Safety Tips
Fire Safety
According to the US Fire Administration almost 400, 000 residential and over 100, 000 non-residential fires occurred in 2015. Unfortunately, in 2017 U of R became a statistic as well. Fires can occur at work or home but they can be prevented or minimized through preventive steps and training
The Science of Fire
The fire tetrahedron is four-sided geometric representation of the four factors necessary for a fire to occur; fuel, heat, oxygen/air and an uninhibited chain reaction. Removing any of these four factors will prevent, suppress or control the fire.
Prevention
The following are steps that can be used to help prevent fires
- Properly store flammable/combustible materials and keep them away from ignition sources. Use flammable storage cabinets and minimize the amount of flammable/combustible materials on hand.
- Housekeeping. Keep areas free from dust, debris, or other combustibles materials.
- When performing hot work (welding, bracing, soldering) make sure you remove all flammable/combustible materials from the area. Use a fire watch if necessary.
- These steps can be used at home as well.
Fire Extinguishers
- You must attend annual training (hands on/classroom) on the PASS (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep) method of using a fire extinguisher.
- Fire extinguishers may only be used on incipient phase fires, about the size of a small trashcan.
- A, B, C fire extinguishers are the most common types but others exists. Make sure you are using the correct extinguisher for the situation. (D for metals, K for kitchen)
- When in doubt and you fear for your safety evacuate.
Evacuation
- Close doors and shut down equipment if you can do it safely. Activate the alarm as you leave.
- Assist others if possible.
- Never return to the building to retrieve personal items.
- Just like a place of employment, each home should have an evacuation plan.
- Always know multiple exit routes in case one is blocked by fire.