Fire safety
Fire safety means having measures and practices in place to prevent or reduce the impact of an uncontrolled fire and loss of life or property.
Major causes of fires in factories
- Electrical short circuit
- Use of faulty or low-quality electrical wiring or devices
- Boiler and transformer explosion
- Inappropriate storage of flammable liquids and chemicals
- Welding near combustible materials
- Too much heat from the production machinery
- Using kitchen stoves carelessly
Escape and rescue plan
Raise an alarm when noticing a fire.
Stay calm and evacuate rooms immediately and swiftly whenever a fire alarm is sounded. Do not pick up any personal items.
Use the nearest possible exit to leave the building.
Before opening an exit door, feel it with the back of your hand. If the door is hot, do not open it.
Do not use any lifts.
Help disabled or helpless people to escape.
Go to the assembly point and inform your supervisor that you are safe.
Evacuation
If you see or sense smoke during your evacuation, stay low near the ground and cover your mouth and nose using a cloth as a filter.
Do not run if your clothes catch fire! Drop to the ground instead and roll around while covering your face with your hands until the fire is extinguished.
If you are trapped, quickly close the doors between you and the fire to stop smoke and other dangerous fumes from entering the room.
Keep first aid items and medical equipment handy nearby for quick access in case of a building evacuation.
Call for help
Once you are out and safe, call the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence (02223355555 or 999) and ask for emergency services.
Questions asked by the fire services:
- Who is calling?
- Where is the accident/emergency?
- What has happened? Fire, explosion, etc.
- Are people injured? How many?
Wait for further questions from the fire service.
Emergency exits
There should be at least two exits in each room of the factory building where more than 20 people are working.
There should be at least two durable and separate staircases made of fire-resistant materials inside and outside the building to escape from every floor.
Each escape way should be kept unobstructed and unlocked during working hours.
Emergency exit plan
Each floor of the factory should have one (or more) dedicated and highly visible spots to display emergency exit plans.
An emergency lighting system should be maintained at all the exit points and staircases.
Fire detection and alarm system must be functioning properly.
There should be sufficient fire-fighting equipment available, as required by law.
Fire safety trainings
Minimum 18% of the workers in each department must be trained on fire-fighting, emergency rescue operation, first aid and the use of portable fire-fighting instruments.
Factories employing more than 500 staff must hire a trained officer to ensure maintenance of all fire-fighting equipment and arranging trainings for the three teams (fire-fighting, rescue and first aid) every six months.
Factories employing at least 500 staff must ensure that a fire drill takes place at least every six months.
should be 50 as per the original document
What you can do to ensure fire safety
Comply with smoking prohibitions and regulations for welding and fire operations.
Do not modify any fire protection measures, e.g. do not keep fire doors open by using wedges.
Inform the management on a regular basis about any potential source or threat of fire.
Remember locations and spots where fire-fighting tools are deposited.
Do not block the escape and rescue routes and do not use them as storage areas. Always keep walkways unobstructed.
Quickly evacuate the room of your workstation as soon as you hear the fire alarm.
Do not try to be a hero. But if you are a member on a trained team, you should be able to put out an arising fire.