July-August 1994  - 
Special Fire Safety Edition
 
	While various fire-related articles have appeared in past issues
of the Department of Occupational and Environmental Safety (DOES)
newsletter, there has yet to be collected in one place a compilation
of the fire issues affecting the campus community from a safety point of view. 
Therefore, this entire edition of the DOES newsletter will be devoted to 
fire safety and fire concerns on campus.
 	
	Articles  include:

how to recognize and reduce fire hazards in the dorm
and laboratory 
fire protection issues such as fire doors, extinguishers,
fire drills, and what to do in case of a fire.
  
	Fire is a very serious and life-threatening possibility, and we
urge everyone to take the time to familiarize themselves with the
important fire-related issues covered in this edition of the
newsletter.  If you have questions that aren't addressed here, please
call DOES at x2907.

Campus Fire Hazards

	While in general there may be more chance of fire during the
holiday season, fires can erupt anytime or anywhere there are fire
hazards present.  Below are some potential fire-starters and some
tips on how to help keep your laboratory or residence hall fire-free.

Smoking

	Don't smoke in bed or near flammable materials.  Use large
ashtrays and be sure ashes, matches and cigarette ends are cold
before you dump them.  Don't smoke while intoxicated.

Electrical Abuse

	Use of "octopuses" to obtain more outlets can result in
overloaded circuits.    Make sure that you match your appliance
power requirements to the circuit power.   Extension cords should be
limited to temporary use.

Trash Storage

	Dispose of all waste as soon as possible.  Waste material should
be stored in a safe place, not in corridors or stairways.

Obstacles in Exitways

	Storing bikes, chairs, desks, and other items in exitways is
prohibited.  Blocked exitways during emergencies have caused
pileups of fallen people and increase chances of injury or death.

Open Flames

	Be very careful with open flames in the lab.  Candles or Bunsen
burners should never be left unattended.  If you leave, even for a
moment, put out the flame.  Open flames are not allowed in residence
halls.

Flammable Liquids

	Gasoline, paint, glue, ether, etc., may not be stored in
residential buildings.  In labs, storage of flammable liquids should be
limited to specific quantities and containers.

Alcohol or Drugs

	While these substances may not start the fire themselves,
people become much more careless under the influence, and that
carelessnessÑwith cigarettes, matches, or candlesÑmay start a fire.
	In addition, the use of alcohol or drugs can make you especially
vulnerable during a fire to being killed by smoke inhalation.  You
cannot smell smoke when you are asleep, and even healthy young
people may not be able to escape from a fire while intoxicated.  You
may not wake up in time, or you may have difficulty finding the
exits.

Fire Safety on Campus:  Prevention and Protection

	At CWRU, the Department of Occupational and Environmental
Safety  is responsible for implementing and administering programs
for fire safety and protection.  The goal of these programs is to
provide a campus environment that is as safe from fire hazards as
reasonably possible.  While every attempt is made to reduce fire
hazards, possibility for fires still exists.  Therefore, it is necessary to
provide controls to minimize the potential for loss of life and/or
injury in the event of a fire. This article will define some fire-related
terms and will briefly discuss the prevention and protection
programs in place on campus.

Fire Prevention

	Fire safety involves two main areas:  fire prevention and fire
protection.  Fire prevention concerns controlling flammable and
combustible materials and sources of ignition (how much exists,
where they are on campus, how they are handled, how they are
stored).  In order to prevent a fire, potential sources must be
eliminated or contained.  All fire prevention programs in place on
campus strive to do these thingsÑidentify the fire hazards and either
eliminate or reduce them.

	Programs on campus designed to identify these hazards
include:   in-house DOES inspections, a building monitor program, and
outside fire department inspections.  Special attention is paid to high
hazard areas (like laboratories) and resident halls.

Fire Protection
 
	Fire protection takes over when prevention does not work.  If
prevention were 100% effective, protection would not be necessary.
However, since this is not possible, protection systems are also in
place.  These systems can prevent a small fire from getting large and
warn occupants of buildings of the fire.  These protection systems
include:

	
alarm systems  which give occupants of university buildings
"early warning" in the event of the fire.  It is the university's policy
to provide fire alarm systems in all buildings.  These are installed to
meet all state and local fire codes and are tested regularly in
accordance with these codes.   Alarm systems are tested twice per
year by an outside service contractor, the records of which are on file
with University Security.
 
	
portable fire extinguishers can also prevent small fires from
getting large when handled by a person trained in its use.  Each
building is equipped with portable fire extinguishers that are
inspected annually by an outside service contractor.  Any
extinguisher needing service will be removed and a replacement one
will be put in its place.  These records are on file in the DOES.

