Fire Safety

Each year, there are an increasing number of fire-related emergencies that take place on college campuses. They may be due to several causes, but are primarily associated with a lack of knowledge regarding fire safety and prevention. According to information compiled by Campus Firewatch, the some common factors among campus fires are:

  • Lack of automatic sprinkler systems
  • Missing or disabled smoke alarms
  • Careless disposal of smoking materials

Of course, there are many other factors that contribute to fireds on campus, the repercussions of which are often serious injury or death. Some of these include: misuse of cooking supplies, improper use of 911 notification systems, student apathy, hindrance of evacuation due to a lack or preparedness and planning, overloaded electrical circuits, and extension cords. The USFA (United States Fire Administration) offers the following tips to help reduce the loss of life and property in campus fires:

  • Provide students and employees with a program for fire safety and prevention
  • Teach students how to properly notify the fire department
  • Careless disposal of smoking materials
  • Install smoke alarms in every area of campus
  • Maintain and regularly test smoke alarms and fire alarm systems, replace smoke alarm batteries every semester
  • Regularly inspect buildings for fire hazards, ask local fire department for assistance
  • Inspect exit doors and windows and make sure they are functioning properly
  • Create and update detailed floor plans of buildings, make them available to emergency personnel, resident advisors and students
  • Conduct fire drills and practice escape routes and evacuation plans- urge students to take each alarm seriously
  • Do not overload electrical outlets and make sure extension cords are used properly
  • Learn to properly use and maintain cooking and heating appliances

Fire Prevention

A fire prevention plan must be in writing, be kept in the workplace, and be made available to employees for a review.
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
  • Type of fire prevention equipment necessary to control each 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
  • An employer must inform employees upon initial assignment to a job of the fire hazards to which they are exposed
  • An employer must also review with each employee those parts of the fire prevention plan necessary for self-protection