Today, we re going to talk about emergency action and fire prevention. We hope we never have to face an emergency situation like a fire in our workplace, but we must always be prepared, just in case. Your role in an emergency is vital, whether it is preventing a fire, reporting an emergency, responding to the incident, or evacuating the workplace safely. The more you know about the hazards that could cause emergencies, and the better prepared you are to respond to emergencies, the safer you ll be in case the worst happens. Of course, the safest thing of all is to prevent situations that could lead to emergencies whenever possible. 1
The main objective of this session is to make sure you are prepared to take proper emergency action if necessary and to ensure that you are doing your part to prevent fires and releases of toxic and/or flammable materials spills in the workplace. By the time this session is over, you should be able to: Identify hazards that lead to an emergency; Take effective action in emergencies; Evacuate safely; Prevent fires; and Respond effectively to fires and releases. Are you setting goals to help yourself remember the information after you complete the course? 2
Before we begin the session, let s take a few minutes to see how much you already know about emergency action and fire prevention. Decide which of the statements on the screen are true or false. You should always try to put out a workplace fire with an extinguisher rather than evacuating. This is false. The only workplace hazard that could lead to an emergency is a fire. This is false. Good housekeeping helps prevent workplace fires. This is true. Evacuation of the building is always the proper response for any kind of workplace emergency. This is false. How did you do? Did you get all the answers right? If not, don t worry. You ll learn all about these issues and a lot more during the session. 3
No one expects an emergency situation to arise at work. Fortunately, they are not common occurrences. But even if there s just a small possibility of an emergency in the workplace, you need to be prepared. Knowing what to do in the event of an emergency could save your life as well as the lives of coworkers. Workplace emergencies kill hundreds and injure thousands more workers each year, at a cost of billions of dollars annually. Emergencies range from fires and explosions to natural disasters to workplace violence. No matter what the emergency, you need to be prepared so that you can survive the emergency and get home safely to your family. 4
Emergency Action and Fire Prevention plans are required by federal law. Our organization is responsible for ensuring that you know what to do in an emergency and how to evacuate the workplace if necessary. We are also required to comply with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, emergency action plan and fire prevention plan rules concerning fires and other workplace emergencies. Among key emergency requirements, we must: Provide appropriate alarm systems to alert you to emergencies; Evaluate workplace hazards that might lead to emergencies; Develop evacuation procedures and routes and hold drills so that you can practice getting out of the building safely; Train you in other emergency response procedures; and Make sure our exit routes are in compliance with OSHA requirements. The OSHA regulations for emergency action plans are at 29 CFR 1910.38, and those for fire prevention plans are at 29 CFR 1910.39. 5
OSHA requires most employers to have written emergency action plans and certain employers to have fire prevention plans. These plans must contain information such as: Individuals in charge of emergency response; Evacuation procedures; Fire hazards and prevention; Fire response procedures; Fire protection equipment; Response procedures for other workplace hazards and emergencies; and Emergency action and fire prevention training information. Are you familiar with our Emergency Action and Fire Prevention plans? 6
Fires are a leading workplace hazard and cause for emergencies. Fires need three things to start and to stay burning: Fuel Examples of fuel sources include flammable and combustible liquids like gasoline and kerosene, combustible dusts, and materials like wood, paper, and cloth; An ignition source Potential ignition sources include heat, flames, sparks, electrical malfunctions, welding and other hot work operations, molten metals, cigarettes, and static electricity; And, the final ingredient necessary for fires Oxygen is all around you, all the time, in the air. Obviously, our goal in fire prevention is to keep these three ingredients from coming together. Since you can t do much about the oxygen, this means keeping fuels and ignition sources away from one another. Think about potential fire hazards in the workplace. What types of materials could fuel a fire? What types of ignition sources could get a fire started? 7
Electrical fires are a significant cause of workplace fires. Electrical fires can occur because of a number of factors. For example: Overloaded electrical systems; Damaged wiring, cords, or plugs; and Defective machinery or power tools. To prevent electrical fires: Don t overload circuits and outlets; Check cords and plugs for wear or damage; Use only approved extension cords; In areas where there are flammable materials, use only electrical equipment identified as safe for such environments; and Turn off and report any electrical equipment that sparks, shocks, or smokes. Think about potential electrical fire hazards in your work area. What steps do you take to prevent electrical fires? 8
