Q: Where is the Fire Extinguisher Training for commercial motor vehicle operations, motor coach and school bus?
You are a Fire Educator and part of your educations process should include the following area specifically:
* Commercial Motor Vehicle Operations
* Motor Coach Operations
* School Bus Operations
* Mechanic/Motor Vehicle Repair Operations
I work for a commercial motor vehicle operations company that includes motor coaches and school bus. Yes, I have spoke to the higher ups and they seem to blow it off. But if the Fire Dept showed up and spoke to the higher ups telling them the value properties of having Fire Extinguisher Training & Fire Evacuation for all employees; that the employees will understand the value of the extinguisher and fire evacuation training. They will better understand it and not panic or freak out when the fire alarm is sounded.
Some of the issues that you might and will run into is the uncertainty of what types of chemicals that you will find. What about the set up of the shop and or equipment that might be up on repair stands and unable to be moved.....(ie..on a jack with missing tires. unsecured overhead storage.)
Here are some pictures.
As you can see by this picture that there is unsecured overhead storage with a mobile container of oil under a wood structure with a 55 gallon drum of Anti freeze. Behind the ladders that are unsecured is a rack of batteries. Energized electrical Air Compressor right beside the oil drum. A flammable storage cabinet with a mix of flammable aerosol products, grease, battery cable protector spray, etc.
What else can you find in repair facility? Lets see....I'll post some that I have taken and what is your reaction? How does this shop/repair facility even pass a Standard Fire Inspection?
Well lets have a look at what we can find in these cabinets? Flammable Liquids, Aerosols, Bleach, Paints. Have you or do you look at this type of storage to see what you can find to be able to teach/instruct about the proper Fire Extinguisher on hand, its location and training?
Well what do we have here? Yes you can read it correctly......Drain Opener in a cabinet with an aerosol windshield de-icer, paint, and other combustibles. Why is this not in the flammable Storage Cabinet? What is the correct Fire Extinguisher to have and what size would you suggest to have on hand and its location?
WOW! Bottle oil, Brake fluid, aerosol glass cleaner, Polishing Compounds, Air Brake Line Antifreeze.
Parts Cleaner besides a wood stair case, with flammable storage underneath and a hot pressure washer that runs on electric heating element beside it.
Uhm......whats wrong here? Yep, you are seeing it correctly. A fire extinguisher placed over a dump area that oil from motor coaches, school bus and Tractors. With flammable storage under an electrical outlet.
Storage of Antifreeze, 80/90 weight gear oil in an open top container, combustibles other not being defined because its a mix of stuff.
Wow what do we have here.......Flammable storage not being labeled in a drum on a stand containing DIESEL FUEL, with a can of diesel fuel on top used to fill Fuel Filters prior to installing on a truck. This container is about 4 foot to one side of the electrical panel. Flammable Tire Mounting Compound on the floor too the left of the tool box.
This is sitting out in plain view.....clear as day under the window out in front of the office....Yep paint, paint thinner and thin set motor compound.......
Storage under the steps....what do I see behind the mop bucket.....is that an electric hot water heater that is within about 2 feet of water. I see a fire extinguisher. It is a 20 pound Class ABC Fire Extinguisher. Where is the MSDS. Under the First Aid Cabinet under the steps but right above the door to the restroom is a water hose supported by nails running to the pressure washer. So if it bust and water sprays the hot water heater and causes a fire you will not be able to get to the MSDS to know what you might be dealing with in a fire. Also it is chained......guess they feel it might walk off.
Here is a better look at the wood overhead storage that is above an oil drum that is right beside a air compressor that is energized. This structure is made of wood scraps. With heavy wood door panel, fiberglass, and other vehicle equipment stored up there.
So why do we allow this type of stuff to happen. Where are the fire extinguishers placed. One is above a pit that oil is dumped into a drum and then pumped out to a storage tank thru the wall outside for storage. The other is at the front of the building. So if a fire is under the steps you have to reach possible into the fire to retrieve. The other is in a bad area because if the fire starts in the oil pit you will have to get the one from the front of the building. If there was a trailer, Motor Coach, or School Bus there you would have to detour around the equipment to retrieve and use.
This is where your skill, training and expertise will allow you to be a pivotal point in possible saving the business on there Fire Insurance. As you could set up a class on Fire Extinguishers, show the importance, get the employees to attend. Have a class sign up sheet and have them submit the info to there insurance company.
Fire Extinguisher Training and Placement? Why are you not teaching them how to use a Fire Extinguisher with a live burn or a simulator? Why have you not taught the importance of building evacuation when a fire happens and where to meet? Finally, have you addressed the importance of having a hard wire and battery back up Smoke/Co Alarm installed?
The only room that had a smoke detector in the building.....yes it was chirping and someone decided to remove the detector instead of replacing the battery that might cost all of a DOLLAR. If someone was to be napping in this room and a fire broke out in the building how would they be notified of a fire? This building has NO HARD WIRE/BATTERY BACK UP SMOKE/CO ALARM SYSTEM.
So with these issues I ask you to give constructive consideration as to may be why this company is allowed to operate with the clear violations. This is your area of expertise! Use this area. If they do not want to comply then pull there occupant license, file a charge with there insurance company with pictures and even take a video. Contact your County Prosecutor for assistance in compliance with a threat to go to the Licensing and Zoning Board to pull the operations License.
We have all heard the mantra > SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY. So why do you not preach it back to the business Oweners and operators to ensure that there staff is following SAFETY.
I hope you enjoy reading my BLOG's.
Be safe,
Roy
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