Fire Safety Incident Investigation - Report Example

Fire Safety Incident Investigation Report Name: University: Course Title: Instructor: Date: Executive Summary Poor cable layout and wiring systems are the most causes of major electric fire accidents. All industrial, commercial and residential electrical power systems should be checked and maintained regularly. Major fire accidents are result from electrical wiring faults. Every year, there are many fire accidents recorded causing hundreds of deaths, and destructions of property worth millions of dollars. Industries heavily invest in high standard electric installation, and strictly enforcing certification and licensing of electricians. Industries have to encourage employees to report hazardous electric faults to responsible authorities for immediate action. Any form of fire regardless of its intensity has direct impact to the community. Fires destroy property and lead to massive losses, lives are lost and people get injured. The toxic fumes produced from burning material and chemical during fire accidents have major impact to the environments. Industries must engage their employees by encouraging them to report all electric faults to responsible authority for correction. This paper represents a fire safety incident investigation report on Crothersville manufacturing plant fire incident, discussing the impact of the fire and areas of concern and recommendations. Contents Contents 3 1.0 Introduction 4 2.0 Summary of the Incident 4 3.0 Impact of the Fire Incident 5 3.1 Staff health and safety 5 3.2 Material damage 5 3.3 Environmental impact 6 4.0 Areas of Concern and Recommendation 6 5.0 Conclusion 7 1.0 Introduction Electrical fires in homes and industries account for over three quarters of all fire incidences reported in the U.S annually. Most of electrical fires are caused by electrical distribution system faults resulting from incorrect wiring, overloaded circuits and extension cords. According to the latest statistics of the National Fire Protection, 70 percent of home and industrial structures fires per year are attributed to electrical distribution faults (Khan & Jahan, 2011, p.120). This accounts for over 500 civilian deaths, 1500 civilian injuries and over $1.5 billion in direct property damage yearly. However, investigation results from many fire incidences are rarely taken serious and considered to be the real cause of these fires. Fire incidences have intensive effects to people’s health, and lead to massive property loss and environmental degradation (Markley, Cole & Shelley, 2011, p.86). This paper gives a report on an investigation into a fire safety incident that occurred on Monday, 8th February 2012, at Crothersville manufacturing plant. 2.0 Summary of the Incident Crothersville Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department successfully contained a dramatic fire on Monday morning. The firefighters were called to Versatech at 3.00 am on Monday on North Kovener Street. Immediately the fire was contained, a heavy thick smoke covered the entire area, which spread into the factory’s manufacturing area. Fortunately all workers were already safely evacuated from the premise as a precaution. No injuries were recorded according to the plants maintenance supervisor. The high voltage power lines are not being used by Versatech, but by the former shoe industry which existed in the same place (Crothersville Times. 2012). This shows how residents have failed to work collectively to prevent possible preventable fire accidents such as this. The fact that the cables were no being used by the factory, it is the responsibility of the firm’s management to recognize the danger the power cable may impose to the neighborhood and the factory. Such high voltage power cables which had been installed many years ago, and were not being used created an alarming situation which could have been recognized by the responsible engineering team or the safety team, and be reported to the appropriate authority for ratification (Crothersville Times. 2012). The fire was ignited by an electrical short. Most residents witnessed lights flickering and a popping noise was heard. Large sparks and brilliant lights were seen on the east side where high voltage lines enter the 1940’s era block building. The plants roof was caught in fire as a result of the electrical arcing that was produced. Versatech however were not using the high voltage cable, but were left over by the old factory shoe used to be there (Markley, Cole & Shelley, 2011, p.86). . 3.0 Impact of the Fire Incident 3.1 Staff health and safety All the 250 workers who were in the morning shift were safely evacuated from the factory premise to a safer location. No injuries were reported as the fire did not spread to the production unit. The thick dark smoke from the burning rooftop spread into the interior part of the factory, which made every body to be evacuated. If the workers were caught inside, the smoke could have suffocated them and even led to physical injury as a result of rushing outside the premise (Crothersville Times. 2012). 3.2 Material damage The area affected by the smoke is used for storage and warehousing manufacturing material and equipment. No manufacturing equipment in warehouse was damaged. Only the corrugated shipping containers parked outside the warehouse were damages severely by the smoke and heat. They will have to be repaired at a cost not more than $1000 (Crothersville Times. 