Overpopulated High-Rise Temporary Housing Fires - Coursework Example

Community Safety Overpopulated High-Rise Temporary Housing Fires a. Introduction to Community Safety Community safety cover more than crime and illegal activities but also linked to persistent social conditions caused by anti-social behaviour, on top of low-level disorder and rudeness, which cause people to panic for their own safety. Behaviour such as drug misuse and drug dealing, racial harassment and hate crime, and incidents including tackling social exclusion, consumer protection, household safety, road safety, fire prevention, as well as mental health and public health are all community safety issues (Skykes et. al. 2002, p.206). Generally, the most efficient approach to the reduction of crime and other damaging incidents is one that involves a variety of agencies, engages the local community and combines several preventive strategies. In the UK, such programme are increasingly being coordinated and implemented under the community safety agenda. The successful maintenance of community safety depends principally on the enthusiasm of the public to support the authorities by collaborating and imparting information (Tilley 2005, p.550). Without sufficient participation of the required population, execution of the plan may fail because of a lack of assistance and dedication. It is imperative to bear in mind those fire protection and other public safety services that may be offered by a fire/rescue department that will meet a particular local needs (Cote 2003, p.128). Normally, fire department services take account of fire prevention programs such as code administration and enforcement through plans review, inspection services, and public education. Progressive departments conduct various other public services, such as health screening programs more often. This approach to mixed community safety service takes advantage of departmental resources such as neighbourhood fire stations and on-duty personnel, experience in public service and education, and the typically high regard in which citizens hold fire departments. One essential feature of a wide-ranging public fire protection plan is the perception that it is much better for a community to prevent fires altogether, or to diminish them automatically through fire safety education and integrated fire protection features, than to rely exclusively on the fire suppression capabilities of the community’s fire department. The goal of reducing the incidence and effects of fire involves all facet of fire prevention (Cote 2003, p.128). a. Scanning the Problem in Temporary High-Rise Housing The most prevalent reason of fire in structure is human intelligence. Leaving flammable material like wood, paper and aerosol cans near a fire or a stove can trigger a fire. Fuel leakage, faulty electrical wiring and cooking accidents are some of the other causes. Many fires have also been started by half-lit cigarettes, candles kept near windows, and children playing with matches (Menon 2007, p.16). Countless fires in the home are results of carelessness and disregard to safety. One single largest cause of fire due to appliances is due to cooking appliances. In 2004 and 2005, statistics shows that the clear majority or 53% of domestic fires were caused by accidents while cooking and only 11% were caused by electrical equipment (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 2006b, p.12). In an overpopulated high-rise temporary housing, workers tend to use whatever available area for cooking. A combination of ignorance of fire safety and culture, workers cook their food even near highly flammable materials such clothing, furniture, etc. which is apparently a deliberate disregard on fire safety. Moreover, since the building is under construction, workers are tampering electrical supplies to power their appliances. A high-rise temporary housing often lacks fire suppression devices thus it spread rapidly when a fire occurs. According to the Communities and Local Government (2008, p.12), there were 491 fire-related deaths in the UK and majority occurred in dwelling. In 2006, there were 55, 800 dwelling fires in the United Kingdom and the main source of these fires are cooking appliances. Three hundred seventy three deaths caused by careless handling for fire and hot substances where the highest fatality rate is for fires started at the living or dining room. Cooking appliances are the main source of ignition, which is 56% of the total in 2006. High-rise fires need much more personnel and equipment to put out and it caused fire fighters fatalities and injuries. The risk of fire fighters and dwellers increases in proportion to the height of the building and the height of the fire above grade level. High-rise fighting is particularly dangerous and fire fighters are sometimes trapped and killed while searching above a spreading high-rise fire (Dunn 1999, p.155). As high-rise fatalities increase in temporary worker’s housing, ambulance services including volunteer groups are dealing with those injured and killed. More importantly, properties are damaged and workers are injured or killed affecting production severely. b. Analysis of the Problem Fire has a direct impact on people and property. Fire affected the economy of England and Wales and in 2004 alone that total cost of fire-related losses was approximately at £7.03bn or 0.78 percent of the