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FirePreventionandEmergencyPreparednessGuide----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AdoptedbytheInternationalCouncilofToyIndustries,Ltd(ICTI)May21,1996IntroductionIndustrialfiresareoneoftheforemostthreatstothepeopleandpropertyofanyorganization.Injuries,deathsandlossofbusinessresultfromfireseachyear.Itisestimatedthat45%ofbusinessesneverre-openafteraminorfire.Suchlossesareavoidablebyapplyingbasicfirepreventioncontrolsandbeingpreparedforemergencies.Goodmanagementpracticesrequirethedevelopmentandimplementationofpoliciesandprocedurestoprotectemployeesandpropertybypreventingand/orcontrollingfiresandpreparingforemergencies.Thepurposeofthisdocumentistoassistmanufacturingvendorswithevaluatingtheirfirepreventioncontrolsandemergencypreparednessintheeventofafire.Manufacturingvendorswhoaredevelopingafirepreventionandemergencypreparednessprogramshouldfindthisasausefulguide.GettingStarted--------------------------------------------------------------EIGHTSTEPS...Tosurveyinganddevelopingyourfirepreventionandemergencypreparednessprogram.Step1:UnderstandWhatandWhyafirepreventionandemergencypreparednessprogramisnecessary？What:Afirepreventionandemergencypreparednessprogramcanbedescribedasasetofpolicies,procedures,and/orrulesthatarepracticedtopreventfiresandprepareforemergenciesintheeventofafire.Theprotectionoflifemustbeparamounttoallotheractivities.Theprogrammustbewritten,communicated,implemented,practiced,andevaluated.Mostimportantly,responsibilityandaccountabilitymustbeestablished.Aswithallbusinessoperations,whatgetsmeasuredgetsdone.Why:Goodbusinesssense,moralresponsibility,andlegalobligationsarejustafewofthereasonsfordevelopingandimplementingafirepreventionandemergencypreparednessprogram.Mostimportantly,employeesandtheirfamilymembersdeservethesafeguardsthatcanbeestablishedtoprotecttheemployeefromfirerisks.Mostbusinessownersandmanagershavelongrecognizedtheirresponsibilitytotheiremployees,andthecostbenefittotheirbusinessthroughafirepreventionandemergencypreparednessprogram.Itmakesgoodbusinesssensetoprotectemployeesandminimizethepotentialbusinessinterruptioncausedbyfire.Step2:EstablishManagementCommitmentandResponsibility.Theeffectivenessoffirepreventionandemergencypreparednessprogramisdirectlyrelatedtothecompany'scommitmentandinvolvement.Thecompanymustcommittheresourcesandtimetodevelopandimplementtheprogramintotheoperations.Failuretodosocanmeanthatthelivesofemployeesandthebusinessitselfareatrisk.Oneofthefirststepsindevelopingaprogramistheestablishmentofafirepreventionandemergencypreparednesscoordinator.Thispersonwillberesponsibleforcoordinatingandadministeringtheprogramthroughoutthefacility.Thecoordinatorshouldhaveappropriatetrainingandeducationifhe/shedoesnothavearelevantbackgroundand/orexperiencewithfirepreventionandemergencypreparedness.Thecoordinatormustnotassumemanagement'sroleandresponsibilityforimplementingandmanagingtheprogramintotheoperations.Linemanagementhasthedirectresponsibilityandaccountabilityforimplementingandmanagingtheprogram.Thecoordinatorwillserveasanadministratorandadvisortomanagementandmusthavesufficientauthoritytoaccomplishhis/herjob.Managementcommitmentmustbesupportedbycompanypolicies,procedures,rules,incentives,anddisciplinaryactionsasnecessarytoensurecompliance.Examplesofmanagementcommitmentinclude:Establishmentofobjectivestodevelop,implement,and/orimprovetheprogram.Accountabilityofmanagement'sresponsibilities.Encouragementofemployeeparticipationandreportingofunsafeconditions/practices.Resourcesformaterial,equipment,andpersonneltosupporttheprogram.Auditingandassessingtheprogram.Settingtheexamplebyparticipatingininspectionanddrills.Step3:ReviewYourExistingPrograms.Beforeyoumakeanychangesin,ordevelopyourfirepreventionandemergencypreparednessprogram,collectasmuchinformationasyoucanaboutyourcurrentfirepreventionandemergencypreparednessprogramand/orpractices.Thisinformationwillbehelpfulincomparingwhatexiststothesurveythatyouwillcompleteinthismanual.Existingprogramsmayrequirenoneoronlyminorchangesratherthandevelopmentofanewprogram.Step4:ConductaSurvey.Thissteprequiresacomprehensivesurveyofthefacilitytoidentifyexistingorpotentialunsafeconditionsandunsafepractices.Thiscanbeaccomplishedusingthesurveychecklistscontainedwithinthismanual.Thesurveymustbedocumentedsothatactionplanscanbedevelopedforanydeficienciesthatarenotedduringthesurvey.Surveyfindingsshouldbelimitedtofactualcomments.Nosurveyorchecklistisabletocaptureallrisks.Thus,itisessentialthatthesurveyordoesnotexclusivelydependonthesurveyguidetoidentifyallrisks.Experience,generalknowledge,andallapplicablegovernmentalregulationsmustbeconsidered.Priortoinitiatingyoursurvey,youmaywanttorefertoAppendices3and4forabasicreviewoffirehazardsandafacilitysurveyform.Thesurveychecklists,foundinthenextsection,aredesignedtoassistinreviewingyourexistingprogramand/ordevelopmentofaprogram.Asurveysummarychecklistisprovidedattheendofthecheckliststoserveasageneralassessmentoftheprogram,andshouldonlybecompletedafterallche