Flammable materials pose another hazard and potential cause for an emergency. Flammable materials catch fire easily and burn readily. Flammable materials must not be stored near heat sources, such as hot machinery, auto ignition, or oxidizers such as bleach to prevent vapors from igniting. When dispensing flammable materials, make sure the containers are properly grounded and bonded to prevent static electricity from igniting flammable vapors. Spills can also ignite under the right conditions, so make sure all spills are reported and cleaned up right away. Check the safety data sheet, or SDS, for information about fire hazards. The SDS, for example, will tell you the flash point of a flammable material. This is the temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapors to ignite. A lower flash point indicates a more flammable substance. Labels also provide hazard information about flammables. National Fire Protection Association labels, for example, help determine a material s fire hazard. And, of course, no smoking anywhere near flammables ever! 9
Some signs of a hazardous material discharge or release that can lead to an emergency, such as a fire, explosion, or hazardous exposure, include: A leaking container of hazardous liquid; A strong odor; A hiss of gas; A visible discharge; or A cloud of dust around a work area known to contain combustible solids. Don t attempt to clean a spill of flammable liquids unless you ve been properly trained. Notify your supervisor of any spills immediately, and let the trained and properly equipped cleanup team handle it. Do you keep alert to possible hazardous material discharges in the facility and report them immediately? 10
Depending on what part of the country your workplace is located in, you may face one or more of these natural disasters: Floods; Tornadoes; Hurricanes; Earthquakes; or Wild fires. There s nothing you can do to prevent natural disasters. But you can prepare for them. In some cases, when a natural disaster is forecast, you may be sent home before the event. When a disaster like a tornado or earthquake hits with little or no warning, you must follow workplace emergency plans and shelter in place or evacuate as necessary. Think about the potential natural disaster that could occur in your area and the precautions you would need to take to protect yourself during such emergencies. 11
Another workplace emergency involves violent acts. Violence may be the result of actions by coworkers, customers, former employees, or people from outside the workplace such as friends and spouses of employees, thieves, and others. Violence affecting the workplace could also be the result of terrorist acts or civil disturbances such as riots. Although we have a violence prevention policy and security measures in place to minimize the possibility of violence affecting our workplace, we must all be prepared for such emergencies to prevent injuries or fatalities. Are you familiar with the steps you should take in the event of workplace violence? 12
OK, it s time now to test your knowledge of workplace hazards that could cause emergencies. On the screen you see a number of workplace hazards listed. Can you identify which of these could cause an emergency? If you thought that all of these could cause an emergency situation, then congratulations. How did you do? Do you need to go back and review anything? 13
Now it s time to ask yourself if you understand the information presented so far. Do you understand what we ve said about: Regulatory requirements related to workplace emergencies? Emergency Action and Fire Prevention plans? Fire hazards? Electrical hazards? Flammable hazards? Discharge hazards? Natural disaster hazards? Workplace violence hazards? It s important to understand all these hazards that could lead to workplace emergencies. Are you concentrating on learning the training material? Let s continue now to the next slide and talk about workplace evacuations in the event of an emergency. 14
When a workplace emergency is discovered, your first action should be to: Alert others in the area; Remove yourself from danger; As soon as you are safe, activate the alarm; and Follow any other procedures for reporting the emergency as you ve been instructed. 15
Often, you can summon all necessary emergency assistance with a call to 911. But you should be familiar with the phone numbers of specific emergency contacts as well. You should have emergency contact numbers for: The emergency coordinator, Response teams, Fire department, Police, and Ambulance. Post all emergency numbers by your phone so that you won t have to look for them in a real emergency when seconds count. Do you know all the emergency contact numbers you might need in an emergency? Are they posted by your phone? Provide trainees with emergency contact phone numbers, and instruct them to post the list by their phone. 16
During an evacuation, many employees will have specific duties to carry out. Emergency assignments include: Evacuation coordinators, who are responsible for decision making and communications; Evacuation assistants, such as fire marshals, whose job it is to ensure that everyone is safely evacuated and all employees are accounted for; Employees who stay behind to shut down specific equipment or critical operations until the emergency is contained or they are instructed to evacuate; Medical first responders; and Fire and hazardous material incident responders. Think about what you would need to do in the event of an emergency. Have you been assigned an emergency duty? If so, do you know exactly how to perform those duties? 17
