EGRESS AND FIRE PROTECTION Selling your ideas is challenging. First, you must get your listeners to agree with you in principle. Then, you must move them to action. Use the Dale Carnegie Training® Evidence – Action – Benefit formula, and you will deliver a motivational, action-oriented presentation.

KEY TERMS Means of Egress: A continuous and unobstructed plan of exit comprised of the path to and from the exit (access and discharge, respectively) as well as the exit itself Exit Access: The portion of the "means of egress" which leads to an entrance or exit Exit: Portion of a means of Egress, separated from all other spaces, to provide a protected way of travel to exit discharge. Low Hazard content: These contents are those with low combustibility that no self-propagating fire can occur and that the only probable danger requiring the use of emergency exits will be from panic, fumes, smoke or fire from external source. Ordinary Hazard content: These contents are liable to burn with moderate rapidity. They give off considerable smoke, but do not produce poisonous fumes or explosions. High Hazard content: These are liable to burn with extreme rapidity. They produce poisonous fumes and /or explosions are feared in the event of fire to, or with in the contents. To complete the Dale Carnegie Training® Evidence – Action – Benefit formula, follow the action step with the benefits to the audience. Consider their interests, needs, and preferences. Support the benefits with evidence; i.e., statistics, demonstrations, testimonials, incidents, analogies, and exhibits and you will build credibility.

Fire Prevention The “Fire Triangle” identifies the three components of any fire: Fuel paper, wood, flammable gas, energized electrical equipment, etc... Energy (heat), sufficient to support combustion. Often referred to as the ignition source. Oxidizer (air) IF ANY ONE OF THESE IS MISSING, A FIRE CANNOT CONTINUE. THEREFORE…

Prevention Prevention is based on eliminating or minimizing one of the components of the “Fire Triangle”.

Prevention Other fire prevention methods include: Heat and/or smoke detectors. Automatic fire sprinkler systems. Kitchen hood systems. Building codes and materials. Flame retardant furnishings and materials.

Exit Drills We recommend quarterly fire drills conducted in all occupied locations of the facility. The fire drills should include staff from all shifts on a rotating basis (i.e. one per shift per quarter).

Evacuation Primary and secondary evacuation routes should be established, and all employees should be drilled to use either route. Exits should be clearly marked and all signs lit and unobstructed.

REACT upon discovery of fire or smoke Remove persons in immediate danger! Ensure doors are closed! (confine fire/smoke) Activate the building alarm ! Call the Fire Department ! Treat ALL fires as DANGEROUS! Continue a complete building evacuation Do not attempt to fight a fire UNLESS you are trained in use of a fire extinguisher !

GENERAL GUIDELINES EXIT ROUTES Proper means of egress require inspection, testing, & maintenance. Keep the following guidelines in mind when instituting a means of egress for your structure: Fire alarms are required if a fire could start without providing adequate warning to occupants There must be enough exits in the proper arrangement for quick escape Adequate and reliable illumination must be provided for all exit facilities Minimum escape route width: 28 inches; minimum ceiling height: 7.5 feet 1910.37(l) – No furnishings, decorations, or other objects shall be so placed as to obstruct exits, including access to, egress from, or their visibility.

Exit Doors Must Be Unlocked Must be able to open from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge Device such as a panic bar that locks only from the outside is permitted Must be free of any device or alarm that could restrict emergency use if the device or alarm fails May be locked from the inside only in mental, penal, or correctional facilities where there is constant supervision 1910.36(d) Locked and blocked exit

Emergency Action Plan Describes actions that must be taken to ensure employee safety in emergencies Includes floor plans or maps which show emergency escape routes Tells employees what actions to take in emergency situations Covers reasonably expected emergencies, such as fires, explosions, toxic chemical releases, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and floods 1910.38(a) applies to all emergency action plans required by a particular OSHA standard, such as the Fire Brigades or Permit-Required Confined Spaces standard. The emergency action plan must be in writing, except for firms with 10 or fewer employees. These businesses can communicate the plan orally to employees. Emergency plans include, as a minimum: - Escape procedures and escape route assignments - Critical plant operations shutdown procedure - Procedure to account for all personnel - Assignment of rescue and medical duties - Means for reporting emergencies - Identification of responsible persons to contact for further information Employee training is necessary and an alarm system must be in place which has a distinctive signal. See OSHA Publication 3088, “How to Prepare for Workplace Emergencies,” available at www.osha.gov for more information.

EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency; Procedures for emergency evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments; Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate; Procedures to account for all employees after evacuation; Procedures to be followed by employees performing rescue or medical duties; The name or job title of every employee who may be contacted by employees who need more information about the plan or an explanation of their duties under the plan.

Alarm system established for emergencies: Alert employees Alert fire department Reporting instructions conspicuously posted by phones and worker entrances An alarm system, e.g., telephone system, siren, etc., shall be established by the employer whereby employees on the site and the local fire department can be alerted for an emergency. The alarm code and reporting instructions shall be conspicuously posted at phones and at employee entrances.

ELEMENTS OF THE EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN Evacuation Types of evacuation (partial or complete) Refuge area designated in plan

ELEMENTS OF THE EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN Training: Train personnel before implementing Employer review plan with employees Wardens selected to assist evacuation Alarm system complying with 1910.165 must be present