uc davis safety services monthly safety spotlight june-july 2010: fire prevention safety discussion...

UC Davis Safety ServicesMonthly Safety Spotlight

June-July 2010: Fire Prevention

• Safety Discussion Topics

• Create a departmental fire safety plan

• Report ALL fires, no matter how small

• Keep corridors and exits clear

• Use fire extinguishers correctly

• Know when to fight and when to call for help

• Know your resources:

• UC Davis Fire Department

• UC Davis Emergency/Continuity Planning

• UC Davis Environmental Health & Safety

• FireNets and SafetyNets informational bulletins

Think Safe. Act Safe. Be Safe.

Monthly Safety Spotlight, June/July 2010

Fire Prevention and Fire Extinguisher Use

The only good fire is one that does not get started. Take time now to plan ahead to keep your department fire-safe. Start by creating an emergency response plan that includes fire safety. If you already have a plan, make reviewing and updating your plan an annual practice.

• Consult with the UC Davis Office of Emergency and Continuity Planning and UC Davis Fire Department to help you develop fire prevention measures for your area.

• Meet regularly with all staff – including all new members - to be sure everyone knows what to do in case of fire.

• All staff should receive fire extinguisher training.

• Laboratories, workshops and other campus areas store and handle hazardous materials. Be sure all hazardous substances are included in your fire safety plan.

• Use the UC Davis Fire Department’s Self-Inspection Checklist to promote fire prevention awareness and encourage proper preventive behaviors in all department members.

• The Self-Inspection Checklist is also used on an annual basis to confirm that your facilities and operations contain the appropriate fire prevention measures.

• Schedule regular practice sessions for all staff. Contact the Fire Department if you need help organizing a fire drill for your department or unit.

Visit prepare.ucdavis.edu and fire.ucdavis.edu to learn more about fire prevention and emergency response and continuity planning




Even a fire that seems small or insignificant has the potential to cause injury, loss of life and damage to valuable campus facilities. A fire also tells a story after it’s extinguished, providing data that professionals can use to help prevent future incidents.

• ALL FIRES, even small ones that are controlled by a fire extinguisher, or that self-extinguish, must be reported immediately by sounding the alarm and calling 9-1-1.

• Firefighters investigate the circumstances so they can study trends, notify others of potential danger, modify procedures and take other measures to prevent future similar fires.

• If someone is trying to use an extinguisher (only on a fire that is smaller than a 5-gallon wastebasket), they or another person must also sound the fire alarm and call 9-1-1 immediately.

• Don’t be embarrassed to call for help. You will feel much worse if your actions delayed the Fire Department’s response and someone got hurt.

• Concentrate on getting yourself and your co-workers out of the area as efficiently as possible so firefighters can enter.





• Keep fire doors closed at all times. A fire can quickly move from one area of the building to another when fire doors are propped open.

• Do not place anything against or near an emergency exit. Hallways and fire exits must be completely clear of objects that would hamper an evacuation. Exceptions such as water fountains and eye-wash stations must be authorized in writing by the Fire Department.

• Be sure the exits in your area are clearly marked and not obstructed from view.

• If exit signs in your building are not operating properly (i.e. illuminated), contact the Service Request Center at 530-752-1655.

Smoke and toxic byproducts in the air, and general confusion can make it hard to find the exit during a fire. Ordinary objects can become life-threatening obstacles during an evacuation. Don’t take short-cuts on campus procedures concerning storage, clear exit paths and exit doors. It could cost a life.

These pictures are from the same fire, and clearly show the effectiveness of a fire door. With the fire-rated door (left) closed, the interior of the room (right) was destroyed; while the outside hallway remained clear enough for everyone to escape.

* View the UC Davis FireNets “Fire Doors Can Protect You…if They are Used Properly” and “Corridor Storage” at fire.ucdavis.edu for more information.




Fire extinguishers are not the solution for every fire. They should be used with caution. Learn the do’s and don’ts regarding fire extinguishers before you’re called upon to use one! Rule #1: sound the alarm and call 9-1-1, then reach for the fire extinguisher.

• Call for help first, then grab the fire extinguisher! You need to call for help, because even if you manage to put the fire out, it will need to be investigated by Fire Department staff.

• In case you don’t succeed in putting the fire out, the professionals will already be on their way to take care of the problem.

• Only use a fire extinguisher on a fire smaller than a 5-gallon wastebasket. With a fire any larger than that, focus on evacuating the area immediately.

• Take advantage of campus fire extinguisher training. Learn about the different types of fires and which extinguishers to use. Contact 752-4268 or visit fire.ucdavis.edu to schedule staff training.

• Keep your extinguishers up to date, clearly marked and easily accessible. No boxes or furnishings in the way, nothing draped over the extinguisher, etc.

Every moment that you spend trying to fight a fire with a

fire extinguisher shortens the time that people have to evacuate the

building. Only use extinguishers on

fires that are smaller than a five-gallon wastebasket. If the fire is not completely out in a few seconds, forget about the extinguisher and concentrate on

making sure everyone exits the building safely.

In a past incident, an employee used five fire extinguishers before giving up and calling the Fire Department because the person was self-conscious about calling for help. By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had done considerable damage.




The best thing you can do in case of fire is to get safely out of the area so firefighters can enter easily and focus on the fire or other emergency. Help firefighters do their job by:

• Following the “RACE” model: Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish: evacuate the area, sound the fire alarm, close doors to contain the fire, and use a fire extinguisher if appropriate.

• Staying on the line when you call 9-1-1 until the dispatcher tells you it’s ok to hang up. The dispatcher needs complete information to pass along to emergency responders.

• If you decide to use an extinguisher, have someone sound the fire alarm and call 9-1-1 while you’re trying to fight the fire.

• Concentrating on getting yourself and your co-workers out of the area as efficiently as possible.

• Helping those with disabilities or anyone who is injured.

• Moving immediately to the appointed evacuation area so everyone can be accounted for.





Preventing injuries and property loss due to fire is everyone’s responsibility. UC Davis provides a full range of assistance to help your department or unit stay fire-safe.

• FireNets: easy-to-read fire safety and fire prevention bulletins

• Guidelines and regulations

• Emergency evacuation procedures

• Plan Reviews and Building Inspections

• Advice and consultation on creating departmental fire safety plans, coordinating fire drills, and other fire prevention activities

• Non-emergency phone number for questions or assistance: 530-752-1236


• Consultation on setting up departmental Emergency Action & Evacuation Plans (EAPs)

• Assistance in using UC Ready to create a customized operational continuity program

• WARNMe – the automated campus emergency notification system

• Campus-wide comprehensive emergency plan – view it at prepre.ucdavis.edu

• Sign up for safety communications

• Non-emergency phone: 530-754-2559

• Email: [email protected]

UC Davis Emergency/Continuity Planning (prepare.ucdavis.edu) provides:

UC Davis Fire Department (fire.ucdavis.edu) provides:

• SafetyNets: consumer-oriented advisories, guidelines & bulletins

• Timely updates on regulatory and campus safety information

• Information on proper labeling, storage and disposal of hazardous materials and waste

• Assistance in preparing a Chemical Hygiene Plan for your laboratory

• Safety training information

• Reporting an unsafe condition

• Non-emergency phone: 530-752-1493

• Email: [email protected]

UC Davis Environmental Health & Safety (ehs.ucdavis.edu) provides:

uc davis safety services monthly safety spotlight june-july 2010: fire prevention safety discussion...

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