Evacuations are successful when you and your coworkers are well prepared for them. Know the designated evacuation routes from your work area. You should have at least two routes one as an alternate in case the other is blocked by fire, smoke, or other hazards. Also know the designated assembly area outside the building where you must go after evacuation for a head count. In order to act effectively in an emergency, it s vital to participate in emergency drills, learning and practicing exactly what you must do and where you must go. In a real emergency, you re likely to be under a lot of stress and conditions may be poor. It s important for you to provide feedback on drills as well. Did you hear the alarm? Were exits clear? Do you have any suggestions for improving performance? It is also extremely important to keep all evacuation routes and fire exits clear at all times. Do you know your evacuation route? Could you follow it under difficult conditions? Do you have an alternate route? Do you know how to evacuate from other parts of your facility? 18
Although all emergencies are different, the basic procedures for responding to all emergencies are basically the same. Follow these basic procedures during an evacuation: Recognize the evacuation signal and listen for instructions; If the danger is severe, remove yourself and others to safety immediately; Shut down equipment using the emergency stop only if you have been designated to perform emergency shutdown; If you have an emergency assignment, perform it if safe to do so; Otherwise, follow your designated evacuation route directly to the nearest safe exit; and Proceed to the assembly area. In some cases, when it is too dangerous to go outside for example, when a tornado is touching down instead of evacuating, you will be instructed to evacuate to a safe place within the building. This is called sheltering in place. You should know where designated shelter-inplace areas are located and which one you should go to if instructed. Think about the procedures you ve been instructed to follow in an emergency. 19
Are you prepared to act effectively if an emergency evacuation is ordered? Let s find out. On the screen, you see the basic steps in the evacuation procedure, only they re not in the right order. See if you can determine the proper order. The correct order of basic steps in the evacuation procedure is: Recognize the evacuation signal and listen for instructions; Shut down equipment using the emergency stop if you are designated to do so; If you have an emergency assignment, perform it if safe to do so; Otherwise, follow your designated evacuation route directly to the nearest safe exit; and Proceed to the assembly area. How did you do? Did you put the steps in the right order? Would you do better on the next quiz if you went back and reviewed? 20
Let s take a few minutes now to review and make sure you understand the information presented in the previous slides. For example, do you understand what we said about: Reporting emergencies? Emergency contacts? Evacuation assignments? Evacuation preparedness? Evacuation procedures? It s important to understand all this information so that you will know exactly what to do if an emergency occurs and a workplace evacuation is necessary. This information could save your life someday. Will you remember this information after the course is complete, or do you need to go back and review? Now let s continue to the next slide and talk about fire prevention. 21
Housekeeping plays a critical role in fire prevention. Keeping your workplace clean and organized not only prevents the ignition and spread of a fire but also helps keep exits clear and fire response equipment accessible. Here are just a few simple housekeeping procedures that can help prevent workplace fires: Keep dust under control, particularly around motors and hot machinery. Dispose of rags contaminated with oils or solvents in appropriate metal containers. Don t allow combustible materials such as cardboard, paper, or wood to accumulate. Keep access to emergency exits and equipment clear. Think about your housekeeping duties and how they help prevent fires. 22
As we said earlier, in the event of a fire, your first action after alerting coworkers and getting to a safe place should be to activate a fire alarm. The sprinkler system should activate automatically in the event of a large fire and help suppress the flames. If the fire is small and at its beginning stage, and an unblocked exit is immediately available for your evacuation, use a portable fire extinguisher to put it out if you have been trained to use one. When fighting a fire with an extinguisher, make sure you have a safe escape route behind you, and continually evaluate the situation to make sure it is still safe to fight the fire. And, once you have used the extinguisher, be sure to leave the area as soon as possible because the air may not be safe to breathe. Never try to fight large, spreading fires with a fire extinguisher. Evacuate the area and let professional firefighters handle the fire. Would you be prepared to respond effectively in the event of a fire? Do you know where fire alarms and extinguishers are located and how to use them? 23
