Section 2.0: Fire Emergency
Critical to employee safety is fire emergency preparation planning. The effectiveness of response during emergencies depends on the amount of planning, training, and drilling previously performed.
Identifying key elements of a fire emergency preparation plan starts with the development of a written plan. The emergency preparedness plan should address all potential emergencies that can be anticipated in the workplace (e.g., floods, earthquakes, and windstorms) and recovery plans. This guide is limited to fire emergency preparedness planning.
The written emergency preparedness plan should be provided to all departments and be accessible to all employees. Department managers and supervisors should be familiar with all elements in the written plan and have conducted training/drilling to assure that their department employees clearly understand their roles in fire emergencies.
||Emergency actions should include a written plan listing, in detail, the procedures to be taken in the event of a fire. (Please see the attached example in this section.)|
- The facility information describes key elements of the facility that is useful for new employees and response agencies, such as local fire departments.
- Employees must know how to report an emergency. This may include the activation of pull alarms or notifying the facility security center. Consideration must be given to methods of notifying local agencies such as the fire department.
- Alarms and signals to alert employees must be identified; this may include audio alarms, highly visible lights, and/or a public address system. Management and employees must know what actions to take when an emergency alarm is activated.
- All emergency phone numbers should be identified, listed in the emergency preparedness plan, and posted. Emergency phone numbers should include any facility numbers, local agencies, and any emergency-facility personnel. Consideration should also be given to recovery of operations.
- All responsibilities should be clearly defined for management and employees. Management must determine its strategy for responding to fire emergencies.
- A chain of command should be established to minimize any confusion. Personnel must be identified to coordinate the emergency-response actions.
- Detection and alarm systems should be identified and described. Testing and preventative maintenance procedures should be included.
- Diagrams should be developed for critical information. Evacuation routes, exit doors, fire extinguishers, and other critical elements should be visually displayed for all employees. If the fire sprinkler system or standpipe system is used, all critical controls/valves should be clearly identified.
- Assembly areas should be established for all employees. Accounting for employees can be performed at assembly areas. All assembly areas should be established at safe distances from fire hazards and clear of emergency vehicle traffic and activities.
- Search and rescue procedures must be established. Only trained and authorized personnel should attempt search and rescue.
- Procedures for shutting down equipment during emergencies should be established. Equipment operators must know the proper actions to take during an emergency.
- Recovery strategy should include plans to restore the operations. This should include a list of contractors who can provide equipment and services for operations. Additional consideration should be given to temporary contractors who can provide manufacturing services.
||Employees must know the emergency routes in their work areas and be familiar with the plant layout. All employees must receive a guided tour of evacuation routes and emergency exits during orientation.|
||Operators must know their specific procedures when an emergency arises. Safe shutdown procedures for equipment should be established to prevent equipment damage and additional hazards. Evacuating employees to a safe location is a top priority.|
||The alarm system to notify employees of emergencies and evacuations must be clearly recognizable during emergency conditions. Horns, sirens, public announcement system and other alarm devices must alert employees of an emergency.|
||All alarm systems and fire protection systems must be maintained and tested on a regular basis. It is recommended that alarms be tested weekly.|
||The emergency preparedness plan should be a working document used for training and practice. The plan must be updated to reflect any changes in the workplace.|
||Emergency routes and exit doors should be clearly posted on a wall diagram to show employees the primary and secondary emergency routes for evacuating the building. The diagram should show the employee's current position and emergency routes. Each department should display this diagram in a highly visible area.|
||Emergency evacuation drills must be conducted to ensure employees are knowledgeable and trained on emergency plans.|
Every facility should have an established set of procedures to handle fires and related emergencies. Copies of the plan should be distributed to emergency services such as fire departments.
Each facility manager must decide on the extent of employee involvement in response to an emergency, such as a fire, and decide whether or not the facility should have a fire brigade. There are five basic options. The one selected will depend on the (i) size of the facility, (ii) type of hazardous operations on the premises, (iii) number of employees available for a fire brigade organization, and (iv) type/extent of fire protection equipment available.
