Page 20 - Occupational Health & Safety, May 2019

FIRE SAFETY TRAINING
FireSafety:Plan,Prevent,Train,Recover
Fires have the highest casualty rate of workplace accidents, but there are ways to mitigate risk.
BY VIVIAN MARINELLI Fire safety is taught and practiced from the earliest days of kindergarten—we all remem- ber “Stop, Drop, and Roll”—but preparedness training should never end. Workplace fires pose a risk across all industries, making fire safety training and policies an essential part of keeping em- ployees, customers, and the surrounding community safe. According to OSHA,1 workplace fires and explo- sions kill 200 and injure more than 5,000 workers each year, costing businesses more than $2.3 billion in property damage. Explosions and fires account for 3 percent of workplace injuries and have the highest ca- sualty rate of all probable workplace accidents. Many unexpected explosions and fires are due to faulty gas lines, poor pipefitting, improperly stored combustible
materials, or open flames.
Taking preventative steps, implementing training,
and drilling simulation exercises can lower risk and prepare employees in case a fire ever does break out in the workplace.
Preventative Steps
According to Safety Services Company, only 15 per- cent of fires are a result of circumstances outside of human control. Most workplace fires can be prevent- ed, and there are preventative steps every organiza- tion can take to mitigate the risk. Begin by perform- ing a workplace hazard assessment. Walk through the work environment, document any fire hazards, and make sure there is full accessibility to things such as electrical control panels, emergency exits, firefighting equipment, and sprinklers. Test smoke alarms and check fire extinguishers for expiration dates.
Because electricity accounts for 39 percent of workplace fires, keep a close eye out for any electri- cal hazards, such as faulty wiring and malfunctioning electrical equipment. Make sure electrical cords are in good condition and power outlets are not overload- ed. Replace anything that appears overheated, smells strange or has frayed or exposed wires.
If your organization uses chemicals or other haz- ardous materials, read labels to ensure you are storing and disposing of them properly in appropriate con- tainers with adequate ventilation. Fire hazards such as oily rags should be discarded in a covered metal container and emptied on a regular basis. Chemicals should be handled with proper protective equipment and separated from flammable materials.
Walking through your building and pinpointing possible fire hazards allows you to fix issues before
they become problems. Once hazards are identified, taking action to quickly fix them and address safety processes will go a long way toward reducing the like- lihood of a fire.
Disaster Plan Development
Fires are unexpected and unpredictable. While pre- vention can lower risk, accidents do still happen. In order to prepare for the worst, organizations must de- velop an effective disaster response plan to minimize fire damage and prepare employees. Every business is different and must customize its response plan to fit the facility and its employees, but there are common elements that all plans should include.
A disaster response plan is developed to guide organizations through a crisis event and helps them resume operations afterward. The plan should include an annual review of your organization’s overall fire safety procedures and best practices for addressing any hazards found. Planning also should focus on the evacuation process and method for reporting fires. Make sure emergency exits are clearly labeled and accessible; posting emergency exit routes through- out the building will help people calmly navigate an anxious situation. Likewise, educating employees on the plan will keep them well informed and prepared to evacuate if necessary. Designating a meeting area allows volunteer team leaders to take roll call, confirm everyone is accounted for, and report any missing employees to first responders. The plan also should contain personal information about your employees, including phone numbers and next of kin contacts.
Finally, the disaster response plan should be eas- ily accessible and understood by all levels of staff. It is a living document that requires frequent review and regular updates, so ongoing training is critical. Devel- oping a flexible plan that is easy for employees to un- derstand helps keep everyone safe, ultimately improv- ing the resilience of everyone within the organization.
Train to Improve Resiliency
Assembling a disaster response team comprised of multiple departments from the organization guaran- tees the entire business is involved in the process of plan development and training. The response team should designate roles and responsibilities to all per- sonnel. Make sure each employee knows his or her roles and responsibilities and understands the differ- ent aspects of the response plan.
Take time to discuss the specific hazards within
16 Occupational Health & Safety | MAY 2019
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