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Office of the Fire Marshal

OFM-TG-06-1998

 
 
Image of the Ontario Fire Marshal Logo
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIRE SAFETY PLANNING
FOR RECYCLING
FACILITIES AND WASTE
PROCESSING OPERATIONS

O

F

M

GUIDELINE

 

 

 


September 1998
 

The reproduction of this guideline for non-commercial purposes is permitted and encouraged. Permission to reproduce the guideline for commercial purposes must be obtained from the Office of the Fire Marshal, Ontario.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION

Abstract

1. Scope

2. Background

2.1   General Requirements For Fire Safety Planning
2.2   What Is A Fire Safety Plan?
2.3   Benefits of Implementing a Fire Safety Plan

3.0 Definitions

4.0 The Ten Step Process

4.1   Step 1 - Conduct a Fire Safety Audit
4.2   Step 2 - Appointment and Organization of Supervisory Staff
4.3   Step 3 - Develop Emergency Procedures
4.4   Step 4 - Fire Drill Procedures and Training
4.5   Step 5 - Maintenance of Building Facilities and Fire Protection Equipment
4.6   Step 6 - Alternate Measures for Temporary Shutdown of Fire Protection Equipment or Systems
4.7   Step 7 - Control of Fire Hazards
4.8   Step 8 - Fire Department Access For Fire Fighting and Related Fire Suppression Information
4.9   Step 9 - Preparing Schematic Diagrams and Site Plans
4.10   Step 10 - Posting Emergency Procedures and Emergency Phone Numbers

5.0 Summary / Implementation / Updating The Fire Safety Plan

APPENDIX A: - Extracts from the Ontario Fire Code

APPENDIX B: - Sample Symbols for Diagrams and Drawings


Acknowledgments


This guideline has been prepared in consultation with the following agencies, organizations and associations:

Association of Municipal Recycling Coordinators
Association of the Chemical Profession of Ontario
Canadian Association of Recycling Industries
Canadian Plastics Industry Association
Emergency Measures Ontario, Ministry of Public Safety and Security
Fire Fighters Association of Ontario
Human Resources Branch, Ministry of Environment
Insurer's Advisory Organization Inc.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Municipal Fire Service Instructors Association
Ontario Automotive Recycler's Association
Recycling Council of Ontario
Occupational Health and Safety Branch, Ministry of Labour
Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs
Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention Officer's Association
Ontario Waste Management Association
Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association
Public Health Branch, Ministry of Health
Solid Waste Association of North America


September, 1998
OFM Section: Fire Safety Standards at (416) 325-3100

The reproduction of this guideline for non-commercial purposes is permitted and encouraged. Permission to reproduce the guideline for commercial purposes must be obtained from the Office of the Fire Marshal, Ontario.

Abstract

This guideline is intended to assist owners and managers of recycling facilities and waste handling operations to develop and implement effective Fire Safety Plans for their businesses. The guide also provides guidance for owners on how to comply with the various aspects of the Ontario Fire Code that apply to their property. The guideline has been designed in an easy to use, step-by-step format, with checklists and examples that can be useful for preparing a comprehensive Fire Safety Plan.

1.0 SCOPE

Fire safety is an important responsibility for everyone. The consequences of poor fire safety practices and lack of emergency planning are especially serious in properties where processes or quantities of stored materials would pose a serious threat to the community and environment.

In an effort to prevent fires and minimize the damage from fires when they occur, owners and operators of recycling operations and waste handling facilities are encouraged to develop and implement Fire Safety Plans for their property.

This document has been developed by the Office of the Fire Marshal in cooperation with various stakeholders (refer to acknowledgments) to provide guidance on how to develop comprehensive Fire Safety Plans for recycling facilities and waste processing operations.

2.0 BACKGROUND

2.1 General Requirements For Fire Safety Planning

A Fire Safety Plan is required under Section 2.8 of the Ontario Fire Code to be prepared, approved and implemented in the following properties: (Refer to Appendix A)

The Fire Code, Ontario Regulation 388/97 is a Provincial Regulation made under Part IV of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, S.O. 1997, c.4. This Regulation states that the owner is responsible for carrying out "all provisions of the Code". An "owner" is defined as, "any person, firm or corporation controlling the property under consideration."

