Emergency Action and Fire Prevention
History Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire New York City: March 25, 1911 8 th, 9 th and 10 th floor of Asch building Shirtwaists (women s blouses) Fire broke out at 4:40 p.m. Scrap bin caught fire on the 8 th floor Killed 146 workers (of 500 workers) 123 women and 23 men 71 non-fatal injuries
History Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Working conditions Work stations packed tightly together Long wooden work tables Wooden bins with cloth at work stations Blouses hung the length of the floor Machine oil stored on floor
History Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire The Blaze Fire lasted only 30 minutes Fire company arrived to dropping bodies (over 50) Ladders & fire hoses only reached 6 th & 7 th floors Fire nets failed to catch jumpers Rusty fire escape (which led nowhere) collapsed Interior fire exits locked Fire exits had inward swinging doors No sprinklers only pails of water Lack of third staircase
History Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Aftermath 36 new workplace health and safety statutes Birth of the Life Safety Code More buildings requiring automatic sprinklers
Fact Sheet National Fire Protection Association 1,298,000 fires in the U.S. during 2014 3,275 fire deaths One death every 2 hours & 41 minutes 15,775 fire injuries One injury every 33 minutes $11.6 billion in property damage Fire departments respond to a fire every 24 seconds Fires kill more than 200 and injure more than 5,000 workers each year
Written Plans Emergency Action Plan and Fire Prevention Plan Created to coordinate actions during emergencies and to give guidance on how to prevent injuries and property loss Plans must be in writing, kept at the workplace, and available to employees An employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally to employees
Emergency Action Plan Minimum elements of an emergency action plan Reporting fires and emergencies Emergency evacuations Critical operations necessary before the evacuation Accounting for all employees after evacuation Employees performing rescue or medical duties Contact information for the Emergency Action Plan Employee training and program review An employer must have and maintain an employee alarm system
Fire Prevention Plan Minimum elements of the Fire Prevention plan A list of major fire hazards Proper handling and storage procedures for hazardous materials Potential ignition sources and their controls Types of fire protection equipment available Procedures to control the accumulation of flammable and combustible waist materials
Fire Prevention Plan Minimum elements of the Fire Prevention Plan Procedures for regular maintenance of safeguards to prevent accidental ignition of combustible materials Contact information for individuals responsible for: Maintaining equipment to prevent or control sources of ignition or fires Control of fuel source hazards Employee training and program review
Exit Routes A continuous and unobstructed path of exit travel from any point within a workplace to a place of safety Consists of three parts: Exit Access n Leads to an exit Exit n Protected path to exit discharge Exit Discharge n Leads directly outside or to a street, walkway, refuge area, or open area with access to outside Means of Egress Life Safety Code and most local building and fire codes
Exit Routes Basic Requirements Exit routes must be permanent No ropes or ladders Exit separated by fire resistant material Two hour rating 4 or more stories One hour rating 3 or fewer stories Protected by a self-closing exit door Adequate number of exit routes At least two or more
Exit Routes Capacity and Dimensions Must support the maximum permitted occupancy for each floor served Capacity must not decrease in the direction of exit route travel to exit discharge Ceiling must be at least 7 6 high, 28 wide No projection reaching a point less than 6 8 7 6 6 8
Exit Routes Minimize Danger Kept clear and free from obstructions Kept free of explosives or flammable materials Arranged so employees will not travel toward a high hazard area Emergency safe guards must be in proper working order (ex: sprinklers, alarms, exit lighting, etc.)
Exit Doors Must be able to open from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge Panic bars are permitted Must be free from any device that could restrict emergency use if the device fails May be locked from the inside only in mental, penal or correctional facilities
Exit Doors Side-Hinged Exit Doors Must be used to connect any room to an exit route If connects any room to an exit route must swing out in the direction of travel if: Occupancy more than 50 people or Contains high hazard contents Exit sign free of decorations or signs that obscure the visibility of the exit route door
Lighting and Markings Exit routes adequately lighted Exit clearly visible and marked with EXIT sign If direction of travel is not immediately apparent, signs must be posted along the exit access Line-of-sight to an exit sign must be clearly visible at all times Doors or passages along an exit access must be marked Not an Exit or identified for actual use Exit sign must be lighted by a reliable source (6 letters, ¾ inch thick)
Lighting and Markings
Fire Prevention Four things must be present at the same time in order to produce fire Enough OXYGEN Enough HEAT FUEL or combustible materials als CHEMICAL REACTION The important thing to remember If you take out any of these four elements and you will not have a fire or the fire will be extinguished
Fire Prevention Classifications of Fire Class A: Fires involving ordinary combustible materials Class B: Fires involving flammable liquids Class C: Fires involving energized electrical equipment Class D: Fires involving combustible metals Class K: Fires involving cooking media (oils or grease)
Fire Prevention Common Fire Hazards Flammable and combustible liquids/materials Fueling stations Storage tanks diesel, gas, oil, etc. Storage drums, containers, totes, waste, etc. Paint booths Compressed gas cylinders Hot work welding, torches, grinders, etc. Overheating, overloading & electrical malfunctions Smoking discarded cigarettes, smoking areas, etc.
Fire Prevention General Strategies Inspect work areas for fire hazards Practice good housekeeping Proper storage of flammable and combustibles Dispose of wastes promptly and correctly Proper ventilation when needed Follow protocols for welding, torch and grinder use Smoking in permitted designated areas only Careful attention to electrical hazards Service machines regularly
Fire Prevention Ordinary Combustibles Fire prevention strategies Keep storage and working areas from of trash and other combustible materials Place oily rags in covered containers
Fire Prevention Flammable Liquids Fire prevention strategies Keep flammable liquids stored in tightly closed containers and away from spark producing sources Remove liquids from open top containers immediately after intended use Store flammables in a designated storage area or in flammable storage cabinets
Fire Prevention Electrical Fire prevention strategies Use power tools with proper insulation that is free of damage Isolation of live electrical parts (boxes, covers, etc.) Proper grounding of electrical tools and equipment Use of fuses, circuit breakers and GFCI s Remove of damage tools and electrical equipment Do not daisy chain multi-outlet strips
Fire Protection Fire Extinguisher Selection Common Types Powder ABE Carbon Dioxide Water Fire Blanket Fire Hose
Fire Protection Fire Extinguisher Use (P.A.S.S. Method) Pull the pin from the handle Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire while still maintaining the fire extinguisher in the upright position Squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent A side to side sweeping motion should be used
Fire Protection Fire Extinguishers Must be mounted, identified and readily available Must be visually inspected monthly Must undergo an annual maintenance check
Fire Protection Defend in place Building construction Sprinkler systems Fire hoses and blankets Detection and alarm systems Emergency lighting Provide occupants with enough protection to enable them to survive a fire while they are in the building Sprinkler systems Sprinkler head clearance Sprinkler head buildup Annual inspections
Discussion Questions or comments