Member Responsibilities- Building Safety and Maintenance

1.   Building maintenance

      Each ward member is responsible for building maintenance and upkeep.  The building representative in each ward is the bishop's delegate in overseeing the care, cleaning, and maintenance of our buildings.  Cleaning assignments are fulfilled by the members twice a week.  Some key points:

●        In addition to maintaining a desirable appearance conducive to feeling the spirit, thoroughly fulfilling the cleaning assignments is critical for the health and well-being of the members.   Surfaces that have a lot of “hand traffic” (door handles, etc.) should be wiped down weekly.

●        Garbage cans are to be emptied at the end of each Sunday AND after every activity that uses a garbage can (Mutual, Seminary, Cub Scouts, Activity Days, RS evening meetings, etc.)

●        Please note that there is a common misconception that there is occasional professional cleaning in the buildings.  With the exception of carpet cleaning and floor refinishing the cleanliness of the building is entirely the responsibility of the members.

2.   Closing and locking the building

      The buildings should be locked and secured anytime the facility is unattended.  Each ward should ensure that the buildings are secured each night either through a specific ‘patrol’ assignment or by careful training and accountability of ward council members and key holders to ensure there is someone designated for close-up at the end of an activity.  This involves:

●        turning off lights in chapel, cultural hall, and classrooms

●        leaving foyer lamps lit

●        checking for open windows

●        ensuring that each door is locked

3.   First Aid Kits

      Each building has a first aid kit in the member cleaning closet and/or the kitchen.  Building representatives should periodically check the kits.  The FM group will restock as required with a FIR request (see below)

4.   Building alarms

●        If the fire alarm sounds, leaders should direct the members to evacuate in an orderly fashion through the nearest building exit. Parents with children in Primary classes should not go to the classroom to get their children. Primary teachers will escort the children to the building exit nearest the classroom.

●        Public Safety may respond to an alarm with a fire truck.  Public Safety officers should be escorted to a member of the bishopric or of the ward council.

●        The alarm systems are monitored by an outside service. The monitoring service has the contact information of the Stake Physical Facilities Representative, Stake Presidency member, and the local facilities manager by which they will report the incident and request an investigation. Depending on the situation, the ward PFR or a bishopric member may be asked to assist in assessing the situation.

●        The alarm panels do occasionally report faults in a/c, sensors, communication, sprinkler systems.  These alarms are reported through the monitoring service.

●        An alarm panel key and instructions for silencing or resetting the alarms are included in the Facilities Maintenance book located in the member cleaning closet.

5.   Exit lights

      In the event of an emergency, Exit lights remain in a separate circuit and indicate building exit points at the doors in each building.

6.   If the fire department shows up at the building

      Let them in to investigate. Provide the contact information of the Stake Physical Facilities Representative (Brother Chris Edwards (817-480-5503), if there are questions or concerns that cannot be immediately answered. 

7.   If you see an unsafe condition

      Do not assume someone else will take care of it.  Personally take steps to minimize the risk or limit access. Promptly notify a member of the bishopric or building rep.  You can also contact Brother Edwards who will be glad to assist in getting the right precautions and fixes in place.

8.   Freezing conditions

●        There is a bucket of ‘ice melt’ in the member closet in each building.  It is checked and restocked by the FM group.

●        If there is a deep freeze condition, the inside doors in each foyer should be propped open (with a chair) to prevent sprinkler system pipe freezing.

9.   Building Safety and Emergency Contact Information

Each building has an information binder in the member closet (red cover).  The binder includes a map with key locations (sprinklers, fuse boxes, alarm zones, etc.), a key to the alarm panel, and emergency contact information.

10. Facilities Issue Reporting (FIR) system

      Each building rep and bishopric member can report maintenance issues through the FIR system at LDS.org. There is also an app available (search LDS FIR).  This is the best method for directly putting an issue on the FM group list.  Brother Edwards is also copied on submissions and may follow up with questions.

11.  Stake Physical Facilities Representative 

      Chris Edwards: 817-480-5503, chris@tracksanta.com