Chapter 12

Fire Protection, Safety, and Emergency Planning.

Goal: To emphasize the importance of having adequate fire/safety protection and quality emergency planning as elements of a complete protection program.

Objectives:

• Discuss the nature of fire, the by-products of fire, the classes of fire and the types of extinguisher appropriate for each.
• Explain the general provisions, standards of OSHA
• Discuss the factors to be considered when developing a safety program.
• Identify and explain the types of emergencies, the elements of an emergency plan, and security responsibilities during emergencies.

Lecture:

Hazardous materials exist to some degree in every work and home environment. These include light combustible materials-wood shavings, cotton, paper and the like. Here are also combustible dusts, liquids, flammable gasses, materials subject to spontaneous heating and ignition, and explosive materials, acids and oxidizing agents, just to name a few. This fact alerts us to the importance of developing safety programs in our facility. No facility protection program is complete without clear, well-defined policies and programs confronting the possible threat of fire or any other natural or man- made disaster. For us, we must learn the nuts and bolts: an awareness of what to look for. Critical to this effort is a fire prevention and safety program for all employees as well as plans for emergencies. This last is critical for security. It is essential to develop plans for an Emergency (disruption of the normal course of business), and Disaster (an event causing destruction of life or property). As discussed in previous chapters, the security director must make reasonable estimates of vulnerabilities to the facility as well as other reasonable contingencies. As such, security personnel must be as aware and attentive to the safety side of the facility as to the criminal side. It is important to know the properties and types of fires in order to respond correctly and swiftly. Again, a good survey will help determine these concerns and their extent.

Having said the above, by now you all know that the Security department does not operate in a vacuum - in the areas of fire prevention/protection, safety, and environmental hazards, the Security Manager will be coordinating with in-house or local public sector fire departments, the Safety organization (in some companies the Security and Safety functions are combined), the Environmental office, and perhaps Human Resources and the Medical department. And, of course, you'll work with the the production, sales, logistics and other departments. You will also be involved with the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). These committees exist in every state and are normally connected to the county you are in. For example, where I work, we are in Box Elder county and I am a member of the Box Elder County LEPC. We meet once a month and share hazard and response information. Since 9-11 much of what we discuss is how well we are prepared for a terrorist event, especially one involving the possibility of a HAZMAT-type event, such as some mass poisoning or similar event. We always have our state Homeland Security reps present and we receive info from them on the various training programs open to emergency responders. (LEPCs are required by a law known as EPCRA, or Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know. This law keeps some guy from starting up a dynamite factory in your town without you knowing and having a say in the matter.)

You should know the following:

OSHA - Occupational Health and Safety Act (of 1970)- this law makes it a requirement that employers provide a safe working environment. (OSHA is also the name of the Occupational Health and Safety Agency, a US government agency that regulates and enforces the law. Some states, such as Utah, have their own state "OSHA.")

NFPA- National Fire Protection Association. This outfit puts out codes that deal with fire prevention and protection.

Fire prevention - avoiding fires. Usually done through a rigorous inspection and education program.

Fire protection - defending against fires. Fighting fires to keep them from spreading.

"Fireproof"- no such thing when it comes to buildings. Example: World Trade Center.

Fire resistant - degree of protection or delay before fire takes over.

Fire triangle - heat; fuel; oxygen. Eliminate one side of the triangle and the fire is prevented or extinguished.

Fire byproducts - heat; smoke (often the cause of death); gas (another frequent cause of death); explosion; panic (this is why people often jump from high levels of a building that is on fire).

Classes of fire extinguishers - A, B, C, D. See the differences on pages 272-273. Extinguishers require an inspection and training program! Employees should never be able to use these except for very small beginning stage fires, such a a smoldering trash can. Even in this case, after the extinguisher is used, you should normally call the fire department to make sure you have noting spreading.

Safety - involves areas such as Workmen's Compensation; OSHA requirements; hazard communication or HAZCOM- this program tells employees and customers what hazards are involved in areas, equipment, products, etc.; MSDS or Material Safety Data Sheets- part of HAZCOM. Usually there is a label on the product that defines the hazards related to a particular commodity. If not on the container it is always available from the manufacturer, usually through a 1-800 number or Web site.

Emergency/Disaster Planning - often the responsibility of the Security Manager. This is a plan, usually written, that provides the following info regarding response to emergency or disaster:

Authority (who is in charge; usually called the Incident Commander or Emergency Commander)

Chain of Command

Communication

Call lists

Resources

Procedures

Training and Exercises

 

Assignment: answer question 1 on page 240.

Note: We will not be doing Chapter 13. Therefore there isn't a lecture or assignment. Go on to Chapter 14.