Option 1: Full evacuation of the facility: No employees are permitted to fight a fire -- they are to immediately evacuate upon notification by an alarm or other device. This option provides the most employee protection; however, if a local fire department is not within proximity, major property damage may result.
Options 2 through 4 deal with incipient fires. (An incipient fire is one that is in the initial stage and can be controlled or extinguished with portable fire extinguishers.)
Option 2: All employees must be trained to utilize fire extinguishers for incipient fires: Initial training should be conducted when the employee is hired and refresher training provided annually. This alternative provides the opportunity to prevent a small incipient fire from becoming a larger one. Employees must clearly understand their limits when this option is selected. There is risk associated with an employee attempting to extinguish a fire that has passed the point of being an incipient one. Employees may sustain injuries if they are not properly trained.
Option 3: Designated employees to fight an incipient fire in their general areas: With this option, the level of training is virtually the same as Option 2; however, only designated employees are trained and expected to fight an incipient fire. Additionally, the method of training must be hands-on.
If none of these options are practical, the facility may choose to organize a fire brigade. If so, management must then decide between these two options:
Option 4 - Organized fire brigade to fight incipient stage fires only: If this is the choice, the following are required: (i) specific procedures, training, and leadership structure; and (ii) all necessary protective clothing and fire fighting equipment. Training and education in special hazards must be provided, along with training in standard operating procedures and use of equipment. A higher, specialized level of training should be provided for the brigade leaders and instructors. This option poses a risk of injury to fire brigade members.
Option 5: Organized fire brigade to fight both incipient stage and interior structural fires: If it is decided that the fire brigade should fight both incipient stage AND interior structural fires, the facility must satisfy all the items required in Option 4. In addition, brigade members must pass a physical examination, attend educational sessions at least quarterly -- with hands-on training at least annually -- and have protective clothing and breathing apparatus provided. This selection, the equivalent of a professional fire department, poses the highest risk of injury for brigade members. As such, only properly-trained brigades should assume this role.
If your facility elects to form a fire brigade, members should be organized and trained to make the best use of the fire protection equipment available and to operate it effectively during an emergency.
The fire brigade should help evacuate all personnel not involved in handling the emergency and be able to assist the fire department to control the emergency.
The following factors may influence your decisions regarding the size, complexity, and organization of a fire brigade: (i) Property size, (ii) Property accessibility; (iii) Building size; (iv) Building construction; (v) Building contents; (vi) Fire protection equipment on hand; (vii) Fire hazards; (viii) Personnel safety; and (ix) Proximity, quality, and responsiveness of local fire authorities.
The purpose of training is to establish and verify the organization's ability to prevent fires and to effectively respond to fire emergencies. Training considerations should include the following:
- Action to take in the event of a fire
- Portable fire extinguishers
- Familiarity with plant
- Operations and maintenance of equipment
- Hot work permits
- Handling of flammable liquids
- As a minimum, all employees should receive training in the following areas:
- Actions to take in the event of a fire: When to evacuate, when to attempt to extinguish a fire, whom to notify, what equipment to shut down.
- Portable fire extinguishers: The correct extinguisher and its proper operation on a particular type of fire (e.g., metals, electrical, chemical, wood, or paper). The training should be "hands-on" to give employees experience in extinguishment techniques.
- Familiarity with plant: A tour of the entire facility, with emphasis on the location of exits, fire extinguishers, hazardous operations, and restricted areas.
- Care and maintenance of equipment or machinery they will be operating: To reduce fire loss potential by helping to keep equipment from malfunctioning or breaking down.
- Alarms: The meaning of various alarms and the actions to take when they are sounded.
- Hot-Work Permits: How to protect against fire hazards caused from welding/cutting/brazing and other hot work.
- Flammable Liquids: How to safely handle, use, and store flammable liquids.
- In addition, certain functions, such as the following, will require specific training for the employees involved:
- Fire Brigade: If the facility has a fire brigade, members should be required to complete a specified training program as a condition of membership.
- Specialized Equipment: Some processes or machinery operations present fire loss exposures by their very nature; e.g., chemical handling or mixing. Employees involved must be thoroughly trained in the fire exposures and control measures to be followed.
