Means of Escape in Case of Outbreak of Fire - Coursework Example

Fire Safety Name: Roll No: Class: Subject: Teacher: Date: 25th July 2008 University Contents Contents 2 Identification of Fire Risks 3 Means of Escape in Case of Outbreak of Fire 5 How People can be Warned about Fire Outbreak 7 Construction of Buildings According to Building Regulations 9 Works Cited 11 Identification of Fire Risks Every business location or workplace is in need of identification of risks as the lives and health of a lot of people working there is at stake because of the future threats that are expected to happen any time. The risk of outbreak of fire is the most common risk involved in working places. Identification of risks in the workplaces is entirely important. Robertson states in “Introduction to Fire Prevention”, (1989), that people who work in any workplace should also be aware of any risk or threat that is expected to happen (pp. 45). The administration of the workplace is responsible for making the staff members aware of all kinds of threats involved in working in a workplace. The evaluation of threats in terms of fire risks identification is a step that is essential for any administration to take in order to avoid or lessen the threat of outbreak of fire. “Evaluation of Fire Safety” by Rasbash and others, (2004), explains that no one can deny the importance of identification or detection of risk in terms of fire outbreak and it may be a cause of major troubles concerning fire outbreak (pp. 126). Management should hire personnel for identification of risks involved concerning outbreak of fire in a workplace. Soros and Lyons suggest in “Safety in the Fire Service”, (1979), that the hired personnel should collect data and information regarding expected threats and dangers and should document all the details to indicate towards the extremism of threats (pp. 134). The identification of threats in terms of outbreak of fire involves the people working in a workplace, the location of the workplace, the working stuff present in the workplace, working hours and other information related to the workplace. The persons who are made responsible for identification of risks should not ignore or neglect places that are less used. Every part of the workplace should be fully evaluated in order to reduce the threat of outbreak of fire. According to Robertson in “Introduction to Fire Prevention”, (1989), not only the threats should be identified but effective steps that can be taken in case of an outbreak should also be recommended in order to facilitate the working staff of the workplace (pp. 51). For recognition or detection of threats concerning outbreak of fire, the administration should conduct an in depth evaluation to ensure that the locality or workplace is fully secure and in case of outbreak of fire, people will be allowed safe passage to evacuate the workplace and there will be minimum damage. Identification of threats concerning outbreak of fire is very effective as it helps to reduce the number of fires in the premises. With the identification of fire outbreak threats, protective measures are also adopted to minimize the threats involved. According to Whitman in “Fire safety in the Atomic Age”, (1980), after adopting preventative steps, the chances of outbreak of fire are reduced as there are fire safety tools and equipments implemented in advance (pp. 119). In case of outbreak of fire, the fire extinguishers, safety passages, fire alarms, working staff and all other related objects and personnel are completely ready to face the situation. Therefore, it is very significant to identity any threat of outbreak of fire to reduce the threat and to ensure that the people and business, both are safe in the workplace. It is written in “Fire Safety: An Employer’s Guide (HSE Books)” by Home Office that the administration should always be ready to face any threatening situation before time so that management of that threat becomes manageable (pp. 67). Soros and Lyons state in “Safety in the Fire Service”, (1979), that the evaluation of fire threats should not be done once but they should be performed simultaneously to ensure that the workplace contains the most upgraded measures to prevent the threat of outbreak of fire (pp. 136). There should be enhancements in terms of fire safety with the passage of time. Fire outbreak can be there because of many reasons such as leakage of gases, breaking up of wires, power failure, arson attack made intentionally, over-heatedness of a certain place and many other means that are accountable for combustion in a workplace. Means of Escape in Case of Outbreak of Fire In workplaces, it is very essential to construct safe routes for evacuation in case of outbreak of fire. It is written in “Fire Safety: An Employer’s Guide (HSE Books)” by Home Office that the administration of a workplace is required to take preventive measures in order to reduce the threat of losing lives of people and business procedures (pp. 72). The administration is also responsible for ensuring that people working in a workplace should be safe and sound while working there. Robertson writes in “Introduction to Fire Prevention”, (1989) that