Kevin Lindley, Safety Consultant, FRSA Self Insurers Fund
If there was a fire while you were present at work, do you and your fellow workers know what to do? Where is the closest fire extinguisher? Do the fire alarms and emergency lighting work? Where is the closest emergency exit? Where does everyone go once they get out of the building?
It’s that time of year to take a step back and look at work safety in terms of fire preparedness. It is a good practice to annually review these steps with all employees in the workplace.
Per the International Fire Code (IFC) section 404.2, a fire safety and evacuation plan is required for only certain types of structures; however, it is highly recommended that a plan be developed, maintained and displayed in every workplace. The plan should include not only the routes to be taken and locations of the building emergency exits, but it should also clearly identify the location of fire extinguishers and the designated meeting place employees are to congregate during an actual emergency. List one employee who will act as the safety officer in the event of an emergency.
Most commercial buildings are required to have, at minimum, smoke alarms, fire extinguisher(s) and a clear means of egress out of the building. Additional emergency supplies may also include emergency lighting, emergency signage, first aid kit, flashlights and even bottles of water.
Project sites shall have a fire extinguisher present where there are flammable or combustible materials, tools or equipment present or in use. Fire extinguishers on project sites shall be readily available and within 20 feet of the heat source or fire hazard present, placed no closer to the hazard than 10 feet away.
Smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and emergency lighting shall be tested monthly to verify proper operation/condition. Smoke alarms and emergency lighting typically have a test button easily accessible on the unit that, when pressed, will cause the lights to illuminate or the alarm to briefly sound. Testing emergency alarms is recommended when no other employees are present, or once everyone has been properly notified of the testing prior to the test being conducted.
Emergency exit signs shall be posted at all exterior doors. Exit signs which are equipped with emergency illumination shall also be tested by pushing the test button located on the unit.
First Aid kits are often depleted without notification. Check the contents of the first aid kit regularly to verify all intended items are present.
There are five primary fire classifications:
■ Type A fires are wood, cardboard, paper, textiles and rubbish
■ Type B fires are chemicals and flammable liquids
■ Type C fires are electrical
■ Type D fires are combustible or flammable metals
■ Type K fires are combustible and flammable cooking/kitchen media
The most common type of fire extinguisher for an office and on the job is an ABC-rated fire extinguisher, which is designed to be used on types A, B and C fires. Every fire extinguisher shall be inspected once a month. Completing a monthly fire extinguisher inspection requires several small steps. The monthly inspection steps are as follows:
■ Check the date of the annual inspection on the exterior tag, sticker or collar band.
Fire extinguishers are required to be inspected annually by the manufacturer, supplier, or fire extinguisher inspection company. The company will typically provide a tag, sticker or collar band around the neck of the extinguisher which indicates the month and year of the last inspection.
■ Check the condition of the fire extinguisher.
Ensure the container is free of defects, the handles have proper separation, the hose is fully screwed onto the tank and free of cracks and the end of the hose is free of blockage. Fire extinguishers shall be secured to prevent damage while being transported. Blockages should be cleared with a pen or screw; do not use a finger (spiders bite).
■ Verify the fire extinguisher has proper pressure.
Pressure gauge on the front of the extinguisher should be in the green indicating area; when in the red it is either over pressurized or under pressurized. Even a slight release of pressure will continue to leak if the seal has been broken resulting in an improperly pressurized tank. Tanks not properly pressurized should be exchanged or re-certified immediately.
■ Confirm the fire extinguisher has a safety pin and tamper seal band.
Safety pins located in the neck of the fire extinguisher keep the handles from being compressed and engaging the striker. The tamper seal band is present to hold the pin in place. DO NOT REPLACE THE TAMPER SEAL BAND WITH A ZIP TIE, CORD, STRING or anything else which will be required to be cut, untangled or removed before the pin can be pulled out by hand.
■ Vigorously shake the fire extinguisher.
Contents inside a fire extinguisher are under pressure. When a fire extinguisher is stored in locations where exterior temperatures change, the pressure of the tank either increases (hot temperatures) or decreases (cool temperatures). During fluctuations, the powder contents are condensed and harden. Aggressively shaking the fire extinguisher will break up the compacted contents, thus allowing it to travel through the hose as designed when needed.
■ Sign off on the monthly inspection.
The individual who conducts the monthly fire extinguisher inspection shall place their initials and date of inspection on either the rear side of the inspection tag, on the exterior of the fire extinguisher or on a written log. If the inspection is not documented, it is as though it was never completed.
Think back to school days: we reviewed various plans with fire drills and lock-down drills, as well as other safety drills the facility deemed necessary so that there would be order and structure in the event of an actual emergency. Do not wait until there is an actual event to tell everyone where to go and what to do. Review it with everyone annually, at a minimum. During an actual event, it can be very confusing, hectic, disorienting and scary. Decisions must be made on the spot. Practicing and discussing the plan with everyone can be very beneficial. Also, including emergency response (the fire department) in the drill can be helpful for everyone. They become familiar with your facility and it makes the situation that much more memorable to everyone participating. Follow all steps of the plan. If the plan includes shut down of important equipment, do it in real time during the drill and don’t forget to do a head count of everyone present. While there, you can request the fire department to review fire extinguisher use with everyone or conduct an office fire safety evaluation.
Periodic site evaluations are a great idea; one individual can be responsible to perform them, or do a blast email to all employees for them to do a self-evaluation of their space.
■ Do not overload power outlets. Do not plug multiple power extension devices into one outlet or into one another. Do not plug power extension devices into an extension cord.
■ Replace frayed power cords, cords which have become detached from the outlet end, or if the end is missing a ground pin.
■ Unplug unnecessary equipment when not in use or at the end of the day such as a microwave or coffeemaker.
■ Do not run extension cords under carpet or rugs, through walls, or in pinch-points of doorway openings.
■ Replace appliances that feel warm or hot to touch.
■ Store hazardous materials according to manufacturers’ instructions and per OSHA regulations. All chemical containers shall be properly labeled and a common area is recommended to be identified with signage.
■ Do not block emergency exits.
■ Do not block the Power Breaker Box.
■ Do not allow waste to accumulate outside of receptacles and never store trash near hot equipment, electrical outlets or smoking areas.
■ Do not permit employees to burn candles, scented oils, etc., even in their personal work space.
Following the steps above is the best way to protect your business, investment and employees. It is crucial that we take safety seriously; if we fail to do so, our employees will follow. It’s a lot easier to prepare for an emergency than to explain why you didn’t.
This information is provided as a service and should not be substituted for a professional consultation by a fire marshal, insurance agent or any other safety professional. Always consult with the fire marshal or your insurer should you have specific questions about any fire safety matter.
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