What is a fire safety plan?
A fire safety plan is a detailed document that covers all aspects of fire safety for a specific building or property. The plan will outline:
- A safe and orderly way for occupants to evacuate the building.
- Proper maintenance and housekeeping required to prevent fires.
- Methods of control that minimize the damage from fires when they do occur.
Fire safety plans are often required by your local Fire Code, especially for certain buildings and occupancy rates. Check with your jurisdiction, municipality, or local fire department for further information. Some municipalities and/or fire departments may prefer that a template or standard format be used by all businesses in their area to help when they have to respond to emergencies.
What should be included in the fire safety plan?
Plans should be specific to the property or business. Conducting an audit or review of the property or business will help identify factors that could affect fire safety. Items in this audit include site layout, points of entry/exit, roadways, use of the building, where and how items are stored, how items are used, water or fire department connections, alarm/sprinkler systems, and many other factors.
While specific requirements may vary by jurisdiction, in general, a fire safety plan should include:
- Emergency procedures to be used in case of fire, including how to:
- sound the alarm,
- notify the fire department, building or business officials, or other designated staff as specified in the plan (e.g., all telephones on site should have the emergency phone numbers listed and the address of the property posted close by),
- evacuate occupants (e.g., procedures occupants should follow when the fire alarm sounds),
- evacuate persons who may need assistance, and
- confine, control, and extinguish the fire where possible.
- How, and how often fire drills will be conducted.
- Information for any designated staff who have been given fire safety duties and responsibilities.
- Organization, education, and training for staff with fire safety duties.
- Information and actions to take to prevent or control fire hazards for that building or business, where appropriate.
- Other staff education and training that may be necessary.
- Detailed maintenance procedures for fire protection systems.
- Diagrams and instructions about the type, location, and operation of any fire or emergency systems.
- Identification of alternative fire safety measures.
- Allow fire department access to the building and to the fire location within the building.
What can be included in typical fire safety plans for all employees?
Fire safety plans should provide employees or building occupants with the instructions they need to leave the building (or respond as appropriate) in the event of a fire. Examples of content for the plan may include instructions such as:
If you discover a fire:
- Leave the fire area immediately.
- Activate the fire alarm and/or alert other staff.
- If safe to do so, assist anyone in immediate danger.
- Close all doors behind you to confine the fire.
- Use exit stairwells to leave the building.
If you hear a fire alarm:
- Shutdown process/equipment (as preplanned, where applicable).
- Leave the building immediately.
- Close all doors behind you to confine the fire.
- Use exit stairwells to leave the building.
- If designated with fire emergency duties, carry out pre-planned procedures if safe to do so.
In the event of a fire:
- Do not use the elevator(s).
- Do not re-enter the building until the fire marshal or respective supervisory staff announces that it is safe to do so.
What are some examples of fire protection measures?
Items to be considered include:
Fire Protection Measures |
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Fire safety plan, and fire protection systems |
Examples |
Does the fire safety plan include, at minimum, the following items? |
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Has the fire safety plan been communicated to every employee or occupant? |
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What information is needed when calling for emergency services? |
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Are designated employees given the education and training required to perform assigned duties? |
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Are appropriate inspections conducted? |
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Fire doors/exits, Lighting |
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Are emergency exits and fire extinguishers accessible? |
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Are fire doors installed and maintained properly? |
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Is appropriate emergency lighting in place? |
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Fire Extinguishers |
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Are fire extinguishers clearly marked? |
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Are fire extinguishers properly installed? |
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Are fire extinguishers inspected regularly? |
For more information about portable fire extinguishers, please refer to the “Fire Extinguishers – Portable” OSH Answers document. |
Are smoke and fire alarms in place? |
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What is an example of fire hazard audit/checklist?
The examples outlined below do not list all the possible items that may be a fire hazard. The best checklist for your workplace is one that has been developed for your specific needs. You can add or delete information in this checklist to match your workplace.
Use the checklist and answer yes or no to the questions. Follow up any “no” answers with corrective action. Possible controls as suggestions for corrective actions are also given.
Fire Hazard Audit/Checklist |
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Hazard Question |
Possible Controls |
Ignition Sources |
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Has the workplace taken fire safety precautions for operations that have exposed flames? |
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Are all sources of ignition identified? |
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Are operations involving hot work such as welding, grinding or cooking considered as potential source of fire hazard? |
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Has the use of a space heater been identified as a fire hazard? |
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Electrical |
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Is all wiring installed properly and appropriate to the current or voltage ratings? |
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Chemical Storage, Handling, Distribution, Dispensing |
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Is an inventory of all flammable and combustible materials available? |
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Are precautions for flammable and combustible materials taken? |
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Are precautions taken when dispensing containers of flammable liquids that generate static or sparks? |
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Are flammable and combustible materials stored and used in a safe manner? |
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