SAFETY BLOG

Fire hazards are not just limited to the workplace.  Fires in the home can be both devastating and tragic.  Americans must not only conduct fire safety trainings in the workplace, but at home with their children as well.

Workplace Fire Safety

Emergency planning is one of the most basic safety trainings conducted in the workplace.  Employers should consider establishing written emergency protocols and practicing emergency scenario drills twice a year.  Workplace emergency protocols and trainings should include the following:

• Define evacuation procedures
• Exits should be located on site maps throughout workplace
• All exit signs to be illuminated for easy recognition
• Locations, maintenance, and use of fire extinguishers should be trained on annually
• When to fight fire vs. when to flee
• Employee responsibilities during evacuation
• Processes or machines that need to be turned off
• Other employees with disabilities that may need assistance
• Emergency contact numbers
• Outdoor employee meeting and check-in location
• Practice emergency evacuation drills bi-annually
• Shelter-in-place procedures
• Identify the most structurally sound area of the complex
• Post signs identifying emergency shelter
• Store an emergency band radio with extra batteries
• Practice shelter-in-place drills bi-annually
• Identification of special hazards
• Invite local emergency service personnel to tour facility annually
• Review emergency protocols, procedures, and special hazards

 The best way to protect our families from fire hazards at home is by developing a safety plan and practicing bi-annually.

Fire Safety At Home

• Educate family members and practice fire safety tips
• Stop, drop and roll
• Feeling and closing doors during fire emergencies
• Staying low to ground in smoke filled environments
• Teach children to go to windows and await help if they cannot self extricate
• Children should not hide or run from firefighters
• Never play with matches, lighters, outlets, or electrical appliances
• Change batteries in smoke detectors every time the clocks are changed (bi-annually)
• Every floor should have a carbon monoxide detector
• At minimum, keep a dry-chemical fire extinguisher in the kitchen
• Optimally, every floor should have an extinguisher
• Laundry room as well
• Draw a floor plan of your house with your children and map out two escape routes from each floor of house
• Outdoor meeting location should be identified
• Outdoor meeting location should be at a neighbors front lawn or porch so neighbors can watch over children until you or help arrives
• Discuss escape plan and bedroom layout of your house with neighbors
• Practice escape with children twice a year
• Fire and barbecue pits should be a minimum of twenty five feet away from structures
• Never store flammable liquids or oily rags in house
• Create preparations for natural disasters and other emergencies
• Store plenty of drinking water
• Emergency-band radio with extra batteries
• Non-perishable foods
• Extra blankets and first aid supplies
• Visit the Department of Homeland Security for a detailed emergency preparation checklist