Fire Safety Basic Concepts

1
Fire Safety Basic Concepts

• For Office, Facility, and Laboratory Employees
• Tulane University
• October 2006

2
Objectives

• To identify emergency and non-emergency telephone
  numbers for campus resources
• To present the fire triangle and products of
  combustion
• To present fire prevention and preparation
  concepts
• To review fire response, evacuation, use and
  types of fire extinguishers

3
Campus Resources

• Office of Environmental Health Safety (OEHS)
• Uptown 865-5307 Downtown and all other
  locations 988-5486
• Public Safety
• Uptown Campus - Emergency 865-5200 or 5200 (on
  campus)
• Non-Emergency 865-5381
• TUHSC Emergency 988-5555 or 55555 (on campus)
• Non-Emergency 988-5531
• TNPRC Emergency 871-6411 or 6411 (on campus)
• Non-Emergency 871-6628
• All others dial 911

4
Campus Resources

• Maintenance issues notify Facilities Services
• Uptown Campus Emergency 865-5445
• Non-emergency submit via http//servicewave.tul
  ane.edu include name, room location, specific
  issue
• Downtown Campus - 988-5424
• TNPRC 871-6414
• Other locations check with supervisor

5

• Oxygen, heat/ignition source, fuel must be
  present for fire to occur.
• Fuels can be in form of solid, liquid or gas.
• Ignition sources ex., smoking materials,
  candles, appliances

6
Products of Combustion

• Heat
• Flame
• Smoke
• Toxic gases

7
Before Its A Fire(Fire Prevention)

• Fire Safety Guidelines
• Do not use unapproved appliances.
• Candles, incense, etc. are prohibited.
• Refrain from tampering with or attaching items to
  fire safety equipment, ex. Fire extinguishers,
  smoke detectors, sprinklers, fire alarm panels,
  etc.
• Evacuate the building when the fire alarm sounds
• When preparing food, do not leave microwave,
  stove, or oven unattended.

8
Before Its A Fire(Fire Prevention)

• Report/address unsafe conditions.
• Exit signs not illuminated, missing or damaged
• Hallway or room doors poor repair, not latching
  or self-closing properly
• Stairwells doors blocked open or not latching,
  storage
• Corridors trip hazards, obstructions, storage
• Fire alarm pull stations, horns or strobes
  blocked

9
Before Its A Fire(Preparation)

• Know actions to take.
• Know exit locations (at least two ways out).
• Learn to use/locate fire extinguishers.

10
Before Its A Fire(Preparation)

• Emergency Action Plan
• Assists in conducting safe/effective evacuations
• Developed/being developed for each building
• Designates an assembly location for each
  building.
• Staff training

11
Fire Response

• If you discover the fire, follow the acronym
  ESCAPE.
• Evaluate the situation.
• Secure the Area - Remove occupants from the
  immediate area.
• Close the room doors to contain the fire or
  smoke.
• Activate the fire alarm using manual pull
  station.
• Phone public safety
• Uptown campus - 865-5200 (ext 5200), Downtown
  campus - 988-5555 (ext 55555), TNPRC 871-6411
  (ext 6411), Other locations dial 911
• Extinguish the fire using a portable fire
  extinguisher, as appropriate.

12
Portable Fire Extinguishers

• To use them, remember PASS
• Pull the pin
• Aim the nozzle at the base
• of the fire
• Squeeze the handle, and
• Sweep the fire from side to
• side

13
Fire extinguisher classifications correspond to
the classes of fire that can be extinguished by
that extinguisher.A ordinary combustibles B
flammable liquids C energized electrical
equipment D combustible metals K Cooking
oils fats
14
Fire Response

• When you hear the fire alarm.
• DSRs and/or Supervisors
• Advise occupants in your department to evacuate.
  Ask them to close and lock their office doors and
  take belongings, if possible.
• Assist Special Needs persons in your department
• Evacuate building using the nearest stairwell or
  ground floor exit
• Account for all persons make sure that everyone
  is out of the building

15
Fire Response

• When you hear the fire alarm.
• DSRs and/or Supervisors (continued)
• Report to TU Public Safety or Police
• Location of fire/alarm activation
• Conditions smoke, flames, heat, toxic gases
• Evacuation status occupants Special Needs
  persons
• Assemble at the designated location
• Do not re-enter until All Clear is issued by TU
  Public Safety or Police.

16
Fire Response

• When you hear the fire alarm.
• Occupants - Evacuate immediately.
• Use the nearest stairwell or ground floor exit.
• Assemble at the designated location.
• Once out, stay out.
• Do not re-enter until All Clear is issued by
  TUDPS or TUHSC Police.

17
Tulane UniversityOffice of Environmental Health
Safety (OEHS)www.som.tulane.edu/oehsUptown
Karen Douglas, OEHS, 865-5307, kdougla1_at_tulane.edu
Downtown Susan Welch, OEHS, 988-3996,
swelch_at_tulane.edu
If unable to proceed to quiz, type the link below
into your browserhttp//aurora.tcs.tulane.edu/ehs
/enterssn.cfm?testnum3
Proceed to Quiz