- Job Change: Training employees when they change jobs is important as new jobs present new exposures.
- Traffic Control: During a fire or other emergency, persons with essential duties must be able to move to locations where they are needed. In addition, it is usually necessary to evacuate occupants quickly.
Planning for fire emergencies requires drilling. The prevention of personal injury and loss of life are the prime objectives of emergency planning.
Fire drills must be conducted to test the organization's abilities and readiness to handle a fire emergency. One of the most important elements in fire protection -- EVACUATION of employees -- can be tested.
Planned and unannounced drills should be conducted, each one serving its own purpose. Planned drills focus attention on inspections and training while unannounced ones truly test your organization's response.
Planning for fire emergencies requires drilling. (The prevention of personal injury and loss of life are the prime objectives of the emergency planning.)
Carefully plan and periodically carry out fire drills. Train employees to evacuate the building immediately at the proper alarm/signal.
All employees should recognize the evacuation signal and know the exit route they are to follow. Upon hearing the signal, they should shut off equipment and report to a pre-determined assembly point. This point generally will be located outside of the building. Primary and alternate routes should be established and all employees should be trained to use either route.
When employees are assembled, the line manager of each area should account for all personnel under his/her supervision. If any employees are missing, immediately report their names to the plant Safety Coordinator so that search and rescue efforts can be initiated. Only trained search and rescue personnel with adequate protective equipment should be permitted to re-enter an evacuated area.
After each drill, a meeting of the responsible managers should be held to evaluate its success and to discuss any problems that may have occurred.
ACME TOY CORP. - TOYVILLE, IL
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN
Acme Toy Corp. - Toyville, IL
- Policy & Purpose
- Plant Emergency Procedural Personnel
2.1. Emergency Coordinator
2.2. Alternate Emergency Coordinator
2.3. Evacuation Team
2.4. Emergency Team
2.5. Security Guard
- Training for Emergencies
- Security Guard Procedures
- Evacuation Team Procedure
- Emergency Team Procedures
7.2. Hazardous Materials Release
- Medical Services
- Emergency Telephone Numbers
- List of Emergency Team Personnel (Appendix A)
- List of Evacuation Team Personnel (Appendix B)
- List of Personnel Trained in F.E. Use (Appendix C)
Prepared: October 1994
Acme Toy Corp. Health & Safety Dept.
About the Toyville Manufacturing Facility
The Acme Toy Corp.-Toyville Plant primarily produces plastic toys (Blow Mold Process on the first floor) and assembles toy components on the 4th floor, east wing.
The facility is located at 100 Manufacturer's Lane, City of Toyville, County of Washington, State of Illinois. The building is comprised of six floors (each at 60,000 sq. ft.) with two wings (east/west) connected by tunnels at about the midpoint (total - 360,000 sq. ft.). The building was erected in the early 1920s, is constructed of masonry and protected by a wet pipe (west wing) & dry pipe (east wing) sprinkler system. The facility is serviced by the Toyville City Fire Department.
The 2nd floor, west wing is used primarily as warehouse storage space (small battery charging area on south wall) with receiving area in the northwest corner, receiving office in the southwest corner, a shipping/office and small company store. The 2nd floor, east wing consists of a shipping area along the north wall, two office complexes, training room, medical office and warehouse storage space. The 3rd floor, west wing is used as warehouse storage space. The 3rd floor, east wing is used by maintenance as a woodworking shop, office and tooling area. The remainder of the 3rd floor, east wing is used as warehouse storage space with a small assembly area in the northeast corner. The 4th floor, west wing is used as warehouse storage space while the east wing, in addition to our Assembly operations, houses a supervisor's office, cafeteria and rest rooms. The 5th and 6th floors are primarily used as warehouse storage space. The 5th floor, west wing has an office area in the southwest corner used by customer service and quality control while the 5th floor, east wing has a small sub-assembly area.
