A fire caused by poor housekeeping, carelessness, or failure to follow instructions can destroy your job, income, and life. The chance of a fire can be reduced if everyone makes an effort to practice daily fire prevention measures.
Follow these fire safety tips:
- Don’t allow trash and litter to accumulate unnecessarily.
- Keep the workplace areas neat and clean.
- Keep equipment clean and use it properly.
- Keep corridors, exits, and stairways free of obstructions.
- Know where the fire alarm pull stations and extinguishers are located.
- Know the proper exits and procedures in case of an emergency.
- Learn about the different types of fire extinguishers and how to use them. Check extinguishers periodically to ensure they are charged and well-marked.
- Make sure there are good electrical wire connections and proper grounding.
- Smoke only where permitted.
- Handle flammable liquids with caution.
- Store hazardous materials in designated areas.
- If you store hazardous materials properly, the chance of fires, spills, and accidents is significantly reduced.
- Do not store incompatible items together.
- Every workplace should have an emergency action plan. In case of fire or other emergencies, procedures should outline who is to call the fire department and how the building will be evacuated.
- When a fire or emergency evacuation does occur, don’t panic. Keep calm and follow instructions.
Emergency Preparedness
One result of the recent trend toward open office environments is that smoke from office fires is not contained or isolated as effectively as in less open designs. Open office designs allow smoke to spread quickly, and the incorporation of many synthetic and other combustible materials in office fixtures (such as furniture, rugs, drapes, plastic wastebaskets, and vinyl-covered walls) often makes “smoky” fires. In addition to being smoky, many synthetic materials can emit toxic materials during a fire. For example, cyanide can be emitted from urethane, which is commonly used in upholstery stuffing. Most burning materials can emit carbon monoxide. Inhalation of these toxic materials can severely hamper a worker’s chances of getting out of an area on fire in a timely manner. This makes it imperative for office workers to recognize the signal to evacuate their work area and know how to exit expediently.
The emergency action plan will address potential emergencies in your work area. For emergency evacuations, floor plans or workplace maps that clearly show the emergency escape routes, life safety equipment, and refuge areas should be included in the plan.
All employees must understand what actions they are to take in the workplace and assemble in a refuge area. New employees should discuss how to respond to emergencies with their supervisors shortly after starting work and whenever their responsibilities under the plan change. This orientation should include:
- Identifying the individuals responsible for various aspects of the plan (i.e., chain of command) so that, in an emergency, confusion will be minimized, and employees will have no doubt about who has authority for making decisions.
- Identifying the method of communication that will be used to alert employees that an evacuation or other action is required, as well as how employees can report emergencies (e.g., pull stations, public address systems, telephones, etc.).
- Identifying the evacuation routes from the building and locations where employees will gather.
General Guidance for Fires and Related Emergencies
If you discover a fire or see/smell smoke, immediately follow these procedures:
- Contact 9-1-1.
- Notify building security.
- Activate the building alarm (e.g., pull station). If an alarm is not available or operational, verbally notify people in the building.
- If you can do so safely, isolate the area by closing windows and doors while evacuating the building.
- Shut down equipment in the immediate area, if possible.
- If possible and if you have received appropriate training, use a portable fire extinguisher to:
- assist in the immediate evacuation of the area;
- or control a small fire.
- Do not collect personal or official items. Leave the area of the fire immediately and walk, do not run, to the exit and designated gathering area.
- You should provide first responders with the details of the emergency upon their arrival. You might know about special hazards essential for first responders’ safety. You should not re-enter the building until directed to do so. Follow any special procedures established for your workplace.
- If the fire alarms are ringing in your building, you must evacuate the building and stay out until notified to return. Move to your designated meeting location or move upwind from the building, staying clear of streets, driveways, sidewalks, and other access ways to the building. If you are a supervisor, try to account for your employees, keep them together, and report any missing persons to first responders at the scene.
If an individual is overexposed to smoke or chemical vapors, remove the person to an uncontaminated area and get medical attention promptly. Do not enter the area if you suspect that a life-threatening condition still exists (such as heavy smoke or toxic gases).
If your or another person’s clothing catches fire, extinguish the burning clothing using the drop-and-roll technique, wrap the victim in a fire blanket, or douse the victim with cold water (use an emergency shower if it is immediately available). Carefully remove contaminated clothing; however, avoid causing further damage to the burned area. Cover the injured person to prevent shock. Get medical attention promptly.ly available). Carefully remove contaminated clothing; however, avoid further damage to the burned area. Cover injured person to prevent shock. Get medical attention promptly.