In a court of law, the definition of "owner" could be interpreted to mean the owner whose name is on title (an individual or individuals, a corporation, etc.). "Owner" could also include any other person in control of the property such as an executive officer of a corporation owning the building, administrator, or even a maintenance supervisor. Penalties for non-compliance by an individual can be as high as $25,000 per count and/or imprisonment for up to one year. Penalties for corporations may be a fine of up to $50,000 per count.

Owners, managers and administrators of a recycling or waste handling facility should be intimately familiar with their responsibilities under the Ontario Fire Code, since contravention of any provision can result in a penalty listed above.

In addition to the requirements within the Ontario Fire Code, the local fire department under the provisions of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 may require the owner to develop and implement a Fire Safety Plan.

Owners should be proactive in the area of fire safety by developing and implementing a Fire Safety Plan, even in premises that are not required by law to have one.

Developing and implementing a Fire Safety Plan will demonstrate your interest in promoting fire safety. Resources used in the development of a Fire Safety Plan will return significant benefits by reducing the incidents of fire and the impact of fire.

In most instances, a Fire Safety Plan can be prepared by the owner or an experienced business manager by following the steps outlined in this guideline and in consultation with the local fire department.

In instances where the Fire Safety Plan is required by the Ontario Fire Code or the local fire department, a copy of the plan must be submitted to the Chief Fire Official for approval and be retained on site in an approved location.

Once approved by the Chief Fire Official, the owner is responsible for implementing all aspects of the Fire Safety Plan.

  • the Ontario Fire Code, Ontario Regulation 388/97, and

  • the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, S.O. 1997, c.4

These important reference documents are available at Publications Ontario, 880 Bay Street, Toronto, M7A 1N8, 1-800-668-9938.

This and other important information is also available from the Office of the Fire Marshal Web site by using the following URL: www.ofm.gov.on.ca

2.2 What is a Fire Safety Plan?

A Fire Safety Plan is a detailed document designed to deal with all aspects of fire safety relating to a specific building or property. The document is intended to be a reference manual outlining the fire safety practices to be routinely used. Each fire safety plan should include the following information:

(Review the following information now, and use this checklist as you prepare your fire safety plan to be sure the plan addresses each of these issues. Refer to Appendix A for the actual Fire Code Requirements.)

Every fire safety plan should include:

emergency procedures to be used in case of fire, including: sounding the alarm, notifying the fire department, provisions for access for fire fighting, instructing occupants on procedures to be followed when the fire alarm sounds, evacuating endangered persons, and confining, controlling and extinguishing the fire;

instructions on ways to prevent fires and methods to control fire hazards throughout the
business;

information about the appointment, organization and instruction of designated supervisory
staff and other occupants, including their related fire safety duties and responsibilities;

the method and frequency of conducting fire drills;

detailed maintenance procedures for fire protection systems and building features;

the identification of alternate fire safety measures in the event of a temporary shutdown of fire protection equipment or systems, so that occupant safety can be assured;

instructions and schematic diagrams describing the type, location and operation of building fire emergency systems;

in outdoor tire storage yards include procedures for notifying the fire department and
assisting them in accessing the property for water tanker shuttle operations and fire fighting
purposes.

 

2.3 Benefits of Implementing a Fire Safety Plan

3.0 DEFINITIONS

he following definitions have been copied from the Ontario Fire Code to assist you in understanding the meaning of these words and phrases where they are used in this guideline and in the Regulation. Section 1.2 of the Ontario Fire Code contains definitions for various words and phrases that are used in the Regulation. The definitions are intended to help people understand their meaning in the context of the regulation.

Approved: means approved by the Chief Fire Official.

Building: means any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.

Check: means visual observation to ensure the device or system is in place and is not obviously damaged or obstructed.

Chief Fire Official: means the assistant to the Fire Marshal who is the Municipal Fire Chief or a member or members of the fire department appointed by the Municipal Fire Chief under Subsection 1.1.8. or a person appointed by the Fire Marshal under Subsection 1.1.8.

Combustible Liquid: means any liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8ºC and below 93.3ºC.

Flammable Liquid: means a liquid having a flash point below 37.8ºC and having a vapour pressure not more than 275.8 kPa (absolute) at 37.8ºC as determined by ASTM D 323, "Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid Method)".

Flash Point: means the minimum temperature at which a liquid within a container gives off vapour in sufficient concentration to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the liquid.

Inspect: means physical examination to determine that the device or system will apparently perform in accordance with its intended function.

Owner: means any person, firm or corporation having control over any portion of the building or property under consideration and includes the persons in the building or property.