Blow Mold operations (1st floor) consist of approximately 30 molding machines + auxiliary equipment. The molding process consists of melting plastic resin under pressure (300 plus degrees Fahrenheit) and applying pressure to produce a hollow tube (parison). Two mold halves then close on the parison and air pressure (90 pounds per square inch) is injected while water is cycled for cooling; producing the molded part. There is a tool shop, maintenance shop and three offices in the west wing and a supervisor's office complex, small office over a cafeteria, rest rooms and an MRO cage in the east wing. This is classified as a low to moderate hazard process manufacturing operation.
The yearly average number of employees is about 450. During peak seasonal demand, that number increases to about 600 - 650.
- Policy & Purpose:
||Policy - Our employees are our most valuable assets. In the event of an emergency, we will be prepared to protect the health & safety of all. This Plan was established to systematically combat emergencies and all employees are expected to know and follow procedures outlined in this Plan.|
||Purpose - The purpose of the Emergency Preparedness Plan is to minimize the danger to life and property in the event of a plant emergency. To achieve this goal, we have outlined well-defined, clear-cut steps to be taken should an emergency occur. For the purpose of this Plan, emergency procedures shall be implemented for fires, explosions, bomb threats, hazardous material spills or natural disasters which require immediate emergency action and/or evacuation of the plant.|
A minimum of at least two drills, covering all shifts, will be held each year. (Spring & Fall)
- Personnel & Responsibilities
||Plant Emergency Coordinator: Vice President of Operations |
Responsibilities: The Plant Emergency Coordinator shall assume overall responsibility for all emergency operations.
This person shall decide if the entire building will be evacuated. Exception: in any case where the emergency alarm system is sounded; then, the entire building will be evacuated.
Once a decision to evacuate the building has been made, the Emergency Coordinator shall ensure that the evacuation order has been issued.
He/she will then determine when it is safe for everyone to return to the building. In the event of a fire, this determination shall be made with the assistance of the local fire department.
||Alternate Emergency Coordinator: Manager of Manufacturing Technical Support|
Responsibilities: In the absence of the Plant Emergency Coordinator, the Alternate Coordinator shall assume overall responsibility for all emergency operations. If neither the Coordinator nor Alternate Coordinator are in the plant, the management member designated by the Emergency Coordinator shall assume overall responsibility.
||Evacuation Team Members:|
||Department Managers must be assured that all personnel in their respective areas have been accounted for and report this to the Plant Emergency Coordinator.|
||General Supervisors and/or Group Leads shall be assured that all personnel in their respective areas are accounted for in the absence of the department manager.|
||Area Supervisors and/or Group Leads shall physically determine that all personnel are accounted for and shall report this to the department manager/general supervisor at the guard station (Command Center).|
||Leads (all groups) shall assist the area supervisor in assuring that all personnel have evacuated the building by way of the nearest exit and have assembled in the designated area. Leads shall remain with area personnel until given permission to return to the building.|
||Emergency Team Members:|
||Technical Manager/Team Coordinator shall coordinate emergency response procedures with his/her personnel.|
||Plant Electricians/Electrical Contractors shall attend to all electrical emergencies, and disconnect and reconnect power when instructed to do so.|
||Plant Maintenance Personnel - All (see list attached #10) shall be trained in the use of fire fighting equipment and handle small, incipient fires whenever possible during their shift. A member of maintenance shall be designated on each shift as the team coordinator to act in the absence of the Technical Manager.|
||Hazardous Materials Response Coordinator - Safety Coordinator shall coordinate hazardous material spill control when in the facility. In the event this person is not in the facility, the guard shall contact him/her (beeper 555-1248). He/she shall immediately come to the plant or provide instruction to the Emergency Team Coordinator by way of telephone. Material Safety Data Sheets for all hazardous chemicals shall be maintained at the security desk for use by hazardous response personnel.|
||Safety Manager shall assist and council the Plant Emergency Coordinator in all aspects of this Plan. He/she shall be immediately notified by the guard (pager #555-6816)when an emergency response procedure is initiated. Upon completion of the response, he/she shall immediately commence an investigation of the incident.|
||Security Guard on Duty and Security Supervisor|
All security guards shall be trained in this procedure. The Safety Manager, Ext. #8023 or (*pager #555-6816) then the Supervisor of guards (*pager 555-1247) shall be notified immediately in the event that the plant must be evacuated. The Supervisor of guards shall come immediately to the plant and supervise the conduct of the evacuation. The Emergency Coordinator, Ext. #8018 or (pager #555- 6187) shall be notified as soon as possible by the Supervisor or the Safety Manager. The Supervisor shall provide a written report to the Safety Manager at the conclusion of the event. (*- pagers are to be used after normal business hours and on weekends when designees cannot be reached at home)
||A copy of this Plan shall be given to each member of the Emergency & Evacuation Team by the Safety Manager during training. As new employees are hired, transferred or promoted into designated positions with emergency responsibilities, the Safety Manager shall provide the established orientation and a copy of the Plan.|
Annual training shall be given to all personnel involved in emergency preparedness, to which their attendance is mandatory.
