Fire Safety

The best defense against a fire is to prevent one from starting.  This can be done by maintaining good housekeeping and not allowing combustible (paper, cardboard, sawdust) and flammable (chemicals, fuel) to accumulate.

If you see a fire in the building, smell smoke, or hear the fire alarm, evacuate immediately.  Do not try to find the source to put out the fire.  In all fire incidents, you should (1) make sure you always have a safe exit route away from the fire, (2) notifying co-workers by shouting out that there’s a fire, and (3) notifying emergency services by pulling the fire alarm, dialing 911, and dialing 13000 (Campus Safety).

Fire Extinguishers

There are exceptions to evacuating and when it’s appropriate to use a fire extinguisher.  First, you must be trained on the use of a fire extinguisher.  Secondly, if you are present when a fire starts and feel comfortable putting out a small fire, it is acceptable to use a fire extinguisher.  The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires employees to be familiar with the use of a fire extinguisher.  If you have not received Fire Extinguisher training you should never attempt to use one.  It is not just a matter of picking the fire extinguisher, pulling the pin, and squeezing.  The training provides instruction on (1) the four types of fires, (2) the type of extinguisher to use for the applicable fire, and (3) how to operate a fire extinguisher.  Contact your supervisor about proper training.  If you see that a fire extinguisher is missing, damaged, or has an out-of-date inspection sticker call Facilities Management at 1-4511.

Fire Drills

Building fire drills take place to confirm that occupants appropriately respond to the fire alarm by evacuating the building.  You should always be aware of egress routes in any building you are in.  Proceed to evacuate the building if you hear the fire alarm.  If time permits, turn off any gas or electrical systems.  Even if it’s a drill your responsibility is to evacuate in a timely manner.

Hot Work

Every year fires destroy buildings costing millions of dollars.  The insurance industry reports that a high percentage of these fires are caused by hot work.  What is hot work?  Hot work is defined as any temporary operation, involving open flames or producing heat and/or sparks.  Examples of hot work include torch cutting, welding, soldering, brazing, grinding.  Hot work is performed several times a week on campus to initiate repairs on facility structures.

The danger associated with hot work is that a flame, i.e. welding, grinding, is introduced into an area that is not designed for such work.  Consequently, DU has a Hot Work Program that provides for training and the use of a hot work permit to ensure controls are adequately implemented to prevent a fire.

Therefore, if you intend to do any kind of hot work, even if it just involves something simple like soldering, you must be trained and you must use a Hot Work permit.  The training will provide instruction on the use of the Hot Work Permit.  The permit is used to document that the work area is properly prepared so that it is safe to perform hot work.

Performing hot work without authorization of a Hot Work Permit is not only a violation of DU policy but could result in a catastrophic event.  Please contact the EH&S Director, if you have any questions about this matter.