Introduction
Wal-Mart is one of the biggest chains of retail stores in the world today. Wal-Mart was selected for the purpose of this project and to complete the assignment the Milwaukee Wal-Mart Store #3496 situated in the Hope Avenue area was surveyed. The store manager on duty at that time was requested to give us a tour of the facility. Wal-Mart was chosen as the subject for this assignment because they have one of the most comprehensive and well laid out stores in the world.
The operations of Wal-Mart are spread across every country and they have set up stores in every major city through strong alliance and joint ventures. The company has also been ranked as the biggest employer in the world and has also been ranked as the second biggest corporation in the world. Wal-Mart is in constant competition with some of the other retail chains which are very popular in the United States like Kmart and Sears. However the efficiency and the operational success of Wal-Mart set it apart from the other retail companies. The key point which contributes to the success is the way the company maintains the same layout and same sections throughout all their stores. This makes it easier for customers to feel at home in whichever store they walk into in any part of the world. The organization within the store is also worth noting.
The company has taken many initiatives over the years since its inception including initiatives to contribute towards raising awareness about environmental issues. Wal-Mart runs many different kinds of stores like discount stores, supercenters, Wal-Mart markets etc.
The purpose of this report is to conduct an analysis of the Wal-Mart store in relation to the measures that the company has taken against fire hazards. To accomplish this, a trip to the Wal-Mart store in Wisconsin was conducted where the manager of the store was asked to arrange a small tour of the store. Surveying the entire store and making notes about the current arrangements that the management has made took almost two and a half hours owing to the size of the facility and the discussion that ensued with the managers about the arrangements. After that the manager provided some information about the possible changes in the future that can be made to these arrangements. (New Competitors Move on Supers., 2005)
- Flammable hazards throughout the stores:
Another flammable hazard is presented by the fact that the McDonald’s restaurant is on the same premises and the presence of gas, fuel and other flammable objects as are used in a restaurant present a high level of danger. However, proper precautions such as fire extinguishers and water hose pipes can also be seen in the area which can be useful in combating a fire hazard if the emergency arose.
- Placement of fire extinguishers and fire fighting devices throughout the store:
The store has placed fire extinguishers at carefully marked mid-points throughout the stores. These can be found on every wall of the store which make them accessible in case of an emergency. The kind of fire extinguisher that has been placed also depends upon the area and the possible threats that are present in that part of the store. So, one will find different types of extinguishers which can be used in case of different kinds of fire emergencies like a chemical fire for example. The extinguishers have also been marked for greater understanding. A carefully selected point houses the water hose which can again be used in case of a fire emergency. This location has also been marked so that people within the store can identify and locate the water pipes in a small amount of time. The water supply for this hose is connected from the water line that feeds the restrooms in the store.
- Response of staff and customer orientation for emergencies:
The staff at Wal-Mart has been provided training in which they have been briefed about the steps to be taken in case of a fire emergency. This kind of training is important today because the staff comes in contact first with the customers within the store when such an emergency occurs. They can play a crucial role in avoiding panic amongst the customers and the onus of taking immediate measures to handle the situation and take whatever corrective action is possible at that time lies with the staff. The staff has also be provided with handbooks which act as guidelines as to what should the correct course of action be in case of emergencies. Apart from that new employees are also provided with proper orientation in which they are made familiar with the exits for emergencies, where the fire fighting devices have been placed and who the appropriate contact person should be in case of any emergency. (McClenahen, John S., 2005)
- Alarm System:
Wal-Mart has invested in providing the best technology for fire alarm systems within every store. The manager at the Wisconsin store who briefed about the alarm systems informed that all the alarm system technologies are state of the art. The store also takes measure to regularly update them so that the best fire protection and alert systems are used within the store. As is the standard practice with alarm systems the alarm is triggered when the sensors detect unusually increased heat levels or a rise in temperature within the store. The alarm is also triggered if the sensors detect smoke. The alarm rings within the store, in the manager’s cabin and also at the nearest fire department station. This makes it possible for the fire department to send aid at the earliest. The alarm system that is in place at the store currently allows the management to update the settings so that they have the best coverage possible. They can manually adjust the settings through the user interface which is connected with all the sensors. The sensors have been placed throughout the store even in the cold storage unit. The entire area of the store has been covered. To allow the fire department better access to the store when they arrive in case of an emergency, water outlets have been constructed at critical points. These can be easily used for connecting with the water pipes in the fire trucks.
