Collapse Building During and Post Fire-Fighting Operation - Coursework Example

FIRE INVESTIGATION Table of Contents: FIRE INVESTIGATION 1 Introduction: 3 Information Gathering Approaches: 4 Tentative location: 4 Asking bystanders: 4 Collapse Building During and Post Fire Fighting Operation: 4 Symptoms: 4 Causes: 4 Fire Fighter’s Role: 4 Fighting Fires: 5 Rescuing People: 5 Preventing: 5 Protecting: 5 Responding: 5 Fire Fighter’s Hazards and Preventions: 6 Hazards: 6 Preventive Measures: 6 Arson Indicators: 7 Arson Management Actions: 7 Management Action: 7 The Arson Risk Assessment: 8 Security Measures: 8 Passive fire protection: 8 Active fire protection: 9 Advise: 9 Conclusion: 9 Bibliography: 10 Introduction: Fire fighters fight against the hazardous factor of exposure of fires that may lead to the collapse of buildings and other threats. Fire fighters need to be well aware of the strategies in order to work against it. There are different strategies that are to be considered in order to reduce the occurrence of such happenings. The fire fighters and the management team works for the best strategies to be adapted and that fit into the frame work of fire fighting and result in he prevention of and hazardous event. Information Gathering Approaches: Information gathering is the significant part for analysis. The data collected should be reliable and valid. So during the process of data collection it should be kept in mind that the data collection approaches is reliable and provides the valid data. (Hall 1998, pp 98) Tentative location: Proper examination of the scene is done to get the proper information and guessing what could be happened there. This should not only be the guess work but with the proper scenarios the appropriate results are to be extracted. Capturing of the scenes with video cameras and photo cameras is to be done. (Nolan 1998, pp 45) Asking bystanders: The people who watch the scene can better explain that what has actually happened. Questioning wit eyewitnesses can reveal many aspects and the potential danger and the degree of the danger. Collapse Building During and Post Fire Fighting Operation: Symptoms: Falling of part or stones of buildings: There are different symptoms of collapse buildings. But one of them both during and post fire fighting operation is falling parts or stones from that building. Causes: Overloading: The overloaded buildings have more potential to collapse if any such hazard happens. Expansion: The heat may cause the expansion in the building, and it does not have any vicinity to which it can expand so it may lead to the collapsing of the building. Fire Fighter’s Role: Fire fighting is the multi role task, though as it names refers, its basically about fighting the fire and rescuing people. But this is just a small part of the whole duty; which can be explained further: Fighting Fires: As the name reveals, the fight fighter’s job is to fight against the fire: the fire can be anywhere; open air, as it can start with the carelessness of people at barbeque or in different kinds of buildings. It includes all kinds of buildings, garages, houses, gardens shopping centers, factories etc. (Clark 1991, pp 678) Rescuing People: No doubt, the role of firefighters is not so small. They must also deal with the accidents, such as of lorries, aero planes, trains and cars, which may contain fire. Sometimes there is a collision among the vehicles or the single car, moreover, the luggage that lorries are carrying, like chemicals and minerals, is often dangerous. (Hall 1998, pp 98) Preventing: Fire fighters have the job to keep safety among the country. They need to promote safety measures across the people in order to prevent any fire crashes or hazards. Another requirement is to aware the people in all corners of he diverse community about the road safety and fire safety awareness, for this purpose they need to visit different places like schools, colleges, hospitals and people group to do this. (Nolan 1998, pp 45) Protecting: It is always the responsibility of fire fighters to protect and rescue the people if any of such incidents happens. They undergo many different training programs which enable tem to sustain in any circumstances and enable them to stand still any situation in order to provide safety to the people and take them out of any critical conditions. In any situation protecting the lives and property of the people is their foremost duty; hence they also strive hard to protect the assets as well, in order to prevent much loss. (Clark 1991, pp 678) Responding: Firefighters have an all time alert job, they are supposed to respond to any mishap spontaneously, as the incidents tat involve fire burnings. There are others which include chemical leaks, terrorist incidents, floods, rescue of trapped people and animal, Air and Marine transport incidents, Road Traffic Collisions, Rail. Their duty is to save the lives and property of people and they render to humanitarian assistance as needed. (Gottschalk, 2002, pp 4231) Fire Fighter’s Hazards and Preventions: Hazards: Fire fighting is not an easy job. Fire fighters save the lives and property of people on the risk of heir own lives. There are a lot of risks tat fire fighters have to face. Some of which are as follows: During ladder work, there is a chance that they fall off from the height. Another hazard s that during the fire fight operation, rescue or selvage operation, they are stuck by the falling objects. The collapsing or collapsed structure may catch them in. Collapsing structures can cause the fire fighters to fall from height. Overexertion during the operation is another hazard for the fire fighters. Injuries are possible due to exposure, as stepping in or stuck by the glass, or other sharp metals that may lead to cuts and injuries. Superheated gases and contact with hot surfaces can put harm to the fire fighters. During the fire fighting operations, the interruption of air supply is also a hazard. At such places the air is often superheated, inhalation of such air or products of combustion is hazardous. Exposure to the chemical products during the fire fighting operation, or contact to them is very dangerous. During an emergency, in a response to them, as in transportation of accidents, there is a chance of injuries. There is chance to slip or fall onto the fire ground during a fire operation. In a fire operation or other cases a risk of collapsing floors, walls and ceilings is always present. The flashover of sudden ignition of gas products is a eral problem. Burning is also a risk as when an exposure to heat is made, it leads to burn. Heat stress is also a hazard faced by fire fighters. Another risk is on the firegrounds, of discharging of exploding objects. During the winter fire-fighting or maritime rescue operation, exposure to cold is very dangerous and can affect inversely on the health of a person. Preventive Measures: Fire fighters are the people who serve the country and nation. Since their job is real tough and risky, they need to adapt some