- Training for Emergencies
||Evacuation Team Training|
||members of the Evacuation Team shall familiarize themselves with all means of egress from the building, the location of the manual pull boxes and the designated gathering areas.|
||team members shall lead employees to the nearest exit, and assure that all employees in their respective areas have been evacuated by making a visual sweep of their respective areas prior to exiting the building.|
||once all employees have evacuated the building, team members are to lead and gather with their area employees in the designated gathering area.|
||team members shall then take a head count and relay the count to their area supervisor and/or manager at the guard station.|
Note: the building should be evacuated within 2-3 minutes.
||Emergency Team Training|
||The Emergency Team shall be trained to attempt to control small, incipient fires only; those which are localized in a contained area and which are in their initial stages only.|
||Emergency Team members are NOT to attempt to fight any fire which is out of control and has spread to become a large or major fire.|
||Emergency Team members shall be trained initially and annually in the following areas:|
||fire extinguisher use|
||knowledge and location of fire extinguishers|
||types of fires to attempt to control|
||procedure for having used fire extinguishers recharged|
||Hazardous Material Release Responders:|
||shall become familiar with the location and use of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)|
||shall know the location of the manual pull alarm boxes|
||shall learn how to control a chemical spill that does not require the use of a respirator|
||shall be trained and familiar with notification procedures|
||all employees shall be instructed to shut off machinery (if possible).|
||all employees shall be made aware of the alarm system and evacuation procedures. |
||all employees shall be made aware of the location of the manual pull alarm boxes and instructed to pull the alarm should they detect a fire.|
||all employees shall be made familiar with emergency exits in the building and the evacuation plans posted by each exit.|
||all employees shall be instructed to evacuate the building in an orderly manner immediately whenever the alarm is sounded or whenever they are instructed to evacuate the building and shall be informed of the designated gathering areas.|
- Security Guard Procedures
||If the alarm is sounded during your shift:|
||man the telephones/Closed-Curcuit TV monitors at guard station (Command Center). |
||all incoming, non-emergency telephone calls shall be instructed that an evacuation is underway and the phones must remain clear.|
||be prepared to assist fire department personnel.|
||direct fire department personnel to the fire area or spill area if requested to do so.|
||notify General Ambulance (#555-2121 / #911) when instructed to do so.|
||contact the Plant Nurse immediately (during normal hours at extension # 8069) and the Safety Manager (home-# 555-4590) or (beeper-# 555-6816)|
||fill out a complete report of the incident.|
- Evacuation Team Procedures
||The building shall be evacuated when any of the following occur:|
||the alarm sounds|
||the Plant Emergency Coordinator or his/her representative orders an evacuation|
||the fire department - or other emergency response personnel order an evacuation (example: chemical spill, bomb threat, etc.)|
||Once the alarm sounds or an evacuation as been ordered, the Evacuation Team shall immediately initiate this Plan:|
||department Leads and/or area supervisors shall immediately instruct all personnel to exit the building by using the nearest designated fire exit.|
||Designated Fire Exits are as follows:|
||East Wing - East Wall Fire Door|
||East Wing - South Wall Fire Door (adjacent to 1st & 4th floor cafeterias)|
||West Wing - Southwest Corner|
||West Wing - South Wall adjacent to Tunnel|
||Department Leads shall escort all area personnel to the designated gathering areas in an orderly fashion.|
||Designated Gathering Areas are as follows:|
||Main Street Parking Lot - for all Production employees (Molding-East Lot/Assembly-West Lot) who exit the East Wing|
||Manufacturer's Lane Parking Lot - for all Molding & support employees who exit the West Wing|