Supervisory Staff: means those occupants of a building who have some delegated responsibility for the fire safety of other occupants under the fire safety plan and may include the fire department where the fire department agrees to accept these responsibilities.

Test: means the operation of a device or system to ensure that it will perform in accordance with its intended operation or function.

Vapour Pressure: means the pressure exerted by a liquid as determined by ASTM D 323, "Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Product" (Reid Method).

 

4.0 THE TEN STEP PROCESS

Step 1

CONDUCT FIRE SAFETY AUDIT

Identify all fire risks and employee resources

Step 2

APPOINTMENT AND ORGANIZATION OF EMERGENCY SUPERVISORY STAFF

Establish supervisory staff structure and related  responsibilities

Step 3

DEVELOP EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Establish procedures for what to do in case of fire

Step 4

FIRE DRILL PROCEDURES AND TRAINING

Train for effective response

Step 5

MAINTENANCE OF BUILDING FACILITIES AND FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

Check, test and maintain

Step 6

ALTERNATE MEASURES FOR TEMPORARY SHUTDOWN OF FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT OR SYSTEM

What to do when emergency warning or suppression systems are down

Step 7

CONTROL OF FIRE HAZARDS

Avoid, prevent, reduce and control all fire hazards

Step 8

FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCESS FOR FIRE FIGHTING AND RELATED FIRE SUPPRESSION INFORMATION

Meet the needs of your Fire Department

Step 9

PREPARING SCHEMATIC DIAGRAMS AND SITE PLAN

Know your property; be prepared

Step 10

POSTING OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Post the Fire Safety Plan, Emergency Procedures and phone numbers in key locations

 

4.1 Step 1 - Conduct a Fire Safety Audit

The development of a Fire Safety Plan is intended to take into consideration:

Before preparing your Fire Safety Plan, it is suggested that you conduct a fire safety audit of your property using the following check lists. The audit will help you identify those factors affecting fire safety within your property. While conducting the audit, make notes of pertinent information relating to fire safety issues where applicable. This information is needed to develop a useful Fire Safety Plan. The resulting Fire Safety Plan will be a unique document, designed to address your property and its special needs and characteristics. It will ensure the optimum use of staff and all safety features provided.

Auditing Your Property

If your business involves outdoor storage, or processes materials outdoors, begin your audit by examining the exterior of the property first.

Where a Certificate of Approval has been required to satisfy environmental or other purposes, the approval criteria should be re-examined to ensure the site still corresponds with the necessary compliance provisions.

Start by preparing a site drawing. This may help you to gain a better overall view of the fire safety issues affecting the property. The site drawing may become a key element of your fire safety plan. Where necessary the drawing should be made to scale if possible and identify the following;
 

drawing orientation (north, south, east, west)

the property lines

security fences

the use or occupancy of adjoining properties, i.e., residential, industrial, or other and the
approximate distances to closest neighboring buildings

points of entry for fire fighting vehicles

other points of entry

vehicle roadways and fire department access routes suitable for heavy equipment

buildings on site

water supplies, private hydrants, public hydrants, ponds, or reservoirs

outdoor storage areas listing the types and quantities of materials stored at each location

waterways, dikes, drains, sewer and manholes

gas shut off valves or other important isolation valves

 

 
Auditing Your Building(s)

Next, prepare a separate detailed audit for each building on site. Features to examine and identify are (where applicable):

the nature of building construction (combustible or non combustible);

building size by area, (area of each storey and total area);

number of storeys, including basements;

use and occupancy of the building;

fire walls, fire separations

explosion relief vents

fire department access points, including the principal entrance for fire department response;

portable fire extinguishers;

fire alarm system;

sprinkler system;

fire standpipe (hose) system;

fire department pumper connections;

water supply control valves and fire pumps;

exits;

emergency power and lighting equipment;

hazardous processing areas (identifying the nature of the process);

storage areas (identifying type and quantities of materials stored).


Auditing Human Resources

Compile information about the employees on site. This will ensure that all of the emergency procedures are accounted for in the plan.

Identify the number of full time and part time employees who work on site.
Identify the people who work on different shifts, where applicable.
Identify accommodation needs of employees (i.e., physical disabilities, language requirements)
Identify security personnel if security staff are provided.
Compile a list of telephone numbers for use during an emergency, including the building
owner, the manager, supervisor, and other employees.

 

Auditing Materials Stored, Handled or Processed

Depending upon the nature of the business, the materials that are stored, handled or processed on site will vary significantly. Many materials typically processed in a recycling facility or a waste management site are stable and inert and don't pose a problem unless they become exposed to a fire.