There are different types of portable fire extinguishers for different classes of fires. The label on the extinguisher will tell you what type it is and what kind of fire you can use the extinguisher for. A extinguishers should be used for combustibles such as trash, wood, or paper. OSHA says they must be located so that the travel distance for employees to the extinguisher is 75 feet or less. B extinguishers should be used for flammable liquids or gases. They must be located so that the travel distance for employees to the extinguisher is 50 feet or less. C extinguishers should be used for electrical fires and are grouped with either an A or B class extinguisher so that their location is based on the pattern required by the extinguisher class it is grouped in. D extinguishers are required in areas where combustible metal powders, shavings, or similarly sized products are generated at least once every 2 weeks. They must be located so that the travel distance for employees to the extinguisher is 75 feet or less. K extinguishers should be used for fires involving cooking oils or fats. These extinguishers contain a wet chemical agent that turns the burning oil into soap, thus extinguishing the fire. Industrial or commercial buildings with kitchens must follow local building codes regarding this type of extinguisher. Multipurpose extinguishers, such as ABC or BC extinguishers, may be used on different classes of fires, as indicated by the letters. 24
Even though fire extinguishers come in a number of shapes and sizes, they all operate in a similar manner. To use an extinguisher effectively, remember the PASS system. PASS stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep. Here s how it works. Pull the pin at the top of the extinguisher. The pin keeps the handle from being accidentally pressed when the extinguisher is not in use. Aim the nozzle toward the base of the fire. Stand 8 to 10 feet from the fire. Note that some types of extinguishers require you to be closer. Squeeze the handle lever to discharge the extinguisher. When you release the handle lever, the discharge will stop. Keeping the lever squeezed will result in a continuous flow of extinguishing agent. Squeezing and releasing the lever will result in short bursts of extinguishing agent. Sweep the nozzle back and forth toward the base of the fire as you squeeze the handle lever. After the fire appears to be out, watch it carefully, since it might reignite. Think about the steps in the PASS system so you can use it effectively. Demonstrate the PASS system (without actually squeezing the handle). 25
Spills of hazardous liquids can lead to fires if the materials are flammable or combustible. Even if not, they present a hazard that can quickly lead to an emergency. Fortunately, there s a lot we can do to prevent hazardous liquid releases. You can help by taking the following preventive measures: Handle and store hazardous liquids safely according to instructions in the SDS; Keep alert for signs of potential hazardous discharges, such as corrosion of containers, unusual odors, dampness or powders around containers, and the hiss of gas; Inspect containers of hazardous liquids regularly for damage and leaks; and Report any damaged or leaking containers immediately so that proper steps can be taken to contain the problem and prevent a larger spill. 26
If a hazardous material release occurs, don t attempt to clean it up unless you re part of an emergency response team and you ve been trained to respond to a hazardous release. Otherwise, remove ignition sources if it is safe to do so to prevent a fire from starting. Evacuate the area. Help others get out as well if it is safe for you to do so. And finally, notify a supervisor or the emergency response team immediately after you are in a safe location. Explain where the spill is, what materials are involved, how much has spilled, whether there are any injuries, and any other information about the spill that will help the spill response team contain the problem. 27
Now it s time for an exercise. On the screen you see a number of sentences with words missing. Your job is to think of the word or words that best complete each statement about fire and spill prevention and response. You can help prevent fires by making sure combustible trash and scrap doesn t accumulate in your work area. You can help prevent hazardous material spills by inspecting containers regularly for damage or leaks. You should try to fight only a small, contained fire with a fire extinguisher. If you spot a fire, alert coworkers, get to a safe place, and activate the alarm. How did you do? Did you get all the answers right? 28
Now it s time for a quick review of the information presented in the previous slides. Do you understand what we ve said about: Fire prevention? Fire response? Extinguishing equipment? Types of extinguishers? How to use an extinguisher? Spill response? All this information is important, and you need to remember it so that you can help prevent fires and respond to emergencies effectively. Now let s continue to the last slide and some key points to remember about this session. 29
Here are the main points to remember from this training session: There are many different types of workplace emergencies for which you need to be prepared. Preventing emergencies whenever possible is much easier and safer than emergency response. Know evacuation routes, emergency procedures, and emergency assignments. Take fire drills seriously and participate actively. If you still have questions about emergency action or fire prevention, talk your supervisor right away. This concludes the Emergency Action and Fire Prevention session. Do you understand all the key points of the training material? 30