Part A
It is important to note that electric fire is fatal and its outbreak must be followed by emergency evacuation process. For a big building accommodating a lot of people, the evacuation procedures should be well planned so that greater number of people are saved from being engulfed by the fire. Planning entails coming up with procedures that would enable greater number of people exposed to the risk to be saved. In the scenario given, it is claimed that the truck, which was trying to avoid knocking down the boy accidentally knocked over the electricity post. The post fell on one side of the building and hence leading to the development of fire. This work is dedicated to coming up with a fire emergency procedure that can be adopted to ensure that the people inside and around the building are all saved from the fire.
Conventionally, there are general notices that normally guide the staff or employers on procedures to follow during the emergence of fire. However, such procedures are only limited to small premises where the staff or employers can find ways out as fast as possible. However, for the large premises, there must be amore detailed procedures that should be taken in case of outbreak of fire. The emergency procedure must ensure that the workers who are at higher risk are located and notified swiftly.
Several evacuation processes are available. Simultaneous evacuation is one of these forms. In this case, the evacuation processes involve reaction form all the people involved in event of fire discovery of fire outbreak. However, this form does not fit the scenario given. This is because of the fact that not all the people who were in the building were aware of the accident. Consequently, simultaneous evacuation might not apply. Moreover, this form of evacuation is normally initiated by the sounding of the general alarm. However, given that the building was still under construction, then the simultaneous evacuation might not apply. Concisely, the evacuation procedure that should be adopted is the vertical phased evacuation.
Principally, this form of evacuation is more appropriate for the larger complex premises. According to this strategy, the evacuation of people is done depending on whether they are on immediate risk or not. People who are not at immediate risk from the fire delay exiting the premises. This is a mechanism of reducing the congestion. The area closest to the fire is evacuated immediately whereas those people away form the fire are just notified to remain standby. According to this strategy, the fire warning system should be designed ion a manner that it gives two distinct signals. These signals are warning and evacuation. Incase there are no signals installed, the voice messages can be done.
Despite the fact that there are strategies that can be adopted, it should also be noted that fire evacuation plan must involved different people. Firstly, fire warden scheme must be notified immediately in the event of occurrence of fire outbreak. On notification, the scheme must ensure that the lifts and escalators are all availed to the scene. It is a responsibility of every individual to ensure that he or she does not enter the building. The fire team can have the authority to enter into the building. This is because the fire team is more trained and can devise ways of avoiding being consumed by the fire.
Another person that is expected to act swiftly in event of fire is the switchboard operator. It is the responsibility of switchboard operator to ensure that any form of extensions re switched through. He or she should also be a ware of the emergency evacuation plan. This awareness would enable him assist the workers during the evacuation process. The switchboard operator must also ensure that the switchboard is attended to ensure that any action is taken that can aid in the evacuation and or the stoppage of the fire. Additionally, the switchboard operator is expected to notify the fire brigades. Incase the switchboard operator is not available; the caretaker can assist in ensuring that the fire service is called immediately in the event of fire outbreak. Fire marshals or fire wardens are other group of people that must play significant role incase of fire outbreak. Fire marshals have greater responsibilities.
Firstly, it should be noted that the each building have the responsibility of ensuring that the fire precaution are maintained. This means that in event of fire outbreak, these people should be the one to first take action of calling the fire brigades. However, for efficiency, the chief fire warden must have a deputy who would assist him or her. The fire wardens are expected to perform several roles and responsibilities. These include instituting and executing the routine and evacuation procedures. They are supposed to give instruction regarding evacuation procedures. Moreover, these people are also expected to ensure that the people inside the building know the location of the fire alarm point so that they can assist in alarming process. They also have a responsibility of ensuring that the escape routes all open.
Any unlocked doors should be opened immediately. They are also expected to appoint staff or workers to assist in evacuation process. It is also the role of senior fire marshal to ensure that notices giving procedures of evacuation plan are in place. They are also expected to take the roll call of the staff in the event of fire so that missing persons can be tracked. Fire marshals are also expected to nominate the person who is in charge of the assembly point. The responsibility of this person is to communicate with the fire liaison person. Another person that has a significant role as far as the evacuation process is concerned is the senior managers. The manager has several responsibilities. He or she is expected to ensure that the site has the fire policy that is practical and feasible. Another responsibility is to ensure that the fire detection and fire testing equipments are in good working conditions. They are also expected to ensure that the fire exit routes are properly labeled and maintained.
Furthermore, they should ensure that the emergency lighting are functional. They also have a role of appointing competent fire marshals. Managers are also expected to prepare an appropriate emergency plan. This involves making sure that there is coordination of fire and security emergency planning. The managers on the site on the other hand are expected to ensure that the fire risk assessment are conducted . They should ensure that every room is assessed. Another important responsibility of the managers on the site is to ensure that the workers are briefed about the emergency procedures that should be taken during evacuation processes. It is also the responsibility of the managers on the site to cooperate with fire marshals. The site managers should work together with the fire marshals in ensuring that al the necessary procedures are executed urgently.
As far as the plant and equipment, procedures are concerned, the management must ensure that all the fire extinguishers are in place and are in the right condition. The emergency lighting should also be working properly.
The injured individuals were given first aid and those who were seriously injured were rushed to the nearest hospital.
Part B
Generally, there were one major injury found and several minor injuries. Congestion around the exit routes contributed to the most cases of minor injuries. From the incidence, it is apparent that preventive measures should be put in place to facilitate the evacuation process during such emergency cases. Some of the preventive measures include the evacuation procedures. The evacuation procedures should be well documented and every worker must read and understand them. The managers should also ensure that the emergency lighting is working properly. Another very important preventive measure is to ensure that there is a peripheral fence around the building.
