May 2026

Meeting Date

CfDC May Meeting Agenda

Introductions

  • Done in the chat

Opening Quotation

  • “Being disabled should not mean being disqualified from having access to every aspect of life.” – Emma Thompson

Agenda

  • Open Discussion regarding Areas of Rescue Assistance changes
  • Invited Guests:
    • Andrew Box, Adam Krouse and Aric Massingill – Environmental Health and Safety
    • Philip Han and Dawn Gardner – Library Facilities
  • Fire inspector noticed areas of rescue assistance/refuge that did not meet today’s code for the spaces.
  • Problematic when individuals with disabilities use a space that is not up to standard with the fire code.
  • Fire inspectors were tasked with identifying and ensuring areas of rescue assistance meet criteria around distance, size, two-way communication, and smoke compartment space in case of emergency.
  • Working to implement shelter in place: a method used by hospitals to identify a space with a door that can be shut and sealed, ideally with two-way communication.
  • If a space is not compliant with today’s fire code, signs are removed to ensure no one has a false sense of security.
  • For all fully fire-suppressed buildings, areas of refuge are not required.
  • In an emergency, there is a high probability individuals will have a cell phone on them – two-way communication is therefore reliant on personal cell phones.
  • The best alternative in case of emergency is to evacuate away from the threat, find a safe space, and call for help.
  • Majority of issues with areas not meeting the code relate to lack of two-way communication.
  • In clinical settings, every building should have a plan, and the university should train staff to know how to respond in an emergency.
  • Goal is to train everyone to know how to respond and react.
  • If you are unable to exit without assistance, there should be a plan in place for what to do.
  • Horizontal evacuation: moving away from the threat/hazardous conditions.
  • If you are unable to evacuate due to an impairment, find a safe space and wait for emergency assistance.
  • DPSS Site that sparked this conversation: https://dpss.umich.edu/prevention-and-training/safety-tips/emergency-response/evacuations/

Questions and Comments

  • Best practice for whom?
    • Answer: This national industry best practice is intended for everyone, including individuals with mobility challenges, physical impairments, and those who are not physically limited.
  • How do we know if we’re in a safe space or an unsafe space?
    • Answer: A safe alternative space is located away from fire or smoke conditions, has a door that can shut and seal at the base, and ideally has windows visible to the outside. If you see or encounter fire or smoke, dynamically move away from it to an area free of those hazards.
  • How do we know where those safe spaces are? How do we find out how far away our office or workplace is from one of those?
  • Ability to use a cell phone is made more difficult by accessibility issues, wifi and cell signal issues, etc. What is the value and possibility of addressing signal issues? Installing wired phones? Improving signal connections? Identifying people who are at risk of having less access is important.
  • Can you describe what a lack of two-way communication looks like and what it means?
  • How are students going to be trained on this? Best practices for hospitals do not seem to translate well to the rest of campus.
    • Answer: On the first day of classes, an official email communication outlining fire safety and emergency instructions is sent out to everyone, including all students and staff.
    • Everyone is sent an email on the first day of classes on what to do in case of a fire emergency – this is a state requirement and must be reported to the state fire marshal’s office
    • Example of email sent out on the first day of school: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sbY0VKQEZ4SSudVPsHjclPP6A32x7Pei/view?usp=sharing
    • Information for students needs to go beyond the first day of classes – students receive a significant amount of information in the first few weeks, so this needs to be reiterated
  • We need this information shared university-wide, not just with people in the meeting – annual message to all, ensuring students are included
  • How do we make sure messages are not just sent out, but that people actually see and understand the message?
  • Every building should have a plan and that should be part of in-house training – not about adding job responsibilities, but about public safety
    • If there are questions about university planning, speak to your managers directly
    • UM hospital clinical areas have staff trained to help evacuate individuals with disabilities. Will similar training be provided to staff elsewhere? If not, is this an additional false sense of security?
    • If we as a community wanted to go beyond nationwide best practices, to whom should we address this to push the issue?
  • How do we keep track of people with disabilities in emergency situations? How do we ensure preparedness is equal across departments?
    • Answer: First responders never assume a building is empty; the fire department physically searches every single room and space to locate occupants. Additionally, residents in student dormitories can have their physical or assistance needs pre-logged into the DPSS dispatch system so officers know to check on them immediately. Anyone on campus can also contact DPSS directly to have their building, room, and individual assistance needs securely logged in this confidential system.
    • Floor vs. ceiling: meeting legal requirements is the floor – it seems like right now we’re below it; many steps need to be taken to build a community where people work to keep each other safe
    • How do we account for more emergency scenarios? What if your buddy is not in the office?
  • Making arrangements with others to serve as an assistant or buddy is important
    • Are there any guidelines available to help launch a buddy system, ensuring confidentiality and other factors?
      • Answer: The buddy system is a strictly voluntary, informal relationship established between trusted colleagues rather than an official university-tracked work assignment, which protects personal privacy. For an official and confidential route, individuals can contact DPSS directly to log their specific workspace location and physical or emotional assistance needs directly into the emergency dispatch center system.
    • You don’t have to disclose your specific needs – simply saying “in an emergency, I’d appreciate someone checking in on me” is enough
    • It is important to recognize that many people on campus choose not to disclose their disabilities, for a number of reasons including concerns about discrimination – institutionally, the University has an unfortunate reputation in this regard
  • The importance of having fire extinguishers available and people who know how to use them in areas with higher needs, including those with flammable materials such as books or chemicals
  • How to address the sensitivity of certain individuals to smoke?
  • Helpful context shared by a participant: BIRT – Building Incident Response Team, coordinated and managed by UM-DPSS Emergency Management
  • Shared article of concern: A pitmaster and dedicated father died alongside his son waiting for help in the LA fires – https://www.npr.org/2025/01/13/g-s1-42506/la-fires-victims-altadena-eaton-anthony-mitchell

Future Meetings

  • Criteria in visual aid
  • Continuing this conversation on fire safety/emergency preparedness
  • Email out to the group

Other Matters Arising

Announcements

  • Anything to share with the Council?
  • Can always send announcements and agenda items to [email protected].