Information for Faculty and Staff
1. Download TMU Safe; Sign up for text messages
One of the most important things you can do to prepare for an emergency is to download TMU Safe. TMU Safe is the university’s tool for mass notification that will send alerts in urgent situations that pose an immediate safety or security risk to the community.
While TMU Safe will send emails to your TMU address in the event of an emergency, we highly recommend you download the app, turn on notifications, and sign up for text messages, as these are the quickest ways to receive a TMU Safe notification.
Haven’t used the TMU Safe app in a while?
If it's been some time since you’ve opened the app on your phone, follow the instructions below to ensure the app is still working correctly.
iPhone users: check to determine if your phone has offloaded the app due to inactivity. If this is the case, redownload the app to ensure it’s working correctly.
Android users: double-check to determine if the app has entered hibernation mode. You can prevent this by redownloading the app and disabling this feature within the app’s settings when automatically prompted to do so upon downloading.
2. If you identify an emergency on campus call 911
Whether it be in your workspace, in your classroom or in your travels on campus, if you encounter an emergency on campus, or an immediate threat to your safety, contact 911. If it is safe to do so, you can also inform TMU Security at 416-979-5040.
3. If you require support in the event of an evacuation
Prior to an emergency occurring, it’s important that you follow Human Resources’ guidance on how to implement an individualized accommodation plan for emergencies.
In an emergency, students, faculty, staff and community members requiring assistance to exit a building should follow the following procedures:
- Stay where you are, if it is safe to do so. If it is not safe, move to a safe area nearby.
- Contact TMU Security to let them know you require assistance to evacuate the building and where you are located — refer to the yellow “In an Emergency” placard in the room for your exact location.
- TMU Security will share that information with Toronto Fire Services.
- In the event of an actual emergency where evacuation is deemed necessary by Toronto Fire Services, a person requiring assistance will be met by Toronto Fire Services.
At the beginning of each semester, please remind students in each of your classes to privately inform you if they require evacuation assistance in the event of an emergency.
Reasons a student requires evacuation assistance may include visible or invisible disabilities, temporary conditions as a result of an accident or medical procedure, pregnancy, severe excitability or claustrophobia or other limitations that would make using stairwells dangerous to themselves or other evacuees.
Please note: While students are responsible for informing their instructors if they require evacuation assistance, they are not required to disclose the particulars of their disability or medical condition.
If an evacuation occurs and you have a student in your class or lab who requires assistance and is unable to contact security themself, immediately contact TMU Security by calling 416-979-5040 and provide them with the name and location of your student. They will share this information with Toronto Fire Services, who will provide evacuation assistance to your student.
Please note this guidance is applicable to TMU-owned buildings. If you are in a leased space, please confirm building-specific processes.