	
automatic fixed station fire extinguishing systems are
provided for specific high hazards areas.  These include cooking areas
(dormitory  or dining hall kitchens), areas where considerable
amounts of flammable liquids are used, and places where highly
complex and costly electronic or computer equipment is stored.
These systems operate automatically from heat sensors or fusible
links and may be manually activated by pull stations.   They are
inspected bi-annually by an outside service contractor.

	
automatic sprinkler systems are in place in a very few
buildings.  Many more buildings have hoses and standpipes.  These
systems are tested and maintained by Plant Services.

	
fire drills  are conducted to familiarize building occupants
with emergency evacuation procedures.  An alarm activation should
be considered a university order for evacuation; all occupants must
evacuate and should not  re-enter until advised to do so by the
person in charge.  Fire drills are conducted by DOES and assisted by
Security, bi-annually in residence halls and annually for all other
buildings (see related article on page 3).


	The policies and programs outlined above are designed to
reduce and control fire hazards.  No "program" or "system" is perfect,
however, and the possibility of a fire occurring is very real, as we
have witnessed over the past few years.  Recognizing and eliminating
potential fire hazards are the best ways to reduce the chances of a
fire occurring; knowing how to respond if a fire does occur is vital to
getting through it safely.

Chemical "Unknowns":  How Fire Can Erupt

	It is vital that researchers label working samples of chemicals in the lab
with not only their name but with the chemical compounds as well.  Two
years ago, an unknown (unlabeled) chemical, left on a storage shelf after the
previous researcher, dried out and began a reaction that forced the evacuation
of the entire Medical School and could have easily exploded or burst into
flames.

	Unfortunately, old chemicals left on lab storage shelves "for the next
guy" are one of the biggest and most expensive problems new lab personnel
can have.  If they are unknowns, they must be disposed of as hazardous waste,
since it costs more for analysis than for disposal.  Instead of incurring the cost,
researchers usually let these unknowns sit on their shelves, becoming
potentially hazardous, reactive or flammable.

	The answer to this problem with seemingly no good solution is simple:
when you put your name on working samples, add the chemical constituents
as well.  Put them on even if the solutions are innocuous, such as water or
salt solutions, because even though you know they are not dangerous, you
also might forget to toss it out when you are done; you might even forget
yourself what's in it.
	
	Also, be sure all labels are securely attached; the most detailed
description of chemical breakdown on a label does no good if the label falls
off.

	Chemical inventories from all researchers are now required so that
situations like this involving unknowns can be discovered and taken care of
as soon as possible.  If you have not done a chemical inventory recently,
DOES urges you to go through your stock now, looking for any bottles with
damaged or missing labels.  The potential for fire or explosion is very real
when unknowns are on hand, and though reactions may seem unlikely, we
have witnessed first-hand the destruction from just such a chemical.

Using Electricity Safely

	Electricity is something so taken for granted that we stop wondering
whether a piece of equipment is safe very soon after we turn it on.  If it works,
it must be OK.  But there are many things to consider when using electricity
in the laboratory  since interruptions of electricity often harm or ruin
experiments. Even more serious is the possibility of fire, which can occur
when electrical connections go awry.  Therefore, periodic checking of your
electrical equipment, as well as keeping in mind the following suggestions,
can help  maintain the highest levels of laboratory safety.

	
All electrical equipment  or  apparatus used in the lab must be
suitable for use and for its location.  Open frame motors, exposed heating
elements, or anything else that can generate a spark should not be used with
or near any procedures using flammable/combustible liquids.
	
The equipment must be in good condition.  Power cords,
connecting cables, and wiring should not have any worn or frayed insulation
or bare wires.   Power plugs and sockets must be securely fastened to the
wiring and there should be no splices.
	
Safety features, fuses, thermostats, grounds, overheat
sensing/cutoff devices tipover switches, etc. must be in place and working.
 Never try to bypass using these or other safety features.
	
Multitap adapters and extension cords shouldn't  be used since
they may overload circuits.  Don't use more electrical equipment than the
room's/building's electrical system can safely handle.
	
"Custom made" equipment must conform to good electrical safety
practices including adequate proper wiring, overcurrent and overheat
protection, grounding, no open wires or terminals, etc.
	
Do not handle any electrical connections with wet hands or when
standing in or near water.
	
Do not try to repair equipment yourself unless you are qualified
and fully understand the  repairs required.  All repairs should be done by
qualified personnel.
	
In case of fire on or near any electrical equipment, turn it off if it
can be done safely.

	If in doubt, don't use it.  Call DOES (x2907) or Plant Services (x2580) if
you have any questions regarding the safety of electrical equipment  and/or
wiring.

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