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Fire Prevention Plans |
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| In 2000, the last year for which facts are available, there were 126,000 nonresidential fires in the U.S. The direct dollar loss resulting from these fires was nearly $3 billion. Fires are not only expensive, they kill. Nonresidential fires killed 90 people in 2000 and injured 2,200. No doubt, having a fire safety and fire prevention plan in place would have saved some of those lives. |
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OSHA Covers the Basics
OSHA’s new Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans, and Fire Prevention Plans standard covers the minimum elements in a fire prevention plan. Among other things, your plan must:
Include a list of all major fire hazards in the workplace and the type of fire protection equipment necessary to control each one.
Include housekeeping procedures for storage and cleanup of flammable materials and flammable waste.
Address the handling and packaging of flammable waste.
Cover procedures for controlling workplace ignition sources like smoking, welding, and burning.
Provide for the proper cleaning and maintenance of heat-producing equipment (like burners, boilers, ovens, stoves, or fryers) and require storage of flammables away from it.
List the name or job title of any employee responsible for maintaining equipment to prevent or control sources of ignition or fires.
List the name or job title of any employee responsible for the control of fuel- source hazards.
In addition, says OSHA, employers must discuss with employees the fire hazards they are exposed to on a job. Employers must also review with employees parts of the Fire Prevention Plan necessary for self-protection.
Upon closer inspection, you’ll see that these modest requirements for fire safety require a fair amount of work. Your best bet for getting help setting up a fire prevention plan might be from your local fire department. It’s work well worth the effort if it prevents a fire and saves a life.
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Who’s Covered?
Covered employers must put a Fire Prevention Plan in writing, keep it in the workplace, and make it available to employees for review. If you have ten or fewer employees, you can communicate the fire safety plan orally.
But must you have a fire prevention plan? OSHA absolutely requires one (along with an Emergency Action Plan) only under these circumstances:
You’re covered by OSHA standards for butadiene, methylenedianiline, or
ethylene oxide.
You have fire extinguishers, but they are not intended for employee use.
Your fire safety policy requires the immediate evacuation of all employees upon hearing an alarm, and fire extinguishers are not available.
However, given the stakes involved —human life— it is wise to have Fire Prevention Plans in place whether you’re legally obligated to or not. (Keep in mind that your state may require one.)
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Exit Routes Are Just As Important As Fire Prevention Plans
It’s no accident that OSHA groups Fire Prevention Plans with rules regarding Exit Routes. The ability to get out of a dangerous situation without harm lies at the heart of safety.
Just about all employers must adhere to the regulations on Exit Routes. Here are a few things you need to know about them, especially as they relate to fire safety:
Number of Exit Routes. Every workplace must have two Exit Routes located as far from each other as feasible. You’re allowed to have a single exit route when the number of employees and the size and arrangement of the building, among other things, permit everyone to evacuate safely in an emergency. On the other hand, you’ll need more than two Exit Routes if conditions warrant it. Exit Routes (like stairwells) must be permanent parts of the workplace, and they must be separated by fire-resistant materials.
Discharge areas. Exit Routes must discharge outside or to a street, walkway, “refuge area,” public way, or open space with access to the outside.
Exit route markings. Naturally, Exit Routes must be well lit and well marked with exit signs, so people can safely exit even in a panic. Each exit must have an illuminated Exit Sign, and doors must not have any other marking that could obscure or confuse. If it’s not immediately apparent what route employees should take, you need Signs and Facility Markings that show the way out in an emergency evacuation. If a door might be mistaken for an exit, it should say “Not An Exit” (or something similar). If employees can’t make out the exit route at a glance, consider posting Emergency Evacuation Boards.
Openings into Exit Routes. An opening into an exit must be protected by a self-closing fire door that remains closed or automatically closes in an emergency.
Exit Route safety. You must keep Exit Routes free of explosive or highly flammable furnishings or other decorations. They must be unobstructed. The exit access must not go through a room that can be locked to reach an exit or exit discharge, nor may it lead into a dead-end corridor.
Emergency safety. Anything in the workplace designed to protect employees during an emergency must be in proper working order at all times. This includes sprinkler systems, alarm systems, fire doors, and exit lighting.
Alarm systems. Employers must install and maintain an employee alarm system to warn employees of fire or other emergencies—unless employees can promptly see or smell a fire or other hazard in time to provide adequate warning to them.
These brief points summarize elements of the OSHA standard and in no way convey the extent of the rules you need to comply with as you plan for emergencies. You can stay in compliance with Exit Signs, Emergency Action Plans, and Fire Prevention Plans using G.Neil’s Exit Route Compliance Manual and a comprehensive Exit Route Compliance Bundle containing the complete regulation written in easy-to-read language, plus exit signs and a fire extinguisher poster.
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Safety Resources For Your Business
G.Neil has a variety of resources to help you implement and maintain a comprehensive Emergency Action Plan.
Emergency Exit and Evacuation Kit – The basic resources you need to make all exits known to your employees are included in this kit.
First Aid Kits – Every workplace must have enough first aid supplies to accommodate the number of employees present. Make sure you have all that you need to protect your employees and be in compliance with OSHA regulations.
Disaster Preparedness and Awareness Kit – Would your employees know what to do if a disaster hit? Equip them with the knowledge they need to be prepared.
Glo Brite® Arrows – These adhesive arrows create an emergency pathway that is clearly visible during a power outage.
Fast Aid Poster – Our 25" x 30" poster gives instructions on how to handle 27 of the most common health conditions and injuries.
CPR Poster – Explains and illustrates proper CPR technique.
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| Tools for Fire Prevention |
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