2012). There was no physical damage on the building, but only a larger section of the roof which will have to be replaced since the fire was intense and destroyed the iron sheet. The entire section of the building will also have to be repainted since the dark smoke left a dark layer of sooth on the walls and the roof section (Babrauskas, 2001). 3.3 Environmental impact The high voltage power lines which caused the fire at Versatech do not bordering any other building apart from the Versatech firm. If the factory was amidst many building, the damage could have been severe especially if residential houses were near. The smoke only spread into the factory production area and did not affect any worker or passerby. However, the smoke had to be taken out as it was spreading over to near by residential houses (Crothersville Times. 2012). Immediate consequences of the smoke would be discomfort in breathing and irritation to people who have breathing difficulties. There are various environmental impacts of the fire fighting material used on putting fire out. Techniques such as using halons which include ozone have consequential impact to the environment. Halons are known to be one of the largest contributors to global warming (Markley, Cole & Shelley, 2011, p.86). 4.0 Areas of Concern and Recommendation The fact that a high voltage line has stayed for many years unused in the factory premise since the old shoe industry existed, shows that there is lack of proper hazard reporting system within the organization. Versatech managers should create a ‘worry free’ environment for its employees to encourage both the employees and the neighboring community to report on any incidence that seems hazardous (Babrauskas, 2001). In order to prevent future accidents resulting from electric faults, employees the entire workforce must be educated on OHSA guidelines to become familiar with their surroundings and be able to easily identify factors that could increase chances of fire risk in their working places. The smoke produced from the electric fire was able to flow into the factory and spread to the entire production unit. This is proof that the plant does not have proper negative air flow systems. This could enhance smoke evacuation to prevent toxic fumes from piling up inside the factory. It is important to install proper air flow systems that are able to quickly plunge the toxic fumes from lower areas and direct the smoke out (Colonna, 2001). The members of OHSA safety inspectors must be well trained to look carry out extensive surveys on possible health hazards within and outside the premise. If proper investigations could have been carried out in advance, they could have realized that the high voltage poles were not being used and were too close to the buildings roof (Babrauskas, 2001). Facilities with well prepared employee’s proper developed preparedness plans are likely to incur less structural damage and employees injuries. The fire could not be immediately contained due to lack of special equipment and facilities to put out electric flames. It is important for employees who are member of fire fighting team to be trained on how to handle various fire incidences. This will ensure fire accidents are managed at an early stage instead of waiting for fire engines which may delay and cause more damage to property (Khan & Jahan, 2011, p.120). 5.0 Conclusion Many electrical distribution fires result from faulty wiring systems. Electric accidents are preventable, only if proper inspection is regularly carried out to check for old wiring, unnecessary loose wires and circuit overload load. Being one of the leading causes of industrial, commercial and domestic fires, electric systems must be regularly audited to check for hazards and faults. In industrial setups, employees should be effectively involved in OHSA. Bothe the industry’s workers and the neighboring community must take responsibility in identifying faults and hazards, by immediately reporting the dangers to the responsible authorities for rectification. Crothersville manufacturing plant fire could have been prevented, if the larger community could have been more responsive in reporting the danger. As much as there was minimal material loss and no recorded workers injury, more emphasis should be put in implementing the OHSA policies and encourage all employees to collectively participate in ensuring their safety. References Babrauskas, D. 2001, How Do Electrical Wiring Faults Lead to structure Ignition? Retrieved, February 12, 2012 from: http://www.interfire.org/features/electric_wiring_faults.asp Colonna, G. 2001, Employees Fire and Safety, Retrieved, February 12, 2012 from: http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/pdf/evacuation.pdf Crothersville Times. 2012, Monday Fire Damages Crothersville Manufacturing Plant. Retrieved, February 12, 2012 from: http://crothersvilletimes.com/?p=3280 Khan, S. & Jahan, A 2011, Improper Fuse Wire Replacement and Possible Association with Commercial Fires, International Journal of Engineering & Technology IJET-IJENS, 11(2): 117-121 Markley, E.T. Cole, R.A. & Shelley, H 2011, Industrial Firefighting for Municipal Firefighters. New York, Fire Engineers Press. Read More