Lehigh Acres Fire Station Safety PDF

Policy Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District 405 Fire Services Manual Fire Station Safety 405.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE: The purpose of this policy is to establish safety procedures for the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District members to follow, with the intent of reducing or eliminat...

Policy Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District 405 Fire Services Manual Fire Station Safety 405.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE: The purpose of this policy is to establish safety procedures for the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District members to follow, with the intent of reducing or eliminating workplace injuries or illnesses to both members and the public. This policy does not repeat procedures already covered in the Communicable Diseases Policy that relate to fire station safety. 405.2 POLICY: It is the policy of the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District that all members should be involved in daily activities that are designed to provide a healthy and safe workplace and reduce or eliminate injuries or illnesses, both in the field and in the fire station. This policy addresses safety activities in the fire station. All members are expected to follow the procedures outlined in the policy, for the safety of themselves, other members and any visitors to the fire station (§ 633.532, Fla. Stat.; Rule 69A-62.024, F.A.C.). Safety practices specific to incident type or task are addressed in other policies. 405.3 PROCEDURE: For the safety of all occupants, the on-duty Lieutenant at each fire station is responsible for ensuring the following procedures are applied to activities conducted in the fire station: (a) (b) Personal protective equipment (PPE): 1. Use adequate eye and face protection when there is a risk of eye injuries, such as punctures, abrasions, contusions or burns as a result of contact with flying particles, hazardous substances or projections. 2. Use hand protection when the work involves exposure to materials that are likely to cause cuts, burns or exposure to chemicals. 3. Wear hearing protection when appropriate. Housekeeping and personal hygiene: 1. Maintain all rooms, kitchens, offices, hallways, stairways, storage rooms and apparatus rooms in a clean, orderly and sanitary condition. 2. Always point a charged compressed air hose away from anyone and never use it to clean your clothing. 3. Smoking is prohibited in the building as provided in the Tobacco-Free Workplace Policy (§ 386.204, Fla. Stat.). 4. Clean kitchen hoods and vents at least monthly. Ensure the hood light is installed and functioning. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/05/22, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Fire Station Safety - 1 Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Fire Services Manual Fire Station Safety (c) (d) (e) (f) 5. Make sure to close all drawers and cabinet doors before leaving them unattended. 6. Post signs in all restrooms reminding employees/visitors to wash their hands. Cooking: 1. Use caution while cutting food with a kitchen knife. Be sure the item is secure on a flat surface before attempting to cut it. 2. Use potholders to avoid burns when removing hot items from the oven and/or stovetop. 3. Do not let pot handles extend over the counter. Walking surfaces and exits: 1. Ensure all primary exit routes are obvious, marked with an “Exit” sign and free of obstructions. 2. Remove any objects that block hallways and/or passageways. 3. Clean up or repair potential slip or trip hazards immediately on apparatus bay floors, kitchen floors, bathroom floors, hallways, outdoor walkways, etc. 4. Ensure stairways are in good condition with standard railings provided for every flight having four or more risers. 5. Ensure handrails are of sufficient strength and proper design for all stairways and floor openings. 6. Ensure all areas of the building are adequately illuminated. Apparatus floor: 1. Mark ladders, pike poles and other items projecting from the apparatus clearly with brightly colored flags, stripes or other identification. 2. Exercise caution and use handrails when exiting apparatus. 3. Avoid jumping from trucks, platforms, ladders, roofs, or other elevated positions. 4. Maintain apparatus doors in a safe, operable condition. 5. Maintain adequate clearance for vehicles under apparatus doors. 6. Mop or clean-up oil, hydraulic fluid, water or grease from apparatus floors and accesses, immediately upon detection. 7. Walk around any wet floor or whenever the yellow "Wet Floor" sign has been placed on the floor. Equipment, machinery and tools: 1. Observe safety precautions when operating all equipment, machinery and tools. 2. Follow and observe posted safety instructions, warning signs, procedures, and rules. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/05/22, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Fire Station Safety - 2 Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Fire Services Manual Fire Station Safety (g) (h) 3. Avoid using defective equipment, such as ladders with broken rungs or power equipment without proper safety protection. Repair or replace defective equipment before use. 4. Mount all equipment and machinery securely to the surface on which it sits. 5. Ensure all power tools are adequately grounded. 6. Store maintenance hand tools safely when not being used. They shall be maintained and periodically inspected to ensure they are in a safe and operable condition. 7. Oxygen is only to be used as a lifesaving or sustaining tool. Only use compressed air for cleaning work surfaces. Whenever possible, the use of a vacuum device is preferred over compressed air. 8. Use a dolly or hand truck when carrying large or bulky objects or get assistance from another firefighter. 9. Portable ladders shall be adequate for their purpose, in good condition and have secure footing. 10. Replace all ladders that “wobble”, or that lean off of center. 11. Use a ladder or stepstool to retrieve or store items that are located above your head. 12. Avoid placing a ladder at a blind corner or doorway. If you must place a ladder in front of a door, always divert foot traffic by blocking or roping off the area. 13. Use the handrails when using stairs or ramps. 14. Always walk on stairs or steps, taking one step at a time. Electrical wiring, fixtures and controls: 1. Maintain 36 inches of clear access around all electrical control panels. 2. Label electrical switches and circuit breakers with their purpose. 3. Ensure all electrical outlets have cover plates that are secured to the wall outlets. 4. Ensure all extension cords are properly grounded and approved. 5. Avoid using flexible cords and cables as a substitute for fixed wiring. 6. Avoid hanging electrical cords on pipes, nail hooks, etc. 7. Check all electrical cords for fraying or exposed plug wiring. 8. Ensure all electrical tools do not have damaged power cords or plugs, worn switches, defective ground circuits or other faults that could render them unsafe for use. 9. Always run extension cords or other electrical power cords along walls and out of the travel paths. Extension cords are to be used as temporary installations only. Fire extinguishers and fire prevention: Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/05/22, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Fire Station Safety - 3 Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Fire Services Manual Fire Station Safety (i) 1. Ensure fire extinguishers are of the proper type for the expected hazards. 2. Maintain portable fire extinguishers in a fully operable condition. 3. Ensure fire extinguishers have a durable tag securely attached to show the maintenance or recharge date. 4. Check smoke detectors periodically to ensure they are working properly. 5. Maintain at least 18 inches of clearance below all sprinkler heads. Hazardous materials and exposure prevention (Rule 69A-62.004, F.A.C.): 1. Label all hazardous materials containers with the name of the hazardous material, applicable hazard warning and the name and address of the manufacturer, importer or responsible party. 2. Evaluate compatibility of hazardous materials before they are stored. Incompatible hazardous materials shall be separated by distance, partitions, dikes, berms or secondary containment. 3. Store hazardous materials separately from food, food preparation and eating areas. 4. Store ignitable liquids in an approved, vented, flammable and combustible liquids storage cabinet. 5. Use safety containers with self-closing lids for the storage of flammable liquids and soiled oily rags. 6. Store cylinders of compressed gas in an upright position, away from combustible materials. (j) Communicable diseases - If a member has been exposed to a hazardous material or a communicable disease, follow the reporting procedure in the Communicable Diseases Policy. (k) On-duty physical fitness activities - For safety guidelines during physical fitness, see the Physical Fitness and the Wellness and Fitness Program policies. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/05/22, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Fire Station Safety - 4