Safety Tidbit 6.04 – A Little Fire Safety Refresher

 

Safety Tidbit 6.04 – A Little Fire Safety Refresher

 

References:      OSHA 1910.38 Emergency Action Plans

                        OSHA - 1910.39 Fire Prevention Plans

                        OSHA - Subpart E Appendix - Exit Routes, Emergency Plans, and Fire Prevention Plans

 

This Safety Tidbit was written by my student, Mr. Brandon Parsell – a senior in the Safety Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA graduating Summer 2021.

 

Forest fires devastated the Pacific US this summer. However, fire is a hazard that can be present in any workplace. Some workplaces are more prone to them based on the workload or the location.  Every organization should have a Fire Response protocol or policy, under their Emergency Action Plan, put in place so that employees and other personnel know what actions to take in the event of a fire.

 

Fires are a significant threat to the workplace. If a fire were to occur, it could be devastating to the facility and the equipment inside. Any people in the facility could also be in grave danger because they have a chance to become trapped by the fire with no way out. Aside from the organization itself, there are other things at risk when a fire occurs if it were to spread. If the fire gets out of hand, it can cause damages to the environment and the wildlife that lives in it. Communities and the individuals living in them can lose houses, which they may not replace, and even their own lives.

 

Having a Fire Response protocol or policy in place can ensure that the organization minimizes the chances of fire getting out of control or taking any lives. The policy should outline the steps to be taken if a fire were to occur secondly, what the facility would use internal and external fire response organizations. A detailed evacuation plan includes employee procedures and whether the facility will have a full or partial evacuation.

 

Internal fire response teams should select the number of individuals chosen by the employer to stay in the building and try to combat the blaze themselves. The employer must train these employees on the proper use of the apparatus and protective clothing used to fight the fire and to what extent they can fight the fire. The policy should include how often and what makes up these training exercises.

 

External fire response teams would include your local fire departments. They are more qualified and can handle larger fires that may occur. The policy should include what incidents they should be responding to and a plan for external fire response teams' functions. Within your plan, you should have the following information:

1. How to contact the response team

2. How to inform the response team of the facility layout, entry points,  site-specific operations, occupancies, vessels,

4. What hazards are present, and

5. What hose and couples there are and their location.

 

An evacuation plan is critical. This plan includes information on escape procedures, which personnel performs critical operations during an event, a method to account for all employees (such as a meeting place and roll call), how to report the emergency, and the names and contact information for any additional information.

 

I hope this was helpful and thank you for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

 

P.S. If you have a new safety or health question, please let me know.