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Warning Signals and Actions

The Oak Ridge Reservation has two types of emergency alarm signals to alert site personnel of emergency events:

NOTE: Other Alarm Signals: The many different types of operations require additional alarm signals to be located in some buildings to support specific operations in these buildings (e.g., oxygen-deficient atmosphere, fire, and security alarms).

Call One of the Numbers Below to Hear Alarms at Your Site

ETTP & Y-12 576-3587

ORNL 574-4462

Radiation Criticality Accident Alarm System (RCAAS) or Criticality Accident Alarm System (CAAS)

This alarm is a continuous, shrill sound from a clarion horn, and is installed only in buildings where criticality radiation accident could happen. If the alarm starts in a building, beacon lights on the building exterior will activate and will rotate. At ETTP, the beacon lights are red, at Y-12, the lights are magenta/blue, and at ORNL, the lights are red or magenta/blue.

If you hear the clarion horn and see the rotating lights or hear the announcement over the Public Address System (PAS) and you are in the RCAAS/ CAAS Immediate Evacuation Zone (IEZ), IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE to an assembly station located away from the rotating lights and listen for further instructions. Individuals in buildings/ facilities outside the IEZ may also be directed by the site shift superintendent to take protective actions so everyone should be attentive to announcements during a criticality event, as well as during any other emergency or abnormal events.

If facilities are flagged off or blocked, do not go past the flagging without authorization from the PSS/LSS or Manager in Charge.

Standard Alerting Tone

The Standard Alerting Tone is an emergency alarm signal with an alternating high-low tone. It means an important announcement about emergency response or actions is about to be made over the Public Address System or Emergency Notification System.

If the Standard Alerting Tone sounds, ALL site personnel must:

Stop working.

Listen carefully.

Follow instructions given over the Public Address System (PAS).

Perform shutdown procedures ONLY if it’s safe to do so.

Evacuate Message

• Immediately evacuate through the nearest exit (perform shutdown procedures ONLY if it’s safe to do so).
• Take personal items (e.g., purses, briefcases, etc.).
• Walk (don’t run) to the Assembly Station assigned to the building you are in.
• Follow the instructions given at the station.

REMEMBER: An Assembly Station is a safe area for site workers and visitors to meet, report in, and get more emergency information and instructions. At ETTP, ORNL, and Y-12 the areas are marked by a round, orange sign with the number of the assembly station/point in black (review the Building/Facility Emergency Plan (B/FEP) for the number and location of the assembly station you report to in case of an emergency). You may also ask your assigned escort.