Materials that would pose a problem in the event of fire include, but are not limited to:

gases - flammable or inert aerosols;
flammable/combustible liquids;
liquid chemicals, organic oils/solvents;
plastics, any type;
rubber, including tires, whole or shredded;
metals treated with preservatives or oils;
wood and wood containing chemicals;
paper, cardboard.

 

If your business handles or processes any of the materials listed above, refer to the following Sections of the Ontario Fire Code to determine if the activity is regulated:

Section 3.2. - Wood Products

Section 3.3.  - Indoor Tire Storage
                        - Indoor General Storage

Section 3.5. - Salvage Shops and Salvage Yards, General
                        - Piling
                        - Outdoor Tire Storage Yards

Parts 4 - Flammable and Combustible Liquids

Section 5.6 - Compressed Gas Cylinders

Section 5.11 - Combustible Fibres
                        - Storage
                        - Fire Protection

The local fire department may be consulted about any questions or problems that arise during your analysis.


Audit For Fire Hazards

One of the goals of effective fire safety planning is to reduce the frequency of fire. In order to achieve this goal, fire hazards must be identified and preventative measures put in place.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Are the requirements outlined under Part 4 of the Fire Code adhered to for the storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids?

Are the welding and cutting operations carried out in accordance with the requirements of
Section 5.17 of the Fire Code?;

Are the requirements of Section 3.4. of the Fire Code adhered to involving the facilities
industrial trucks?

Are there flammable compressed gasses, combustible dusts, combustible fibres or substances
present that would be prone to spontaneous combustion?

Is there machinery or equipment that produces high temperatures that could be a potential
source of ignition?

 

4.2 Step 2 - Appointment and Organization of Supervisory Staff

The fire safety plan must also include the appointment and organization of designated "supervisory staff" (see definitions) and alternates who are required to be trained to respond to a fire emergency in a predetermined manner. Supervisory staff duties and responsibilities must be outlined in the fire safety plan. The person(s) designated as supervisory staff must be qualified and willing to take on the added duties and responsibilities. The person(s) who is designated as "supervisory staff" does not have to be from management or be a supervisor from the company.

Employee and emergency supervisory staff responses must be well planned in order to reduce the risks from fire. It is essential that supervisory staff understand their responsibilities and are trained to respond to a fire emergency in a prompt, positive, and intelligent manner.

In order for the emergency response portion of the fire safety plan to be effectively implemented, management and every employee must understand the important role they play in promoting fire safety in the workplace. Everyone must be required to adhere to the fire safety practices and procedures. The orientation training program for all employees should include fire safety instructions on:

Depending upon various factors, the Fire Safety Plan may only involve the designation of one or two emergency response supervisory staff. While in larger operations, a more structured emergency response may be detailed in the Fire Safety Plan to include fire wardens who are trained to coordinate the evacuation of specific areas and/or a fire brigade trained and equipped to confine and extinguish a fire.

Owner/Manager Responsibilities for Fire Safety

4.3 Step 3 - Develop Emergency Procedures

The fire safety plan must include emergency procedures to be used in case of fire. This includes:

The procedures for outdoor sites will differ from procedures that should be followed for occupants within buildings.

Sample of Typical Emergency Procedures for all Employees


Upon discovery of fire

Upon Hearing an Alarm of Fire

NOTE:

Sample of Supervisory Staff Duties to be Followed in Event of Fire

4.4 Step 4 - Fire Drill Procedures and Training

Training and practicing fire drills must become an integral part of each facility's preparedness. A fire emergency often generates anxiety and excitement which may create a stressful environment for responders and decision makers. Persons with little training or experience may have difficulty dealing effectively with the emergency.

Fire drill procedures must be prepared in consultation with the fire department. The fire drill procedures must be outlined in the Fire Safety Plan. The fire drill must involve the response of supervisory staff while taking into consideration the response of other employees and people on site or present in the building.

Supervisory staff must be instructed in the fire emergency procedures that are described in the fire safety plan before they are given any responsibility for fire safety. A copy of the fire emergency procedures and other duties outlined in the fire safety plan must be given to all supervisory staff.

Employees should receive training in the safe use of portable fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment. This would include instructions on how to activate and reset the fire alarm system where appropriate.

Staff must be instructed to react quickly to a fire emergency with emphasis placed on promoting and practicing personal safety.

