By ex4100
The firehouse. To many of us it’s like a second home. Some of us spend more time here than we do at our day jobs. Whether your firehouse is a single apparatus substation, or serves as your headquarters and houses 12 pieces of apparatus and equipment, you must always be aware of the hazards that may exist.
Injuries can happen in an unsafe firehouse just as easily as they might occur on the fireground. So let’s talk about some of the things we should be doing to ensure that the firehouse is safe place to “live” and work.
Capture your CO
Each time a piece of fire apparatus is started it releases a big black cloud of diesel soot. Those dangerous fumes contain carbon monoxide (
CO), also known as the “silent killer.” Your apparatus room should be equipped with an exhaust system capable of capturing and removing those fumes before they get into your lungs. In the absence of such a system, the bay doors of the apparatus room must remain open long enough after the apparatus is shut down to allow for the fumes to dissipate into the outside air. The fire service responds to hundreds, if not thousands, of carbon monoxide emergencies each year, so let’s practice what we preach and perform safely. Also, make sure that there are carbon monoxide detectors strategically located at or near all of the entrances into the truck room from any other areas such as bathrooms, lounges, or administrative offices.
Check your bay doors
Continuing with the apparatus room area we should make sure that the apparatus doors are equipped with safety features such as an electronic eye that causes the door to automatically rise in the event someone [or something] is in the door’s path as it is coming down. This feature should be checked often; perhaps weekly or even daily to ensure it is working properly. The doors also should be equipped with chains to manually raise or lower them in the event of a power outage or other problem. There is nothing worse than trying to get out for an alarm and not being able to raise the door to get the apparatus out.
See the light
Lighting in the apparatus room should be adequate enough to illuminate all areas when someone enters the room. Proper lighting will prevent collision injuries and falls caused by the inability to see obstacles in your path. Whether yours are automatic sensor switches or flip switches, make sure there’s a switch at EVERY entrance to the apparatus room, and that the lights are on when any personnel are in there performing their duties. Energy-efficient, low-wattage sodium lights are a smart alternative for keeping the room lit around the clock. In addition to your “regular” lighting, your firehouse should be equipped with “emergency” lighting. Emergency lighting is just that; lighting to be used in the event there is an emergency such as a power outage. Check emergency lighting for operation weekly by pressing your system’s “test” switch. This will ensure that the bulbs are working and that the unit is ready to perform when needed. The final lighting issue concerns the proper installation and operation of egress lighting. Exit signs should be prominently located to direct people to the exits in the event of an emergency. This lighting should be tested weekly or monthly as well. The best way to test all of your backup systems is to run the building’s back up generator at least once each week.
Stay on your feet
In order to prevent slips and falls, make sure all floors are clean, dry and free from any substance[s] that may increase the chances of falling. Don’t leave it up to the janitor or the probie:
if you walk by a spill and the next guy slips and falls, his injury is on you. In the apparatus room identify and clean up all oil and/or transmission fluid leaks by using an absorbent such as Speedy Dry. Lying water is also just as dangerous; therefore, address all leaks and make repairs accordingly. Keep a spill kit available that contains what is needed to clean up any hazardous substances that have ended up on the apparatus room floor. Other slipping hazards can be found in restrooms and on stairwells. Make sure “wet floor” signs are prominently placed while floor cleaning is being performed. All stairs should have a slip proof substance on the treads and the edges should be painted with a bright color to increase visibility in situations where there may only be decreased lighting available.
Safely store your hazardous materials
In addition to keeping a spill kit available to contain and clean up any hazardous substance that winds up on the floor, you can PREVENT spills by storing your chemicals properly in the first place. All solvents, oils and cleaners should be sealed in their containers and placed in a steel cabinet with a door that closes and latches. That storage cabinet should be placarded accordingly. Gasoline should be stored in a well ventilated area and, whenever possible, stored outside of the firehouse [such as in a shed or under a covered porch area]. All rags that are used in conjunction with these chemicals should be kept in a covered metal pail to avoid any auto ignition situation that may occur.
Control your cylinders
The firehouse contains many various pressurized cylinders that we use to perform our job. Make sure all oxygen cylinders are properly secured where they may be located; either on the apparatus or in the store rooms. Your stationary refill system should be secured to a stationary wall and the room should be well ventilated. Proper placards should be placed to identify its presence. All spare
SCBA bottles should be stored properly as well and the refilling system should be secured and properly identified. Finally, often overlooked are the CO2 canisters used to charge the soda systems in the lounge area. Store and secure these properly.
Keep AEDs at the ready
Probably the most important safety device that should be available in the firehouse is an Automatic External Defibrillator [
AED]. Each fire station should have an
AED available for use in the event an occupant of the building suffers a sudden cardiac arrest. Sure, you have them on the buses and perhaps on other apparatus, but what if those apparatus are on a run?
Wear your protection
Proper safety equipment should be available to members who may be using tools in the truck room. Bench grinders should have eye protection and gloves available in the immediate vicinity. Emergency eye wash stations should be prominently and conspicuously placed and marked as to be readily available if needed.
Take out the trash!
Finally, an often overlooked hazard is something that we take for granted everyday: garbage. Any and all garbage receptacles should be emptied regularly. Discarded food products and beverages that sit for long periods of time will not smell too good and will ultimately attract rodents who only come around to get a free meal. [Hmmm, that sounds familiar, doesn’t it?]
If you see something, do something.
Don’t walk past a potentially dangerous situation and do nothing. Safety is everyone’s job, all the time! Fix it, or tell someone who can fix it, so you can prevent an injury to someone; maybe even yourself.
#
“ex4100” is an Ex-Chief of the Lakeview Fire Department and a former EMT-CC/R.N., as well as a Nassau FD Rant moderator.
How safe is your "home away from home"
Linear Mode
