SAFETY SOLUTIONS: Workplace Fire Safety

While conducting safety walkthroughs with my clients, one item in particular keeps coming to the forefront during my inspections. The issue of concern to me is protecting employees from fire. Fire safety is important business.

According to National Safety Council figures, losses due to workplace fires in 1991 totaled $2.2 billion. Of the 4,200 persons who lost their lives due to fires in 1991, the National Safety Council estimates 327 were workplace deaths. Fires and burns accounted for 3.3 percent of all occupational fatalities.

There is a long and tragic history of workplace fires in this country. One of the most notable was the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City in 1911 in which nearly 150 women and young girls died because of locked fire exits and inadequate fire extinguishing systems.

History repeated itself several years ago in a fire in Hamlet, North Carolina, where 25 workers died in a poultry processing plant. It appears that here, too, there were problems with fire exits and extinguishing systems.

When OSHA conducts workplace inspections, it checks to see whether employers are complying with OSHA standards for fire safety. OSHA standards require employers to provide proper exits, fire fighting equipment and employee training to prevent fire deaths and injuries in the workplace.

· Each workplace building must have at least two means of escape remote from each other to be used in a fire emergency.

· Fire doors must not be blocked or locked to prevent emergency use when employees are in the buildings. Delayed opening of fire doors is permitted when an approved alarm system is integrated into the fire door design.

· Exit routes from buildings must be clear and free of obstructions and properly marked with signs designating exits from the building.

· Each workplace building must have a full complement of the proper type of fire extinguisher for the fire hazards present, except when employer wish to have employees evacuate instead of fighting small fires.

· Employees expected or anticipated to use fire extinguishers must be instructed on the hazards of fighting fire, how to properly operate the fire extinguishers available and what procedures to follow in alerting others to the fire emergency. If employees are to use the fire extinguisher, they must have initial training and must be trained annually thereafter.

· Only approved fire extinguishers are permitted to be used in workplaces, and they must be kept in good operating condition. Proper maintenance and inspection of this equipment is required of each employer. Fire extinguishers must be visually inspected monthly and the initials of the person conducting the survey should be written on the tag.

· Where the employer wishes to evacuate employees instead of having them fight small fires, there must be written emergency plans and employee training for proper evacuation.

· Emergency action plans are required that describe the routes to use and procedures to be followed by employees. Also, procedures for accounting for all evacuated employees must be part of the plan. The written plan must be available for employee review.

· Where needed, special procedures for helping physically impaired employees must be addressed in the plan. The plan must include procedures for those employees who must remain behind temporarily to shut down critical plant equipment before they evacuate.

· The preferred means of alerting employees to a fire emergency must be part of the plan and an employee alarm system must be available throughout the workplace complex and must be used for emergency alerting for evacuation. The alarm system may be voice communication or sound signals such as bells, whistles or horns. Employees must know the evacuation signal.

· Training of all employees in emergency procedures is required. Employers must review the plan with newly assigned employees so they know correct action to take in an emergency, and with all employees when the plan is changed.

· Stopping unwanted fires from occurring is the most efficient way to handle them. Employers need to implement a written fire prevention plan to complement the fire evacuation plan to minimize the frequency of evacuation. The written plan must be available for employee review.

· Housekeeping procedures for storage and cleanup of flammable materials and flammable waste must be included in the plan. Recycling of flammable waste such as paper is encouraged; however, handling and packaging procedures must be included in the plan.

· Procedures for controlling workplace ignition sources such as smoking, welding and burning must be addressed in the plan. Heat producing equipment such as burners, heat exchangers, boilers, ovens, stoves, fryers, etc., must be properly maintained and kept clean of accumulations of flammable residues; flammables are not to be stored close to these pieces of equipment.

· All employees are to be apprised of the potential fire hazards of their job and the procedures called for in the employer's fire prevention plan. The plan shall be reviewed with all new employees when they begin their job and with all employees when the plan is changed.

Fire Suppression System

· Properly designed and installed fixed fire suppression systems enhance fire safety in the workplace. Automatic sprinkler systems throughout the workplace are among the most reliable fire fighting means. The fire sprinkler system detects the fire, sounds an alarm and puts the water where the fire and heat are located.

· Automatic fire suppression systems require proper maintenance to keep them in serviceable condition. When it is necessary to take a fire suppression system out of service while business continues, the employer must temporarily substitute a fire watch of trained employees standing by to respond quickly to any fire emergency in the normally protected area. The fire watch must interface with the employers' fire prevention plan and emergency action plan.

· Signs must be posted about areas protected by total flooding fire suppression systems which use agents that are a serious health hazard such as carbon dioxide, Halon 1211, etc. Such automatic systems must be equipped with area pre-discharge alarm systems to warn employees of the impending discharge of the system and allow time to evacuate the area. There must be an emergency action plan to provide for the safe evacuation of employees from within the protected area. Such plans are to be part of the overall evacuation plan for the workplace facility.

Check your plan and procedures. Conduct an audit to ensure that employees have the knowledge necessary to react to any emergency in the workplace. Inspect your facilities and look for fire hazards. Inspect your areas and look for improper storage of flammables, worn or frayed electrical cords, blocked exits, etc. Should you need help, you can contact either your local fire department or, in some states, state OSHA consulting can provide a free inspection to help you in this field. Should you have particular question please feel free to contact me at jpodojil@charter.net or the magazine.

John F. Podojil CHCM, CHMM, REP, REA, ASA, CUSA, CPEA is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Podojil & Associates Inc. Mr. Podojil has 32 years of experience in the Industrial Safety, Health and Environmental field. He has been listed as an Honored Professional in the National Registry of Who's Who in America. Co-written by Linda A. Podojil, CECD who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Safety and Health. Podojil & Associates is available for safety and health consultation and training at www.podojilconsulting.com or via E-mail at jpodojil@charter.net.

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