
Once the storm has passed, information about the re-opening of the building will be available by calling the management office at (713) 224-1663.
After the Storm:
Visually Impaired:
Each person should have a “buddy” assigned to them to assist them in the event of an evacuation. Ask each person the best way to assist them to the stairwell and lead them to safety. It is important that the “buddy” remain with the person until the emergency is over.
Physically Disabled/Non-Ambulatory Persons:
Each person should have a “buddy” assigned to assist them in the event of an evacuation. In most instances, it will only be necessary to move the person into the stairwell for safety. If it becomes necessary to move them down the stairs, various lifting and carrying techniques can be utilized. Ask the person the best way to help. Stay with the person until the emergency is over. Elevators should not be used.
Fire Wardens must notify the Management Office at (713) 224-1663 of mobility impaired persons within their areas of responsibility.
POWER FAILURE
Esperson is equipped with an emergency generator. In the event of a power outage, emergency lights on every floor will stay on, and one elevator will remain in operation. Management will inform all Tenant Wardens as to what actions are to be taken if power is not restored within a reasonable time.
ELEVATOR FAILURE
If you are caught inside an elevator:
If you observe a malfunctioning elevator from outside, please report this to the Management Office at (713) 224-1663.
CIVIL DISTURBANCE
Although riots and civil disturbances are rare, there is still a need for a planned course of action. Should a disturbance start outside of the building at Esperson, all entrances to the affected building will be secured by building personnel. A call to the local Police Department will then be made.
Based on the continued atmosphere of the disturbance, a decision will be made by the Management Office, and the tenants will be notified. Should a disturbance start in either the Niels Lobby or Mellie Lobby, all elevators will be turned off at the first floor. Angry demonstrators, etc., cannot be given access to the office areas of the building for any reason.
If, in the event a disturbance should occur in a tenant’s office or premises, the Management Office should be notified immediately. All assistance will be given to the tenant; however, the decision to call any law enforcement to a tenant’s area will be left to the tenant.