the administration is responsible for constructing a structure that allows evacuation and safe escape route to people working in a workplace (pp. 56). If the construction of a building or workplace is such that in case of outbreak of fire, people are trapped there, it is the blunder of the administration that has not taken care of its staff members. While constructing a workplace, the administration should conduct some research in terms of evaluation of escape routes for the working staff members. According to Whitman in “Fire safety in the Atomic Age”, (1980), in the research, they should consider the number of people that is going to work in a workplace, threats concerning outbreak of fire involved, reasons that can set in motion someone to set a fire deliberately, fire alarms, fire safety measures, the damage that can be there because of fire outbreak and other issues related to the threat of outbreak of fire (pp. 121). After assessment of all the threats involved in outbreak of fire, the administration should opt for escape routes that are appropriate for the staff members to use in time of fire outbreak. It should be ensured that the routes developed for escape should be safe, well lighted, easy to use, accommodating and flexible for the people using them. Soros and Lyons elaborate in “Safety in the Fire Service”, (1979), that the administration can allow to construct abscond routes that are in vertical order or horizontal order according to the construction of the building (pp. 138). Usually staircases and passageways are employed in order to evacuate the building that has caught fire. In vertical as well as horizontal abscond routes, highest fire safety is ensured. It is written in “Fire Safety: An Employer’s Guide (HSE Books)” by Home Office that it is the choice of the administration to construct a route that appears more appropriate to the workplace (pp.78). “Introduction to Fire Safety Management: The Handbook for Students on NEBOSH and Other Fire Safety Courses” by Furness, (2008), reports that while devising escape routes, the administration should consider all the aspects involved in case of outbreak of fire (pp. 156). They should develop the routes keeping in view the behaviours of people at the outbreak of fire. Moreover, they should work for improvement and enhancement of escape routes as to keep them upgraded with the passage of time. Robertson states in “Introduction to Fire Prevention”, (1989), that there should be accurate arrangement and fixation of electric supply in those routes so that while evacuating from these ways, people do not face problems in terms of the dimness and unlighted place (pp. 59). Because of lack of light or illumination, there can be predicaments in terms of evacuation. The administration of a workplace is accountable for people’s safety in terms of outbreak of fire and should take on effective methods to ensure safe and secure escape routes for the people present in a workplace. How People can be Warned about Fire Outbreak Warning in terms of outbreak of fire is the most effective and essential feature that should be considered in depth and thoroughly by the administration of a workplace. Administration of various workplaces takes on different methodologies to warn the people present in the workplace. According to Whitman in “Fire safety in the Atomic Age”, (1980), there can be multiple detectors and alarms that are capable to sense or spot the outbreak of fire in any locality and they warn people present in a locality or workplace (pp. 123). Administration of a workplace goes for a detector that is appropriate for the workplace or that suits the location. People can be warned about the outbreak of fire by making use of many ways. “Evaluation of Fire Safety” by Rasbash and others, (2004), informs that these ways include smoke detectors, high temperature detectors and other kinds of alarms that can be employed to make people aware about the outbreak of fire in a workplace (pp. 138). Robertson informs in “Introduction to Fire Prevention”, (1989),Smoke detectors are such detectors that sense or identify any smoke signals that are there because of outbreak of fire and after sensing or identifying the smoke or smoulder, they make sounds to inform the people present in the workplace about the outbreak of fire (pp. 61). The sounds associated to them are quite high and people are at once warned. After hearing the sounds of the smoke detectors, people start the evacuation procedure. Soros and Lyons indicate in “Safety in the Fire Service”, (1979), that the smoke detectors are of many kinds and all the kinds of smoke detectors are employed for sensing or detecting any smoker or setting on fire within minimum time to warn the people (pp. 142). There are smoke detectors that are capable of sensing small smokes as well as extended warmth. There are also such smoke detectors that are capable to sense large amount of smoulders but less amount of extended warmth. They are employed at places, which are appropriate for them. Nebiker and Pleisch in “Photoacoustic gas detection for fire warning” state that the smoke detectors are fixed in places where there are more chances of outbreak of fires (pp. 431). It is stated in “Fire Safety: An Employer’s Guide (HSE Books) by Home Office that Like smoke detectors, there are also high temperature detectors that can be used to warn the people about extended temperature and warmth in a workplace (pp. 83). As soon as they detect an increased heat or warmth, they start giving alarm that is a sort of warning to the people present in a workplace. Soros and Lyons inform in “Safety in the Fire Service”, (1979), that they are employed in those work environments where there are chances of extended warmth or heat conditions (pp. 145). Red boxes are implemented near the doorways to warn the people about the outbreak of fire. According to Whitman in “Fire safety in the Atomic Age”, (1980), like other alarming techniques, red boxes are also employed to inform the people in a workplace about the outbreak of fire (pp. 126). Unlike other detectors, red boxes are employed generally more in number. They are not automatic as someone is needed to press the alarm button in order to facilitate other people about the outbreak of fire. There are other alarm systems and detectors that are too sensitive to sense or detect even a little amount of smoulder or heat, which can be employed in workplaces that are highly sensitive. Therefore, there can be various ways that can be opted by the administration to alarm the people present in a workplace about the outbreak of fire. Construction of Buildings According to Building Regulations The buildings in Great Britain are constructed according to the rules and regulations set by the government in order to reduce the threat of outbreak of fire. “Introduction to Fire Safety Management: The Handbook for Students on NEBOSH and Other Fire Safety Courses” by Furness, (2008), reports that the construction of buildings according to the building regulations is very significant as it is because of these building regulations that allow the builders and administration to make safe passages for the people working in a workplace (pp. 166). Concerning the outbreak of fire, the building regulations are quite straightforward and clear. All the people involved in administration of a workplace are required to keep in view the rules and regulations set by the building regulations in order to facilitate the working staff with reduced threats concerning outbreak of fire. In addition, they are responsible for the safety and security of their staff. According to Whitman in “Fire safety in the Atomic Age”, (1980),the building that is constructed keeping in consideration the rules and regulations related to construction of buildings reduce the risks involved in terms of outbreak of fire (pp. 129). The whole area and location is covered in the rules and regulations set by building regulations. Soros and Lyons elaborate in “Safety in the Fire Service”, (1979), that the parts in a workplace that are required to fulfil all the requirements of the building regulations are from the minute details such as wiring to the major details such as doorways and passages (pp. 149). The alarm systems and detectors also come under building regulations as according to building regulations, they should be installed to reduce the threat of damage in terms of fire outbreak. All the threats involved in terms of outbreak of fire should be identified thoroughly in order to reduce the threats of combustion. Administration of a workplace is accountable for ensuring that it has identified the threats associated to the outbreak of fire and has implemented the steps needed in terms of preventive steps in case of any trouble because of fire spreading. The administration should make sure that the workplace has a full-fledged and fully adoptable escape route in case of outburst of fire. The administration should choose an escape route for the people in the workplace that is suitable according to the needs of the building. People can be warned about the endangerment associated to the outbreak of fire by means of detectors and alarms that are capable of sensing overly warmth, increased temperature and smoulders. While constructing a building, the administration should make sure that the building is constructed according to building regulations that accommodate the administration in terms of reduction of fire outbreak threats. Works Cited Robertson, J.C. (1989). Introduction to Fire Prevention. New York: Macmillan. pp. 45-62. Soros, C.C. and Lyons, P.R. (1979). Safety in the Fire Service. England: National Fire Protection Association. pp. 134-149. Whitman, L.E. (1980). Fire Safety in the Atomic Age. New Jersey: Nelson-Hall. pp. 119-130. Home Office. (2000). Fire Safety: An Employer's Guide (HSE books). Great Britain: Stationery Office Books. pp. 67-83. Furness, Andrew. (2008). Introduction to Fire Safety Management: The Handbook for Students on NEBOSH and Other Fire Safety Courses. Oxford, England: Butterworth Heinemann. pp. 152-167. Rasbash, D., Ramachandran, G., Kandola, B. Watts, J. and Law, M. (2004). Evaluation of Fire Safety. West Sussex, England: WileyBlackwell. pp. 125-138. Nebiker, P. W. and Pleisch, R. E. (2002). Photoacoustic gas detection for fire warning. Fire Safety Journal 37(4): 429-436. Read More