Learn about your company's emergency plans. Ensure that a plan is developed if one is not in place.

Practice your company's emergency plans, including evacuation plans. Evacuation plans need to be legible and posted prominently on each floor.

Know the exit routes and evacuation plans in your building. Know at least two exit routes from each room, if possible. Be able to escape in the dark by knowing how many desks or cubicles are between your workstation and two of the nearest exits.

Have a designated post-evacuation meeting location where appropriate personnel can take a headcount and identify missing workers. Every employee should be aware of this location.

Make special emergency plans for co-workers who are disabled or may require assistance during an emergency.

Know the location of fire extinguishers and medical kits. Periodically check extinguishers and alarm systems.

Make a list of important phone numbers. Keep a printed list at your desk and near other telephones. Do not rely on electronic lists, direct-dial phone numbers, or computer organizers that may not work in an emergency.

Gather personal emergency supplies in a desk drawer, including a flashlight, walking shoes, a water bottle, and nonperishable food. An emergency can happen at any time. You and your co-workers should know what to do if an emergency happens during the workday.

Report damaged or malfunctioning safety systems to appropriate personnel for repair and maintenance.

Never lock fire exits or block doorways, halls, or stairways. However, keep fire doors closed to slow the spread of smoke and fire.

In the event of an emergency in a building with many floors:

Leave the area quickly following your worksite's evacuation plan. In the event of fire, crawl under the smoke to breathe cleaner air. Test doors for heat before opening them. Never use an elevator when evacuating a burning building. Always go directly to the nearest fire- and smoke-free stairwell.

If you are trapped in the building, stay calm and take steps to protect yourself. If possible, go to a room with an outside window and telephone for help.

Provide any assistance you can to children, the elderly, the injured, coworkers with disabilities, and others who require special assistance.

Stay where rescuers can see you and wave a light-colored cloth to attract attention.

Open windows if possible, but be ready to shut them if smoke rushes in. Stuff clothing, towels, or newspapers around the cracks in doors to prevent smoke from entering your refuge.

Put together an office phone tree. In the event of an emergency, your office may need to get information to employees quickly. Develop a list of everyone's home phone numbers with instructions for who will call whom. Make sure everyone keeps a printed copy at their home.

Make plans to help each other. Determine how you will help each other in the event that public transportation is shut down or thoroughfares are impassable. Offer to temporarily house, transport, or feed your co-workers in case of emergency.