Yesterday we looked at the question of whether space heaters, because of the fire safety hazard they pose, should be banned from your workplace. Today we turn to the larger issues of emergency action and fire prevention, and how you can—and must—train your workers on these crucial topics.
According to OSHA, workplace fires and explosions kill 200 workers and injure more than 5,000 workers each year, at a cost of $2.3 billion annually. Major causes are electrical problems (39%), arson (21%), and smoking (14%).
Regulatory Overview
BLR’s Safety Training Presentations notes that employers are responsible for ensuring that employees know what to do in an emergency and how to evacuate the workplace if disaster strikes. The emergency preparedness and response rules provide guidance for preparing for emergency events.
All the safety training you need in one program: 25 subjects, one low price. It’s BLR’s Safety Training Presentations. Try it at no cost. Click for details.
All employers in general industry must comply with OSHA’s emergency preparedness and response rules concerning exit routes, except mobile workplaces such as vehicles or vessels. Employers must comply with the requirements for employee emergency and fire prevention plans whenever a workplace activity or process covered by a specific OSHA standard requires such plans.
Emergency action plan (EAP). Most businesses are required to have an EAP. If fire extinguishers are required or provided in your workplace, and if anyone will be evacuating during a fire or other emergency, you must have an EAP.
An EAP is a written document required by particular OSHA standards. Safety Training Presentations says that the elements of the plan must include, but are not limited to:
- Evacuation procedures and emergency escape 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 an emergency evacuation has been completed
- Rescue and medical duties for those employees who are to perform them
- Means of reporting fires and other emergencies
- Names or job titles of persons who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan
Fire prevention plan (FPP). The purpose of the fire prevention plan is to prevent a fire from occurring in a workplace. It describes the fuel sources (hazardous or other materials) on-site that could initiate or contribute to the spread of a fire, as well as the building systems, such as fixed fire extinguishing systems and alarm systems in place to control the ignition or spread of a fire. At a minimum, your fire prevention plan must include:
- A list of all major fire hazards, proper handling and storage procedures for hazardous materials, potential ignition sources and their control, and the type of fire protection equipment necessary to control each major hazard
- Procedures to control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials
- Procedures for regular maintenance of safeguards installed on heat-producing equipment to prevent the accidental ignition of combustible materials
- The name or job title of employees responsible for maintaining equipment to prevent or control sources of ignition or fires
- The name or job title of employees responsible for the control of fuel source hazards
Training Requirements
Employers required to have an EAP or FPP for their facilities must provide emergency preparation and response training for employees at such facilities. Even if your company is not required to prepare such plans, you should consider developing them for your facility.
Try Safety Training Presentations at no cost and no risk. Click for details.
A great tool for meeting these training requirements—and the source of the information above—is BLR’s Safety Training Presentations. The session on “Emergency Action and Fire Prevention” includes a 27-slide PowerPoint® presentation, a trainer’s guide, slide show notes, two training exercises, a handout, and a quiz.
And that session is just 1 of 25 core safety meetings, each one responsive to either an OSHA training requirement or to common causes of workplace accidents. All are customizable so you can add your specific hazards or safety policies.
Each lesson also includes completion certificates, sign-in sheets, evaluation forms, and training records. In short, everything you need to motivate, reinforce, retain, and transfer new knowledge—and document that you did so.
The topics covered include:
–Bloodborne Pathogens
–Back Safety
–Emergency Action
–Ergonomics
–Fire Prevention
–PPE
–Welding/Cutting/Brazing
–Portable Power Tool Safety
–Scaffolds
–Lockout/Tagout
–Forklift Operator Safety
–Confined Space Safety
–Fall Protection
–Respiratory Protection
–and more!
Of course, training needs change as OSHA introduces new requirements or as new work practices and technologies bring new hazards. To cover this, you receive a new CD every 90 days you’re in the program, each containing 5 additional or updated topics.
Just as important, for those on a budget (And who isn’t these days?), the cost of these presentations works out to under $20 each.
We’ve arranged for Advisor subscribers to get a no-cost, no-obligation look at Safety Training Presentations for 30 days. Feel free to try a few lessons with your own trainees. Please let us know and we’ll be glad to set it up.