Last updated · 14 February 2024

Health and safety

This section of our Handbook may not be very exciting, but it can definitely come in handy. And by that, we mean potentially life-saving handy… please do read so you know exactly what to do in the circumstances described below.

Injury at work and first-aid kit.

Please notify Catarina if you're injured at work, and she will fill in the Accident Report Form with you. There are 2 First Aid Kits:

If you use something from the First Aid kit, let Catarina know so she can replace it as soon as possible.

If there's a fire.

Here's a beautiful PDF about what you should and shouldn't do in case of a fire. Don't wait for a fire scenario to read. Go on and read it once you're done with this page. Takes 2 minutes and could save people's lives.

What to do in case of a fire.pdf

If there is a fire, you should calmly leave the office by the entrance and assemble on the opposite side of the road, on the corner by the tobacco shop. Leave your belongings behind.

Managers will ensure the building is empty. A message will be sent to #0-office on Slack for everybody who may have been at the office on that working day to be accounted for.

Fire Extinguisher.

There's a neat PDF that demonstrates how you should play firefighter.

How to use a fire extinguisher.pdf

Fire extinguishers are located in the following places. Please, never move them.

Earthquakes.

In case our world rocks, here's a handy PDF that teaches you to behave accordingly. Obviously, the right time to read it won't be when things get shaky. At that time, you should actually put in place the rules you'll learn by reading the following PDF after you've finished this page.

What to do in case of an earthquake.pdf

But since we know you won't be reading that, here's what you should do.

You should cover yourself as quickly as possible, go under your desk, and keep away from windows and the meeting rooms. The latter are glass-heavy, and you'll want to stay away from any glass. Stay indoors until the shaking stops, and you are sure it is safe to exit.

Drop, cover and hold. 

• Drop down on your hands and knees. This protects you from falling over but lets you move if you need to.

• Cover your head and your neck (or your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table or desk (if it is within a few steps of you). If there is no shelter nearby, cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.

• Hold on to your shelter (or your position to protect your head and neck) until the shaking stops. If the shaking shifts your shelter around, move with it.

Once the shaking stops, Managers will shout out for the team to gather when safe to do so. We’ll use #0-office to account for everybody at the office that day if the internet connectivity is working. Electrical items should be checked for fire risk.

While it may be scary to stay put, running out to the street, where falling glass and building damage can cause serious injuries, is more dangerous. Only leave the office when absolutely safe to do so.