WHAT IS A FIRE SAFETY PLAN?
A fire safety plan
is a detailed document that covers all aspects of fire safety for a specific
building or property. The plan will outline:
• A safe and orderly way for occupants to
evacuate the building.
• Proper maintenance and housekeeping
required to prevent fires.
• Methods of control that minimize the
damage from fires when they do occur.
Fire safety plans
are often required by your local Fire Code, especially for certain buildings
and occupancy rates. Check with your jurisdiction, municipality, or local fire
department for further information. Some municipalities and/or fire departments
may prefer that a template or standard format be used by all businesses in
their area to help when they have to respond to emergencies.
What should be
included in the fire safety plan?
Plans should be
specific to the property or business. Conducting an audit or review of the
property or business will help identify factors that could affect fire safety.
Items in this audit include site layout, points of entry/exit, roadways, use of
the building, where and how items are stored, how items are used, water or fire
department connections, alarm/sprinkler systems, and many other factors.
While specific
requirements may vary by jurisdiction, in general, a fire safety plan should
include:
• Emergency procedures to be used in case
of fire, including how to:
o sound the alarm,
o notify the fire department, building or
business officials, or other designated staff as specified in the plan (e.g.,
all telephones on site should have the emergency phone numbers listed and the
address of the property posted close by),
o evacuate occupants (e.g., procedures
occupants should follow when the fire alarm sounds),
o evacuate persons who may need assistance,
and
o confine, control, and extinguish the fire
where possible.
• How, and how often fire drills will be
conducted.
• Information for any designated staff who
have been given fire safety duties and responsibilities.
• Organization, education, and training
for staff with fire safety duties.
• Information and actions to take to
prevent or control fire hazards for that building or business, where
appropriate.
• Other staff education and training that
may be necessary.
• Detailed maintenance procedures for fire
protection systems.
• Diagrams and instructions about the
type, location, and operation of any fire or emergency systems.
• Identification of alternative fire
safety measures.
• Allow fire department access to the
building and to the fire location within the building.
What can be included
in typical fire safety plans for all employees?
Fire safety plans
should provide employees or building occupants with the instructions they need
to leave the building (or respond as appropriate) in the event of a fire.
Examples of content for the plan may include instructions such as:
If you discover a
fire:
• Leave the fire area immediately.
• Activate the fire alarm and/or alert
other staff.
• If safe to do so, assist anyone in
immediate danger.
• Close all doors behind you to confine
the fire.
• Use exit stairwells to leave the
building.
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If you hear a fire
alarm:
• Shutdown process/equipment (as preplanned,
where applicable).
• Leave the building immediately.
• Close all doors behind you to confine
the fire.
• Use exit stairwells to leave the
building.
• If designated with fire emergency
duties, carry out pre-planned procedures if safe to do so.
In the event of a
fire:
• Do not use the elevator(s).
• Do not re-enter the building until the
fire marshal or respective supervisory staff announces that it is safe to do
so.
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