Fire drills must be conducted at least once each year (refer to Appendix A, Subsection 2.8.3.). The date and time of all fire drills, as well as the names of participating staff, must be recorded and be retained for at least one year after the drill.

Other Factors to Consider When Organizing and Conducting Fire Drills

4.5 Step 5 - Maintenance of Building Facilities and Fire Protection Equipment

The fire safety plan must contain a detailed schedule identifying the required checks, inspections and tests (defined words) of all fire safety systems and features provided.

The building owner/manager must:

4.6 Step 6 - Alternate Measures for Temporary Shutdown of Fire Protection Equipment or Systems

Alternative measures are intended to be included in the fire safety plan. The following information outlines some examples of alternative measures. Where possible, all staff should be made aware of temporary shut downs.

The following practices and procedures are provided as a guide:

Temporary Shut Down of Fire Alarm System (example)

Notify all supervisory staff that the fire alarm system is temporarily shut down. A fire watch shall be appointed to conduct a sequential tour of the building in areas normally served by fire detection devices (i.e., rooms or spaces protected by sprinklers, heat detectors, smoke detectors or some other form of fire detection devices). The fire watch individual would record their patrols and also have some means of communication that can be used to notify the fire department in the event of a fire. In the event of fire, efforts should be taken to notify persons in the building that a fire emergency exists.

Temporary Shut Down of Standpipe System (example)

Notify all supervisory staff that the standpipe system is temporarily shut down.

Temporary Shut Down of Sprinkler System (example)

Notify the Fire Department (phone #   ) and all supervisory staff that the sprinkler system is temporarily shut down. The work conducted on the sprinkler system shall be programmed by the contractor to enable the system to be operational as quickly as is possible in the circumstances. Full sprinkler protection shall be restored when work on the system is discontinued. Closed sprinkler valves shall be tagged or marked in an approved manner. (Refer to Ontario Fire Code Subsection 6.5.2.)

While the sprinklers are shut down, a fire watch shall patrol the area until the sprinkler system has been restored. "Hot works" such as welding or cutting, must be prohibited in the area until the sprinkler protection has been restored or have precautions put into place if the "hot works" have to be used.

Temporary Shut Down of Special Extinguishing Systems (example)

Everyone working in an area where a special extinguishing system is shut down and all supervisory staff must be notified.

4.7 Step 7 - Control of Fire Hazards

The owner and/or his or her managers must take the lead role in identifying potential fire hazards and establishing fire prevention practices to eliminate or control the hazard(s) safely. All employees must understand that every precaution is to be taken to minimize accidents and prevent injuries. Employees must be fully trained in the established fire prevention practices and these practices must be adopted by everyone and be fully enforced.

The information collected while preparing the Audit of Materials Stored, Handled or Processed (step one) may reveal a number of potentially hazardous activities that should be rigidly monitored and controlled. The Fire Safety Plan must contain detailed procedures/practices for monitoring and controlling each of the activities. The fire prevention practices should take into account the requirements of applicable regulations and practical fire safety precautions. Employees working in these areas must be trained to carry out the established procedures in order to reduce the risk of fire. Some activities that may create a fire hazard could include, but not be limited to:

handling flammable or combustible liquids
handling or processing compressed gases
welding or cutting
shredding aerosol containers
disposing of vehicle fuel tanks or compressed gas cylinders
refueling or recharging industrial trucks
 

To identify and control common fire hazards, a designated person should perform a weekly walk-through of the facility, examining common areas, storage areas, access routes for fire fighting, stairwells, furnace rooms and other service areas.

Check the following to ensure that potential fire hazards are controlled:

Smoking is restricted to designated areas.
Smoking materials are disposed of with caution and never in combustible containers.
Furnace and electrical service rooms are always kept clear of combustible materials.
Unobstructed access is available to these areas at all times.
Materials or equipment are not stored in exit stairwells.
Fire doors remain closed. Doors must not be wedged open or interfere with the self-closing
device installed on any door.
All appliances used on site meet with appropriate CSA or certified standards.
 

 

4.8 Step 8 - Fire Department Access For Fire Fighting and Related Fire Suppression

Information

Once a fire begins, it spreads rapidly.  For this reason, it is essential that the fire department obtain access to the property as quickly as possible. A designated employee (supervisory staff) must be trained to respond to an emergency to ensure that the fire department can enter the property without delay in order to initiate fire suppression activities. The designated employee must be knowledgeable about the property and processes which take place in it.

