Emergency Plan and Fire Safety Procedures
Roles and Responsibilities
Evacuation Coordinator
Performs in the designated control center (DC), responsible for the safe evacuation of all personnel and will be in charge of evacuation leaders.
Evacuation Leader
The mission is to ensure a full and orderly evacuation of their assigned sector. Responsibilities include:
- Ensure that the alarm has been raised and staff in their sector are alert.
- Announce the evacuation of their sector upon hearing the general alarm.
- Guide the occupants of their sector to practicable escape routes.
- Assist in the evacuation of disabled persons or those with injuries.
- Prevent evacuees from returning to the evacuated area.
- Check for absences and report the situation to the Evacuation Coordinator.
Head of Support
The mission is to control supplies and technical facilities in the emergency support area. Responsibilities include supporting the Emergency Brigade and any other operation necessary to achieve adequate control of an emergency. This role will also be in charge of maintenance staff.
Maintenance Staff
The mission is to control supplies and technical equipment in the emergency area. They will be located in strategic locations in the company (e.g., pump room, electrical room) and report the situation to the Head of Support.
Access Control
The mission is to control access to the plant and emergency area, maintaining direct communication with the concierge.
Control Center (CC)
A place where information is centralized and decision-making occurs during an emergency. It will be located in a safe place and will be the central hub for all communication. There will be a fixed CC and a mobile alternative capable of replacing the principal CC (e.g., located in a designated safe area) in case the primary CC becomes unusable.
Equipment Control Center
Includes plans of installations, information on means of protection and risks, fixed or mobile telephone for exclusive use of internal and external communication, a list of important phone numbers (administrator, head of risk prevention, Chief Production Manager, Maintenance, Fire Department, medical services, police, etc.), a radio transmitter channel for emergency use only, and reflective vests for emergency personnel.
Personnel Selection and Training
Personnel Selection
Personnel must have a suitable state of psychological and physical health to support the activities conducted during emergency situations.
Chief of Emergency
This person has great responsibility in the emergency plan, acting as coordinator of the basic functions of security against intrusion, theft, sabotage, and fire.
Intervention Leader
Can replace the Chief of Emergency in certain situations. Must be knowledgeable about all emergency equipment available on the premises, including its performance and capacity. Must have completed a fire safety course or be a certified technician at a minimum.
Chain of Command
In any emergency situation, the person in charge and their skills must be precisely known. A single command and a hierarchical organization will be established.
Simulations
The most important aspect in the implementation of a Self-Defense Manual is conducting drills, testing the three categories of emergency in place.
Maintenance and Investigation
Program Maintenance
A Maintenance Program will be implemented annually, with a corresponding timetable, which includes the following activities:
- Regular training courses and training of personnel.
- Instructions for maintenance of facilities capable of causing a fire (boilers, stoves, etc.).
- Instructions for maintenance of facilities for detection, alarm, and fire fighting.
- Safety inspections.
- Emergency drills.
Investigation of Incidents
We will investigate the causes that enabled the origin, spread, and consequences of any incident. We will analyze the behavior of individuals and self-protection equipment and take corrective action. A written report containing the results of the investigation will be forwarded to the Fire Department.
Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment Methods
Purpose: To ensure that the probability of a fire event is very small. In the event that a fire occurs, it should not spread quickly and freely, causing the least damage possible.
Known Methods
Examples include: Method of refueling, Gretener Method, Method of Dr. Gustav Purt (simplified derivation of Gretener), ERIC Method (solves some deficiencies of Gretener), FRAME method (based on Gretener and ERIC methods), and Meseri Method.
Meseri Method
A method for guidance only and limited to cover only the general view of the overall risk of fire. The results tend to be more restrictive than normal. It is a simple, fast, and agile method, offering a risk value for the company’s overall size and medium risk.
Meseri Objective Method
Aims to obtain a final grade of fire hazard in the facility after determining the overall value of generating or aggravating factors and the overall value of protective and reducing factors. The method is primarily designed for application in small and medium industrial settings, whose activity is not inherently dangerous. It is a method based on risk assessment schemes known as points.
Corrective Action
Corrective actions may include improvements in:
- Accessibility of Buildings
- Order, Cleanliness, and Maintenance
- Prevention of vertical and horizontal fire spread
- Installation of automatic sprinklers, fire extinguishers, and external hydrants.