WHAT’S AT STAKE?

The only way to stay away from the perils of fire is preparation, preparation and preparation!!!

WHAT’S THE DANGER?

Fire kills more people each year than all-natural disasters combined. When a fire occurs, there’s little time to think.

A fire need three things to start to spread: oxygen, heat and fuel.

• Oxygen makes up 21 percent of the air we breathe. That percentage goes higher
  if an oxygen canister or hose leaks. This situation makes a fire start more easily,
  burn hotter, and become much fiercer than a normal fire. These types of fires are
  more difficult to put out.
• Heat can come from variety of sources. Smoking, cooking, or a sparking wire can all contribute to the start of a fire.
• Fuel is anything that will burn. You’d be surprised at how much of your workplace is flammable-carpeting, drapes, paper, oil rags, wood, and the list goes on.

Remove one of those three key factors and a fire can’t start.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

A Fire Prevention Program helps reduce the likelihood of a fire starting. It should include:

• Emergency plans.
• Escape routes and exits.
• Fire prevention policies.

Emergency plans tell you how to evacuate in case of a fire and how to account for all those evacuated. Fire drills based on the emergency plan will help you understand what to do during an emergency.

Escape routes and exits should be clearly marked and never locked or blocked. You don’t want to guess at or search around for an exit during an emergency. Also, the building should have at least two emergency exits.

Fire prevention policies organize all the information about fire safety into one place. Everyone should review the fire prevention policy each time it changes. The policy should contain information on:

• How to store combustible materials.
• Location of fire extinguishers.
• Disposal methods for flammable materials or chemicals.

No matter how many preventative measures are in place, fire still happen. If a fire does start, here are a few steps you can take to stay safe:

• Alert anyone in the area. Call the local emergency number, the fire department, or your company’s fire brigade.
• Evacuate the area. Follow the fire escape route indicated in the emergency plan
  and fire safety drills.
• Meet your co-workers in the designated outside area. You don’t want anyone going back into a burning building for you if you’ve already escaped to safety. You should only use a fire extinguisher if you’ve been trained to use it, the fire is small enough, and it’s safe to do so.

FINAL WORD

Stop fires before they happen. Ensure you have been trained on emergency plans, escape routes, and fire prevention policies to ensure your safety. Fire prevention is all about helping businesses avoid injuries, damages, and potentially, safety fines. Follow the tips suggested in this Safety Talk to prevent fires in your workplace.