The best way to fight a fire is by working to make sure one never ignites, says Richard Bolyard, the University's fire safety officer.
"The backbone of fire safety is preventing a fire before it starts," he said.
Employees can help do that by examining their surroundings for fire dangers and minimizing the threats, Bolyard said. Employees should report anything they consider a fire danger that they can't fix, Bolyard said.
And University employees are good at doing just that, he said.
"We're fortunate that when there are problems, people call," Bolyard said. "It shows that people are alert to ensuring their workplace is kept safe.
"A lot of credit has to be given to our students, our staff and our faculty, working together to keep our University safe," Bolyard said. "It takes a partnership."
Being careful
Employees can do a lot to reduce the threat of fire by remembering--and following--simple fire-prevention methods, Bolyard said.
"Most of the things are fairly basic," he said.
Employees must be careful with cigarettes and other smoking materials, Bolyard said.
Employees also should be aware of the strain they can put on a building's electrical system by overloading circuits with too many appliances, he said. Heat-producing appliances, such as coffee pots, draw the greatest amount of power, he said.
Office machines--such as computers, fax machines and laser printers--don't draw as much power as heat-producing appliances, but still can overload circuits, he said.
Employees should be aware that any problems created by overloading a circuit could show up in the building's circuit breaker box, far from the office where all the machines are plugged in, Bolyard said.
Offices typically are wired to support between 15 and 20 amps of power, he said.
"If you have more amps than that, then more than likely you're overloading the circuit," he said.
Employees can determine the number of amps used by each appliance or machine by taking its number of watts and dividing that number by the voltage of the circuit, which usually is 110, Bolyard said. If the total of amps used in an office exceeds the 15-to-20 range, addition of another circuit by Physical Plant electricians should be considered, he said.
Employees also should not use extension cords to provide more outlets, he said.
Following proper storage and handling methods for chemicals is important, Bolyard said. Employees should limit the amount of flammable materials they have open or stored at their workplaces, he said.
Unless you are working in an authorized lab, you need special permission from Bolyard's office to use an open flame inside any campus buildings, he said.
Heeding alarms
Employees also should think out how they would respond to a fire alarm and follow evacuation procedures established for their building, he said.
"When you hear an alarm it's important to take the proper action at that time," Bolyard said. "Leave the building or take appropriate action if you are physically impaired."
Employees should not be lulled into thinking an alarm is a false one if they do not smell smoke or notice any other indications of fire, he said.
Fire detection and alarm systems used in many campus buildings are designed to notify occupants of an entire building if the system is activated. For that reason, Bolyard said, a fire could be in a distant part of the building when an alarm sounds.
Employees should leave the building immediately because fire can spread rapidly, he said.
A system of emergency coordinators has been established, with each building having a coordinator, Bolyard said. The emergency coordinator is responsible for helping notify people of an evacuation and for accounting for the building's occupants after the evacuation.
Bolyard conducts drills in certain types of campus buildings on a regular basis. Drills must be held quarterly in health-care buildings, he said.
Bolyard said any unit that wanted to conduct a drill should contact him.
Sprinkler and fire alarm systems are added to buildings when they undergo renovation projects, Bolyard said.
"We're still putting in fire alarm systems in buildings that do not have them."
Fire alarm systems are important because they can notify all of the occupants of a building that a fire has been detected. Smoke or heat detectors not connected as part of a system can only warn the people who hear that one alarm, he said.
"With an alarm system, it sounds throughout the building to warn everyone there's an emergency," Bolyard said. "The fire may be in a basement or first floor but everyone would be alerted that there's a problem."
Getting help
Bolyard encouraged employees to call his office.
"We're here to help," he said. "We can hold a fire safety workshop to tell you about some prevention measures. You can ask specific questions about your building and show you how to use a fire extinguisher. We can do an inspection of your building.
"If you have a particular problem or concern, report that to us," he said.
Bolyard can be reached at 2-0360.
Fire Emergency Procedure
If there's a fire:
*Sound the alarm.
*Report the fire by calling 911.
*Use an extinguisher if the fire is small.
*Close doors to confine the fire.
*Leave the building.
To survive a fire:
*Crawl if there's smoke.
*Feel doors before opening.
*Go to the nearest exit or stairway.
If you get trapped:
*Keep doors closed.
*Seal cracks.
*Open windows if safe.
*Signal or call for help.
If you are on fire:
*Stop, drop and roll to smother flames.
Source: "Fire on Campus" brochure
Fire Prevention Tips
*Smoke carefully.
Don't smoke near flammable materials. Use large ashtrays and be sure ashes, matches and cigarette ends are cold before you dump them.
*Be careful with electricity.
Use only U.L. listed appliances. Don't overload outlets. Report all electrical problems for repair. Extension cords must have a ground wire.
*Don't leave appliances unattended.
Do not leave heat-producing appliances, such as coffee pots, unattended. Unplug or turn them off after use. Keep heat-producing appliances clear of combustible materials.
*Be careful with open flames.
Candles, Bunsen burners, etc. should never be left unattended. Extinguish all open flames, even if left for a very short time. Aside from authorized labs, open flames are prohibited on campus without permission of the fire safety office.
*Avoid hazardous storage.
Dispose of waste as soon as possible. Waste and surplus materials are not to be stored in corridors or stairways.
*Be careful with flammable li-quids.
In laboratories, shops and classrooms, storage of flammable liquids is limited to specific quantities and containers. Gasoline, ether, paint, glue, etc. are not permitted to be stored in residential buildings.
*Clear obstacles.
Storage of chairs, desks and other items is prohibited in all exit ways. Blocked exits have caused "chain reaction" pileups of fallen people during emergencies.
*Plan ahead
Know the location of the nearest emergency exit as well as others. Learn the procedure to follow during a fire alert. Attend fire safety workshops offered by the Health and Safety Office.
If you are disabled (even temporarily), you should learn about fire safety, plan ahead for fire emergencies and be aware of your capabilities and limitations. Look for areas of refuge, like stair enclosures or the other side of fire doors. Sometimes it may be safer to stay in your room and follow the advice for being trapped.
Source: Fire Safety Officer Richard Bolyard and "Fire on Campus" brochure.
Richard Bolyard checks the fire escape in a campus building.
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