gross values added of the economy. The average cost dwelling fire is approximately at £24,900 where 14,600 is cost of injuries and fatalities and 7,300 is for property damage (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 2006a, p.22). An investigation into the nature of accidents by fire, the majority of them prove fatal from the mere lack of presence of mind in persons nearby, or of a timely application of those simple remedies with which every one ought to be acquainted. Moreover, according to Fischer and Green (2004, p.225), Lack of concern and knowledge are the roots of most fires and deaths. There are so many unnecessary fires started by ignorance and carelessness (Cote 2003, p.441). The larger part of the fire loss is traceable to carelessness, a greater part is due to ignorance thus the value of proper education is indisputable. With education and if people were properly acquainted with the likely result of their acts, fire that arise from ignorance and careless will be decreased. Lack of awareness according to Haines (2005, p.92) had a very real presence and impact safety outcomes. A statute or proclamation cannot achieve fire prevention. The origin of fire losses are usually linked with the behaviour and customs of the people. Most urban fires are caused by human action, through carelessness, ignorance, or risk taking thus public education is the most valuable form of fire prevention (Martin 1990, p.148). Workers who came from developing countries are often insufficiently trained and their education standards are often much lower as compared to the developed countries. All these contribute to the general state of ignorance on health risk and safe practices. For instance, the toy factory fire in Bangkok, Thailand is a good example of lack of fire safety precautions. Fire exits were locked, flammable substances were poorly stored and these had blocked all the available exits. Moreover, accidents often a common feature because of a lack of commitment of management to the health and safety of the people working with them (Stellman 1998, p.20). Serious fire damage occurs because of a lack of early warning detection devices, carelessness, and an ignorance of basic fire safety precautions (Gandert 1982, p.6) thus good fire prevention strategies must aim to resolve these problems. c. Response to the Problem Prevention covers the activities of the fire safety program that take place before an actual fire, including the identification and correction of fire hazards, fire control planning, and occupant education (Colling 2001. p.491). Fire prevention demands foresight. The impact is not always obvious and safety professional must be constantly aware of the hazards, the impact, and the risks. Prevention is not allowing the fire to happen and prevention programs make certain that there are inadequate fuels to burn, the ignition sources have not been introduced, and the dwellings fire risk is being handled correctly (Hansen 1991, p.281). Installed fire protection is a significant part of effective loss prevention and control because most systems perform automatically without human interference. Whenever human actions are involved in an operation, those segments of the operation are expose to the problem of human behaviour. Installed fire protection systems function without this human interaction. This allows the systems to perform their task with a higher level of reliability. By eliminating the need for human attention, we also allow these systems to provide protection to a building 24 hours a day whether the building is in use or not (Bromann 2001, p.110). Three out of ten fires start in the kitchen and cooking fires are the number one cause of dwelling fires and injuries (Manger 2006, p.150). In a high-rise housing, temporary or not, cooking should be permitted only in specifically designated cooking areas. The use of hotplates and other cooking devices should be controlled to reduce the potential for a fire. Workers cooking in their rooms mean cooking near more materials that are combustible than would be tolerated in a kitchen thus there is higher risk of fire. Electrical fires are also a major concern since electrical equipment carries some fire hazard itself. Moreover, there may be additional hazard to the building electrical distribution equipment from the increased power demand of an overpopulated workers housing. Two problems come up because of the expanding electrical needs. The building’s electrical system may not have adequate electrical capacity to provide the power necessary since it is still under construction and may cause overload. If there are ongoing problems, such as tripping circuit breakers, the dwellers may try to get around the safety features to ensure that power is not interrupted. If there are inadequate outlets, then the dwellers may use extension cords and power taps or power strips that would generate further problems such tripping hazard, overheating electrical cords that may be coiled or bunched up, creating a potential ignition source. Physical damage to electrical cords run under carpet and around furniture in such a way that they can become damaged or worn, exposing bare conductors. Even though the occupants may be using power strips equipped with individual circuit breakers, the circuit is not adequately protected (Cote 2003, p.538). Over 25 percent of all fires have origins linked to a fault of