||Visitors Parking Area - for all visitors, office & clerical support personnel|
||Handicapped Parking/Guard Station - for all Managers & Emergency Team Members |
||Area Supervisors and/or Department Leads shall:|
||make a visual sweep of their respective areas for missing personnel, exit the building and go to the designated gathering area for a head count|
||take a head count and verify|
||report the head count to the Emergency Team Command Center|
||immediately report any missing personnel but DO NOT re-enter the building|
||Attend to injured employees until emergency personnel arrive.|
||Area Supervisors shall, at the conclusion of the evacuation, instruct Department Leads to escort employees into the building upon receiving authorization from emergency personnel.|
- Evacuation Team Procedures
||Fire Response: Emergency Team Members should|
||attempt to control a small, incipient fire by use of a portable (Type A,B,C,) fire extinguisher only|
||immediately identify and shut down any process(es) which could contribute to or cause additional damage to the facility or injury to fire fighting personnel|
||leave the building in cases of large, widespread fires|
||notify the Security Guard and Technical Manager of your ability/inability to control the fire|
||identify all used fire extinguishers after the incident to ensure that the extinguishers are recharged and ready for use|
||Hazardous Material Release Response: Emergency Team members should:|
||be trained in hazardous material spill control|
||not attempt to contain a hazardous chemical spill which requires the use of a respirator|
||assist the Hazardous Materials Response Coordinator in spill containment for minor spills|
||always use proper Personal Protective Equipment|
||know the whereabouts of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)|
||know the whereabouts & the use of Emergency Response Kits|
||properly place and dispose of hazardous waste|
||notify the Emergency Team Coordinator|
- Medical Services
||Acme Toy Corp. Medical Services shall be prepared to assist company-trained first responders with medical treatment to injured personnel when in the facility.|
||After hours, the Plant Emergency Coordinator shall insure that General Ambulance is notified if any injuries are sustained due to an incident.|
||While waiting for General Ambulance to arrive, the plant nurse and/or trained first responders shall attend to all injured personnel and turn over those duties to trained General Ambulance personnel when instructed to do so.|
||In the event that personnel must be transported to the local hospital, the guard shall contact the area hospital(s) and notify hospital personnel of the number of people being transported and the extent of the injuries.|
- Emergency Telephone Numbers (# 911 or)
|Toyville Fire Dept.
Toyville Police Dept.
Toyville Memorial Hospital
Big City Hospital
List of Trained Emergency Personnel
See Appendix A (subject to change)
List of Trained Evacuation Team Personnel
See Appendix B (subject to change)
List of Personnel Trained in the Use of Fire Extinguishers
See Appendix C (subject to change)
List of Trained Emergency Team Personnel
Coordinator/Technical Manager - List Name Here
Plant Electricians - List Name Here
Hazardous Materials Response Coordinator/Safety Manager - List Name Here
Plant Safety Manager - List Name Here
Plant Maintenance/Technical Personnel: (* = Shift Leaders)
Shift #1 List Names Here
Shift #2 List Names Here
Shift #3 List Names Here
Shift #4 List Names Here
Facilities Maintenance Personnel:
List Names Here
Haz Mat Response Team:
List Names Here
List of Trained Evacuation Team Personnel
List Names Here
Department Managers (Monday through Friday 8AM-4PM):
List Names Here
List Names Here
List Names Here
List Names Here
EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES
FIRE EXTINGUISHER USE
The following employees have received training in the use of multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguishers as part of the annual emergency preparedness team training:
12/27/94 (AM Session)
List Names Here
12/27/94 (PM Session)
List Names Here
12/28/94 (AM Session)
List Names Here
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