Report on the fire drill with the Paris Fire Department (BSPP) and the CBRN team

On Monday April 11, the Institut Pasteur took part in a large-scale drill with the Paris Fire Department (BSPP) and its team of specialists in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) risks.

As well as the many fire engines and teams from the Paris Fire Department, several Institut Pasteur departments were involved in this event, especially the teams in the Technical Resources and Environment Department, the Occupational Health Department and the five-year research group led by Giulia Manina.

The aim of the drill was to simulate a fire in a BSL3 laboratory – with victims and release of a biological agent – to test the emergency response of the Institut Pasteur's Security Operations Center, the missions of the Occupational Health Department and the Risk Prevention Department, and the Paris Fire Department's intervention and decontamination procedures.

 

An initial review of the drill has already been carried out by the Institut Pasteur's teams and the Fire Department staff, with several areas for progress being identified for each party.

 

•    It is important to emphasize the role of fire wardens as they have an active part to play in organizing the evacuation of their floor and the entire building.

They guide the building's occupants to the most appropriate emergency exits (avoiding affected or smoke-filled areas) and accompany them to the meeting point. They must have a good knowledge of the relevant buildings and they need to be given fire warden training.

Designated fire wardens wear an armband so that the emergency services can identify which staff can confirm whether or not an entire floor has been evacuated. The armband must be visible and should not be taken off until all staff have returned to their offices.  
 
The Security Department is launching a new recruitment campaign for fire wardens. If you are interested, feel free to send an email to surete@pasteur.fr so that we can register you and organize training.
 

•    Finally, in the event of an emergency, you must call the Security Operations Center by dialing 27 on the Institut Pasteur campus and 28 on the Hearing Institute campus. Do not contact the emergency services directly. This will avoid clogging up emergency lines and potentially contradictory messages.

Below is a summary of the applicable emergency procedures:

Every year, the Institut Pasteur organizes training sessions in using extinguishers that are open to staff in a professional or personal capacity.

If you have any questions, please email surete@pasteur.fr
 
The staff of the Paris Fire Department would once again like to thank the Institut Pasteur for hosting the drill and for its commitment to managing fire risks on its campus.

The Technical Resources and Environment Department, which was responsible for organizing the drill, would particularly like to thank all the occupants of the building who were involved in the drill, especially the scientific teams led by Giulia Manina for their warm welcome and their active participation in the drill.