Reducing Workplace Earthquake Hazards

Identify unsecured objects that might fall, overturn, slide, spill, or rupture during shaking. Examples include:

• Tall furniture and equipment
• Equipment and furniture on wheels
• Objects, equipment, containers, and materials in cabinets and on open shelves
• Wall- or ceiling-mounted displays, art, pictures, and mirrors
• Fixtures and utility conduits
• Compressed gas cylinders
• Other building contents

Secure items using methods described on this page. Devise other effective methods as needed.

• Contact EH&S Emergency Services, (858) 246-0695, if you need assistance.

Store heavy items on lower shelves to prevent cabinets from being top-heavy. Less damage will be done if they do fall.

Use positive latching devices on cabinet doors. Many types are available at hardware suppliers. Examples include slide bolts, safety hasps, and "child-proof" baby latches.

• See illustrated types of cabinet latches at right.

(A) The standard hook and eye is an inexpensive and secure latch, but you may not close it every time you enter the cabinet because it takes extra effort to do so.

(B, C) Some standard types of secure latches mount on the surface of the door.

(D) Latches are available that mount inside the door, hold the door firmly shut, and open by being pushed gently inward. These are marketed under names such as push latch, touch latch, or pressure catch. If you cannot find these latches, ask your hardware dealer to order them for you.

(E) A child-proof catch prevents a door from opening more than an inch or two. These catches close automatically, but they require an extra action every time you open the door.

_{Image courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey, Earthquake Hazards Program}

Shelving in UC San Diego facilities containing chemicals, glassware, or hazardous equipment or materials must be provided with seismic restraints to resist shelf content movement, breakage, and reaction of chemicals.

• Store heavy and breakable items on lower shelves. Less damage will be done if they fall.
  • Picture the item falling off during a tremor when placing something on an upper shelf. That image may help you decide where to store heavy items.
• Use shelf lips to prevent light-weight containers and objects from vibrating off shelves. Shelf lip height requirements:
  • For shelving containing chemicals, glassware, or hazardous materials, shelf lips must be at least 2 inches high from the shelf surface.
  • For low hazard areas such as offices, especially over employee work stations, shelf lips must be at least 1.5 inches high from the shelf surface.
• Use eyehooks and loop material (fishing line, cord, thin wire, etc.) to restrain larger, heavier objects on shelves.
  • Note: Bungie cords are not as effective as other materials. Small items may slip under them.
• Use adhesive products to secure light-weight objects on open shelves. Various commercial "putty-like" products are available. Adhesive-backed velcro is another option.

Computer equipment crashing onto the floor during an earthquake can be a major business expense.

• Secure desktop computers, monitors, and printers.
  • Choose from many commercially available products including velcro fasteners and non-slip pads.
  • Attach raised shelf edges to prevent low-profile equipment from vibrating off the edge.
• Prepare server rooms.
  • Anchor stacking racks to protect personnel from falling equipment.
  • Consider restraint systems that allow some server movement to protect the unit from absorbing all the shock.
    • Examples of restraints for servers include the use of caster pads, caster wheel locks, sliding pads, elastomer bumpers, and tethers.
  • Consult the service provider for your equipment to determine the best method for securing your server environment.

Following the 1994 Northridge quake (magnitude 6.9), UC Los Angeles responders reported that several doorways were blocked by fallen cylinders, especially by cylinders stored behind doors.

At the CSU-Northridge campus (closer to the epicenter of the quake), 3 out of their 4 science buildings suffered major fires during which over 50 cylinders exploded.

• Secure cylinders in an upright position to a substantial, fixed surface with upper and lower restraints made of non-combustible material, preferably chain and Unistrut^®.
  • Note: Single restraints are not as successful as upper and lower restraints. C-clamps are not reliable.
• See an image of properly secured cylinders at right.

Fire is possibile following an earthquake that has ruptured gas and water lines, broken electrical lines, or caused volatile hazardous materials to spill and react.

Fire walls and doors are specially constructed to withstand fire for a specified period of time, giving building occupants a chance to escape, and limiting damage.

During the 1994 Northridge quake (magnitude 6.9), CSU Northridge responders reported that rooms next door to areas that were completely consumed by flames did not burn where fire doors were shut and fire walls had not been compromised.

An example of a “compromised fire wall” was seen where a display case had been installed in a wall extending through to the hall on the other side. Flames easily consumed the display case and escaped out into the hall through the hole in the fire wall where the display case had been.

• Keep fire doors closed in your building to protect your exit corridors and stairs from smoke and fire.
• Do not cut openings into fire-rated walls.

Contact EH&S Fire & Life Safety, (858) 822-5706, if you have questions about fire doors and walls.

• Use closed hooks to hang mirrors, pictures, and other suspended objects so they can't jump off the hook during shaking.
• Install strong brackets on the top, bottom, and sides of heavy mirrors and pictures — the preferred solution for heavy items.
  • Make sure the clips are anchored into wall studs.
  • Hanging pictures and mirrors so they are earthquake safe.
• Place only soft art or displays adjacent to areas where people sit or stand. Unframed posters, rugs, and tapestries are good choices.

• Plan for seismic restraints when designing your laboratory layout. Some equipment arrives ready for bracing.
  • See images of laboratory seismic restraints used in UC San Diego research facilities.
• Store chemicals and hazardous materials and reactives properly:
  • Read Chemical Storage and Inventory Guidelines.
• Protect temperature-sensitive materials with a backup generator in case power is interrupted.
  • See How to Prepare for a Power Failure in a Lab.
• Prepare your lab for fire safety.
  • See Laboratory Fire Safety Inspection.
• Read about securing compressed gas cylinders above.

Free-standing items or equipment over 42 inches in height and having a height which is 3 or more times greater than the smallest dimension of the base must be adequately secured in all UC San Diego facilities.

• Bolt securely to the wall studs or move tall cabinets, bookcases, shelving, stacked items, or equipment so they will not overturn on people or block corridors or doorways if they fall or move.
• Select a restraint material and method suitable for your purpose. Many commercially available tethers, cables, and angle brackets are available to secure heavy equipment and furniture to walls.
  • Consider:
    • Strength and flexibility of the restraint
    • How to anchor the restraint to a secure surface
    • Quick-release mechanisms if equipment must be moved for use
• View images of different types of equipment restraints:
  • Biological safety cabinet anchored to the floor with a metal bracket
  • Equipment on casters
  • Wall-anchoring system with flexible tethers
  • Freezer tethered to wall-anchoring system
• Use safe methods for securing furniture and equipment, such as:
  • Brackets at top or side
  • Free-standing shelving
  • File cabinets
• Choose wide-based storage (deeper shelves) when possible. It's more stable. The taller and narrower furniture or equipment is, the more likely it is to tumble over.

Basic instructions (see image at right):

(A) Wrap a 1-1/2-inch-wide, 16-gauge-thick metal strap around the top of the water heater and bolt the ends together. Do the same about 1/3 of the way up the side of the water heater.

(B) Take 4 lengths of EMT electrical conduit, each no longer than 30 inches. Flatten the ends. Bolt one end to the metal strap as shown. Screw the other end to a 2-inch by 4-inch stud in the wall using a 5/16-inch by 3-inch lag screw.

(C) Be sure a flexible pipe is used to connect the gas supply to the heater.

Learn how to safely secure items from earthquakes.

_{Image courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey, Earthquake Hazards Program}