CERN’s vast site hosts a variety of buildings and installations, as well as diverse groups of people, from seasoned personnel to first-time visitors. Fire safety measures are implemented to protect this diverse population, but also CERN’s costly infrastructure and the environment. Ensuring safe evacuation is a priority in this context, with building layouts designed to facilitate quick, orderly exits. But even the best infrastructure relies on effective human response.

A recent planned evacuation of most of the Main Building complex (R1 and Buildings 500, 503, 61, 62, 63 and 64, but not 60) offered valuable insights in this respect. At 2.07 p.m. on a cold and cloudy afternoon, sirens blared. While the sirens were loud and clear and the fire doors and lifts responded as designed, human behaviour varied. Many of the approximately 220 people who were present evacuated to the assembly point. However, half of them hesitated before starting to move, some left the building but stayed near the exits, eight re-entered the building and ten entered during the alarm. Two of the emergency exits in the Main Building complex were obstructed by equipment. Thanks to individuals taking the lead, notably restaurant staff, who acted as emergency guides, the evacuation finally got under way. The event highlighted the importance of keeping exits clear and of being familiar with procedures, as well as the power of leading by example in emergencies.

We all play a role in ensuring that CERN is a fire-safe place: make sure that you know and understand the applicable evacuation procedures and that you are aware of the nearest emergency exits and assembly points, and communicate this information to newcomers and visitors. Further, CERN regularly organises planned evacuations like the one mentioned above. They prepare us all for real emergencies: treating every drill as if it were real can make the difference between confusion and calm in a crisis.

If you see blocked exits or unsafe practices, speak up and inform your TSO or DSO. To find out more about fire safety in general, consult the dedicated Fire Safety Risks webpages. If you have specific queries about fire safety, reach out to the Fire Safety Engineering team: hse-fset@cern.ch.

Safety first. Safety always.