Page 86 - OHS, July/August 2021

FACILITY SAFETY
during alteration or demolition that may be outside of their direct purview is by fostering a safety culture onsite. Taking the time to talk to the FPPM and workers about housekeeping practices, hot work permit systems, fifire protection impairment permit systems and construction site security can help reduce the likelihood of a construction catastrophe.
Good Housekeeping
Fires start when there is an ignition source, oxygen and fuel so it is critical to decrease fuel and ignition sources on construction sites by adopting sound housekeeping practices. The following steps won’t eliminate fire risk entirely, but they will prevent a fire from growing if one does start:
■ Ensure that workers are taking proactive steps to properly store combustible materials, empty the garbage regularly and relentlessly remove onsite debris.
■ Combustible materials, such as cardboard boxes or the construction materials themselves (wood) are prevalent on construction sites so it is important that these materials are stored at a safe distance from any potential ignition sources, such as temporary heating equipment.
■ Dumpsters and trash collection areas often contain combustible materials. Ensure these receptacles are emptied regularly so potential fuel load is eliminated or at least lowered.
■ Require workers to clean up construction materials at the end of their shift or before moving on to another aspect of the job. ■ Hold workers accountable for removing food and drink
materials to minimize fuel sources.
Hot Work and Fire Protection Permitting Systems
Welding, soldering, grinding, cutting and brazing are all forms of hot work7 that can potentially create an ignition source on a job site. By establishing a hot work permit system, facility managers will ensure that consideration has been given to the surrounding environment where the hot work is taking place. Moving combustibles, such as packaging materials, a safe distance from the hot work site, implementing safeguards to minimize the risk of sparks falling to floors below via floor openings, and determining if a fire watch are all necessary efforts that may not eliminate the risks associated with hot work on construction sites, but they will minimize them.
Similarly, establish a fire protection impairment permit system to reduce potential risks to systems. A permit system helps the FPPM manage what portions of required systems are shut down or temporarily impaired. It details protocols for ensuring that two systems on the same floor are not impaired at the same time or that two consecutive floors are not impaired at the same time. A two-permit system can also prevent hot work from being authorized in an area where a fire protection system has been impaired. By limiting areas of a building that are in a vulnerable state and managing the type of work being conducted in that area, a facility manager working in tandem with an FPPM can strengthen construction site safety.
Site Security for Safety
As previously noted, intentionally set fires are one of the leading causes of fire in buildings undergoing construction and major renovation. Secure sites with fencing or by requiring guard service
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in the hours when work is not conducted so that unwanted visitors are thwarted from accessing the construction site. Ensure that the project is adequately lit and that video surveillance is in place to prevent unauthorized people from entering the premises. During work hours, make sure workers are using designated access routes and not creating shortcuts so that unapproved parties are not entering areas and potentially setting fires or vandalizing.
Construction Safety Solutions
NFPA recently conducted a popular webinar8 on the topic of construction fire safety that included a robust discussion of related issues and opportunities. The association also created a one-hour Construction Site Fire Safety Fundamentals Online Training9 that offers tips on identifying everyday onsite fire hazards and ways to deal with them. A new five-part online Fire Prevention Program Manager Online Training Series10 is designed to help professionals that are new to maintaining fire safety on construction sites improve their understanding of FPPM job roles and responsibilities.
“People need to understand that the requirements outlined in NFPA 241 are there for good reason,” Dave Chandler, vice president of environmental health, safety, and quality at Maryland-based Davis Construction recently told NFPA Journal.11 Chandler went on to say, “Investing properly in safety minimizes the risk of catastrophes and loss of life. It takes a really proactive approach at minimizing the risk, and any construction, alteration, or demolition has that ever-present risk of fire.”12
Valerie Ziavras is an engineer in the NFPA technical services division. REFERENCES
1. https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/fast-burning-fire-consumes- office-building-in-downtown-hailey/277-c86c4989-e6c2-4148-8789- c71378a693a3
2. https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/pascackvalley/news/fire-breaks-out- as-workers-demolish-former-sony-building-in-park-ridge/804981/
3. https://www.firehouse.com/operations-training/video/21206617/nearly- 90-firefighters-battle-fire-at-nv-apartments-under-construction
4. https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/fire-katy-burning- apartment/285-70b9b75b-9dd0-498f-984c-e68dbd0f1c21
5. https://www.nfpa.org/constructionfires
6. https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/
list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=241
7. https://www.nfpa.org/Training-and-Events/By-topic/Hot-Work
8. https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/ Blogs-Landing-Page/NFPA-Today/Blog-Posts/2021/06/09/Four-key- recommendations-can-help-significantly-reduce-the-risk-of-construction- site-fires
9. https://catalog.nfpa.org/Construction-Site-Fire-Safety-Fundamentals- Online-Training-P21527.aspx?icid=W370
10. https://catalog.nfpa.org/building-safety-fundamentals-C4083. aspx?utm_source=dmps&utm_medium=print&utm_ campaign=dmps0123&utm_content=xcat&order_src=p093&utm_ source=tprt&utm_medium=ads&utm_campaign=tprt0275&utm_ content=mtpl&order_src=v235
11. https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/ NFPA-Journal/2021/Summer-2021/Features/Safety-First
12. https://go.nfpa.org/l/14662/2021-04-13/8hg5ql www.ohsonline.com