Fire emergencies occurring after regular business hours can also lead to a delay in the fire departments' ability to locate the fire and initiate fire suppression activities. Some businesses and fire departments utilize a security "lock box" arrangement to reduce this type of delay. In the absence of on-site personnel, the fire department can obtain prompt access to keys to permit prompt entry and to other important information.

In addition to providing access for fire fighting, the fire department may also request other important information about the property and its contents when they arrive.

For example, the fire department may request a current inventory of materials that are stored and/or processed on site to be prepared and be retained for reference during an emergency. Many materials stored or processed on site are stable and inert, however if they become involved in a fire, they can pose serious risks to emergency responders and to the surrounding community. The inventory would identify the location, type and quantities of materials present. It could also contain information about the properties of the materials, identify the combustion by-products, fire fighting techniques and other relevant factors. This type of information can often be obtained by referring to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or from other sources. This information should be kept readily available for the fire department reference along with the instructions and schematic diagrams described in Step 9. Ask the local fire department what information would be useful to them during an emergency.

Other factors to take into consideration may include but not be limited to:

Establish procedures for notifying supervisory staff of an emergency so that they can respond promptly to the site after regular business hours.

Identify fire department access problems that could be created due to seasonal climatic conditions.

Establish procedures to prevent obstructions to fire fighting created by site machinery or due to temporary obstructions created by materials placed in aisles or roadways.

Establish procedures to gain access to other critical areas in a building or to fire equipment in a shared industrial complex (i.e., gas shut off, fire protection control valves, etc.)
 

 

4.9 Step 9 - Preparing Schematic Diagrams and Site Plans

The Ontario Fire Code Clause 2.8.2.1. (h) requires, "instructions, including schematic diagrams, describing the type, location and operation of building emergency systems" to be prepared for use by responding supervisory staff and fire fighters during an emergency.

Where the property is large, or there are outdoor activities that may pose a fire or access problem, a site drawing should also be prepared and incorporated in the fire safety plan. (Use the checklist provided in step one auditing your property and building.) When preparing the schematic diagrams and site plan, ensure that the information is useful and simple.

Refer to Appendix B for a legend of sample symbols which could be used to standardize the various elements that are identified on the drawings. Also remember to include a compass type of orientation symbol (North arrow).

In addition to the schematic diagrams, an inventory of materials and a site drawing would be extremely useful during an emergency. Information of this nature is not required by the Ontario Fire Code, however the information would be very useful for fire fighters to refer to in the event of a fire. Consult with the local fire department to determine the nature of the drawings that should be prepared and incorporated into your fire safety plan.

4.10 Step 10 - Posting Emergency Procedures and Emergency Phone Numbers

Every telephone should have the fire department telephone number and the business’ name and address prominently posted close by for reference during an emergency.

The emergency procedures must be clearly posted in each storey of every building.

A copy of the Fire Safety Plan must be kept in an approved location.

The schematic diagrams, instructions and related information about the property should be readily accessible to responding fire department personnel in an emergency.

In outdoor tire storage yards, the telephone number of the fire department and location of the nearest telephone must be prominently posted and maintained at the storage yard.

A current list of emergency phone numbers should also be prepared and be appended to the fire safety plan for ease of reference during or after an emergency.
 

 

The emergency phone numbers could include but not be limited to:

In addition, if your business contains materials or substances that would pose a risk to the environment or community in the event of fire, the following phone numbers should also be kept readily available for reference during an emergency.



5.0 SUMMARY / IMPLEMENTATION / UPDATING THE FIRE SAFETY PLAN

To derive the full benefit of your Fire Safety Plan:

Implement all aspects of the Fire Safety Plan.

Ensure that all employees are trained in the procedures to take upon discovery of fire or upon
hearing an alarm of fire.

Ensure that all employees are trained in the precautions and procedures required to be taken
to control and eliminate fire hazards.

Conduct required fire drills and train the designated supervisory staff to respond to a fire or
an alarm of fire in a prompt and safe manner.

Schedule and perform the required maintenance of the fire safety features provided in your building as required.

Routinely update relevant information pertaining to changes in the inventory of site materials for the fire fighters reference during an emergency.

At least once a year, review the contents of Fire Safety Plan to ensure that it remains current.

Consult with the local Chief Fire Official if you plan to make any changes to the Fire Safety
Plan.
 

Appendix B

Sample Symbols for Diagrams and Drawings

Sample Symbols