Do you know what to do when the alarm sounds? Building 60 evacuation drill puts preparedness to the test
At 9.00 a.m., a small planning team comprising colleagues from the CERN Fire and Rescue Service, the HSE Fire Safety Engineering team, Departmental Safety Officers (DSOs), Territorial Safety Officers (TSOs) and observers met for a final round of checks. Alarm timings were confirmed with the Engineering Department’s Access and Alarms team, assembly point signage reviewed […]
On 28 September, staff members at CERN’s Building 60 participated in an unannounced evacuation drill to assess emergency procedures. The drill took place at 9.45 a.m. after a thorough inspection at 9.00 a.m., involving representatives from the CERN Fire and Rescue Service, HSE Fire Safety Engineering team, Departmental Safety Officers, Territorial Safety Officers, and observers.
The alarm was sounded, prompting personnel to evacuate calmly and gather at the assembly point outside. Thirty people, including CERN Management, completed the evacuation in under five minutes. Fabrice Malacrida, DSO for the SR, SO and DG Units, emphasized that such exercises are crucial for determining the effectiveness of alarm systems, wayfinding, and emergency procedures when people are unaware of the drill.
This drill was the first since Building 60 reopened after refurbishment in 2025, aligning with the Organization’s 2026–2030 Safety Objectives and Safety Fundamentals, particularly the "Be Fire Aware" principle. CERN encourages all personnel and contractors to complete the 10-minute Emergency Evacuation e-learning course for continuous preparedness.
Written by urgent.news from CERN's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