- Suppression systems and water supply:
The store also has a well very well developed and well connected system for fire suppression. The sensors have been placed on water dispensers so as soon the sensors go off the water dispensers initiate the water showers. This system has also been followed throughout the store in all critical areas as well as other portions of the store. The water supply for the water dispensers has been arranged by over head pipes that get connected with the main water line. A lever is placed between the main water line and the line which brings the water to the dispensers and suppression system. By using this lever the water can be turned off during maintenance drills and then turned back on when maintenance is over. This is a very efficient system and is very responsive. The manager was of the opinion that through the water dispensers and the current fire suppression system small fires can be easily put out. In case of a massive fore emergency he was positive and optimistic that the suppression systems would be able to provide some support till the fire department team arrives.
- Evacuation plans within the store:
The management of the store has taken all possible measures to indicate the exits in case of an emergency to the customers and those who are not familiar with the layout of the store. The floors have proper marking with the appropriate yellow and red color tapes which indicate the directions of the exit gates in case of a fire emergency. As per the manager the markings on the floor have been done with luminous tapes which are visible even in dim light. Overhead the boards indicate the direction in which the exit gates are situated. Similar boards have also been put up on walls. There is one entrance gate which is blocked by barriers and bars so in case of an emergency that will not be of any use. There are two other exit gates which lead towards the back of the store and the side parking lot which can be used by the people within the store. The staff, again, has been provided proper training about leading people to the exit gates in an emergency situation. There is a McDonald’s outlet at this store as well. The customers inside this area can make use of the gates which are marked with boards that read ‘Exit’, in case of emergencies. Some concerns related to evacuation were felt in the photo studio and photo center which are small areas within the store and customers might get trapped in this area if they are not able to respond quickly to the emergency.
- Stairways and elevators:
The layout of a Wal-Mart store is such that it is spread over one floor. This means that customers and the general public do not have to go through multiple floors and there is no need for stairways, elevators or escalators. This makes it easier to evacuate everybody in case of a fire emergency. Also this kind of a layout reduces the risk of customers and other people inside the store getting stuck in elevators or on stairways during a fire emergency. Plans to evacuate the store can be implemented with relative ease, as compared to a building that has multiple floors. However this also means that the fire spreads rapidly from one corner to the other of the store. So the response of the staff and the people inside the store has to be quick and without any delays and in coordination with the direction or speed of the fire. The McDonald’s restaurant is also a potential source of fire.
Conclusion
The Wal-Mart store in Wisconsin has an organized layout and state of the art fire fighting system. The store takes measures to update the system from time to time. However some of the concerns felt during the tour were that of electrical dangers during a fire which can cause short circuits and also be the cause of an increase in the intensity of the fire. Also as pointed out earlier the packaging material inside the store and also the waste that lies outside can be potential causes of fire or, again, of an increase in its intensity. But the fact that the store has a quick response team, excellent support from the fire department and fell formed evacuation plans means that they have the ability to handle and respond to such emergencies. (Lindeman, Teresa F., 2005)
The store should take measures to repaint the markings and put in neon tapes to mark the exits on the floor which can be visible even if the lights go out. This would give better visibility to the customers who get stuck inside the store during such a time. Also the staff can wear glow in the dark jackets or use laser beams during such times to indicate the exits and guide the customers inside the store towards the way out. By using such methods the store can make sure that they are well prepared to meet such eventualities. Apart from this the store has excellent fire fighting system which is regularly maintained and updated. The investment made by the store can be seen even in the methods that are used to train the staff and provide orientation to them. Mock drills can also be good idea to improve response time in coordination with the fire department. The store maintains records of all occurrences of fire accidents, whether small or big, which can also be studied to see if there is any particular reason which causes the maximum fires.
References:
Lindeman, Teresa F. “Two Public Relations Campaigns pit Wal-Mart against Critics.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1 November 2005. 3 November 2005. Retrieved from <http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05305/598285.stm>.
McClenahen, John S. “Wal-Mart’s Big Gamble.” www.industryweek.com. April 2005. 3 November 2005. Retrieved from <http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=10055>
“New Competitors Move on Supers.” MMR. 22(10) p.162. 10 June 2005. 3 November 2005. Retrieved from <http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3235/is_200506/ai_n15059742>.