either a piece of electrical equipment or wiring or both. Electrical fires are often caused by a lack of reasonable care in the maintenance and use of electrical installations and equipment. The electricity that provides heat and light and drives electric motor is capable of igniting insulating or other combustible material if the equipment is misused, is not adequate to carry the electrical load, or is not properly installed and maintained. The most common causes of fire in electrical installations are short circuits, overheating of cables and equipment, the ignition of flammable gases and vapours, and the ignition of combustible substances by static electrical discharges (Hughes and Ferrett 2005, p.153). Short circuits can occur if insulation becomes damaged due to modification or tampering. The amount of the current depends, among other things, upon the voltage, the condition of the insulating material and the proximity between the conductors. In the beginning, the current flow will be low but as the fault develops, the current will increase and the area near the fault will heat up. After a while, if the fault continues, a total breakdown of insulation will result and too much current will flow through the fault. If the fuse fails to operate or is in excess of the suggested fuse rating, overheating will take place and a fire will result. A fire can also be caused if inflammable materials are in close proximity to the heated wire or hot sparks are ejected (Hughes and Ferrett 2005, p.153). Fire safety is normally viewed to cover the safety of people, the safety of property, both in the building concerned and in the adjoining area, and the method involved (Douglas 2006, p.187). The main objective of fire safety education is to make certain that the occupants are well aware of the importance of fire prevention and their roles in preventing fires in their neighbourhood. For any public health problem, once risk factors and prevention strategies have been identified by research and accepted by public health professionals, any decrease in the enormity of the crisis depends on the awareness and education of the public at risk. Undoubtedly, fires are no exception. In reality, the need for public awareness and education may be more significant for fires than for other public health problems if one take into account the size of the population at risk and the frequency of fires. People need to recognize the risk of fire associated with their residences (Noji 1997, p.389). The low incidence of fire in Japan for instance and the results of community fire safety schemes suggest that fire safety education is an effective tool in reducing the number of fire incidents (Dennett 2004, p.150). Public education is a key and our ability to facilitate it will be invaluable to our efforts to improve fire safety and reduce death and injury (Frca et. al. 1999, p.156). Fire inspection, fire investigation, code development and enforcement, and public fire and life safety education have been recognized as the primary ways to help prevent fires, protect property, and save lives (Hirst 2007, p.7). Safety is a cultural concept or can be viewed as a series of habits that should be introduced to people. When incorporated with the other vital skills of living, the skills of safety become the foundation for a conscious and rational lifestyle. Safety education is not only training in conservation of life and the prevention of accidents, but also lessons in how to be an upright citizen (Bender et. al. 1997, p.196). Fire safety education is significantly essential in prevention of fire thus, fire and rescue departments must be sincere in disseminating information about fire safety particularly in dwellings. Media can help spread fire safety information effectively since they can reach more audience. They can in fact convey public fire safety education and provide exposure to maintain the fire department’s mission in the public eye (Carter 2006. p.189). d. Assessment of the Response In 2006, according to the Communities and Local Government’s Fire Statistics in the United Kingdom, dwelling fires fell by 3 percent. Following the downward trend, the number of deaths in dwelling fires also fell by 13 since 2005. Although it represents the lowest level in over a decade, the main causes of these fires are still related to cooking. It represents 56% in 2006 as the main source of ignition. ‘Fire Kills’ is a national fire safety campaign started more than a decade ago that is aim to decrease the number of dwelling fires through education and awareness. According to the report, fire incidents and deaths reached its lowers level since 1959 because of increased smoke alarm installations at home (Directgov 2008, p.1). From 5 percent in 2001, the number of homes owning smoke alarms increased by 75 percent. Fires started by cooking appliances were recorded at 15 percent of all accidental dwelling fires. Deaths related to these fires are down by six, from 49 in 2005 to 43 in 2006. This has been largely because of advertising campaigns launched by government for fire safety prevention in the home. Apparently, it had a positive impact on people because there is a downward trend of fire incidents in the home (Communities and Local Government 2008, p.28). e. 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Handbook of Crime Prevention and Community Safety. Willan Publishing, UK. Read More