preventive measures in order to lessen the hazard risks. When working on ladders, fire fighters are required to use a ladder hook. When working on heights, fire fighters are required to use appropriate fall protection equipment. Envelope should b used that is full personal protective equipment. It should contain the breathing apparatus. Personal alert safety should be used so that in the case of emergency other fire fighters in the vicinity can be alerted. There are the proper rules for safe lifting and carrying, they should be strictly adapted. An adequate level of fitness should be maintained. During the active stages of fire suppression, rescue and overhaul, the adequate rotations and breaks should be provided. There is personal protective equipment which is specifically related to hazards, it should be used always. An appropriate individual counseling is to be sought and critical event debriefings should be attended. (Hall 1998, pp 98) Arson Indicators: An overall assessment for the indications is done. For this assessment an adequate knowledge is required for the codes and standards of life safety, intimae knowledge of fire, extensive fire protection design experience and all. T has the capabilities of litigation services, reconstruction, and investigation. Some of the investigation services are: Analysis of the origination of fire and the potential cause that could have lead to this fire. Analysis of the growth of fire and smoke movement. A detailed interview or questioning with the expert witness. There are training services for fire investigation. The modeling of fire. Te failure of analysis is always to be kept in mind. The testing of the product that will be in use. Arson Management Actions: Management Action: In order to reduce the occurrence of arson and control its effects consideration should be given in advance so as for the identification of potential risks threats and to define the protective measures. We need to rescue the fire hazards and for this purpose arson risk assessment should be carried out. Arson attacks are common, management needs to identify them and take protective measures to avoid the arsons. Fire precautions are required by the risk assessment. Management needs to fully integrate the management programs against arson that will cover all aspects of the risk. The main objective of the management is that no matter what the threat is presented, the business operation and profitability of the management should be maintained. Hence the protective decisions to prevent such common arsons are probable to be successful if the appropriate measures are taken in timely manner. The main elements of the management plan are: The arson risk management Security measures Passive fire protection measures Active fire protection measures. (Clark 1991, pp 678) The Arson Risk Assessment: Arson risk management can be carried out in many ways. The risks that are liable to the occurrence of arson should be considered in structured and logical manner. The potential objects are needed to be made responsible for fire safety and should have the protection from arson attack. This should be accomplished by a responsible person, who will carry out the assessment for arson risk. The person should be responsible for the fire related legislation that is assured for the company compliance, and responsible for the issues as health, security and safety. The person will be periodically writing and reviewing the assessment. ( Paul 1999, pp 456) Security Measures: Threats of arson attack can be reduced by a positive contribution of effective security measures. It is the responsibility to define and revise the security measures according to the scenarios. Some of the measure that should be considered by the management are: Protection pf the perimeter. Building envelope strength. Intruders detection Lighting security Betterment of staff relations CCTV systems. (Nolan 1998, pp 45) Passive fire protection: Restrain is the principle on which passive fire protection is based. Passive fire protection greatly relies on the architecture and design of the building. the construction is done in such a way that can restrict the fire to a specific area, if it happens. Design of escape routes can be introduced, fire dampers can be installed in ducts, floor linings etc. (Gottschalk, 2002, pp 4231) Active fire protection: In active fire protection system, the detection or extinguishment of fire is done. It can be done through the inert gas flooding installation or water sprinkling that can perform this function. Heat or combustion products can be detected through automatic fire detection installation, and on such anticipation they raise the alarm. A remote monitoring of such systems is required, in an unoccupied building so tat fire brigades can be called upon in time. Sprinkle water also helps in the case as it detects the fire it starts sprinkling water from the heads to nearest flames, moreover, starts raising the alarm. ( Paul 1999, pp 456) Advise: There are some advises for the management in planning security measures against fire. A safe fire ground strategy facility should be developed by conducting pre incident planning and inspections. Written standard operating guidelines are needed to be implemented and enforced according to the appropriate revision and review. Written standard operating guideline are required to properly address the issues as incident command duties, personal accountability, rapid intervention teams, emergency evacuation procedure and mutual aid operations. Fire fighters and other responsible personal is to be trained on he SOGs and other procedures to properly equip with the appropriate knowledge of procedures, equipment and capabilities. Individual fire fighter should be trained and aware of he hazards and take the preventive measures Guidelines of personal alert safety systems are required to be revised and enforced. Fire fighters are needed to be aware of the proper use and limitations of thermal imagination cameras Fire fighters are trained and aware of the hazard of toxic air gas as carbon mono oxide. Conclusion: Fire fighters are required to rescue the lives of people, prevent such happenings, protect the people from any critical situations and respond to any such happening spontaneously. Management needs to take the preventive measures and risk assessment in order to reduce the occurrence of arson. As arson is common, such management and strategy could result in reducing the occurrence. The preventive measures should be taken by the fire fighters to reduce their exposure to risks. Moreover management is liable to take measure that prevent or reduce such happenings. Bibliography: Clark W. E., 1991, Firefighting Principles & Practices, PennWell Books Nolan D. P., 1998, Fire Fighting Pumping Systems at Industrial Facilities, William Andrew Inc., Hall R., 1998, Essentials of Fire Fighting , Fire Protection Publications Paul C., 1999, Fighting Fire, St. Martin's Press Gottschalk J., 2002, Firefighting, Dorling Kindersley Read More