Fire Plans
The Hindu reports a fire at Railway Hospital in
Perambur, the fourth largest city in India, that began from a spark generated by a window air conditioner. There were no casualties, although the laboratory runs parallel to the hospital's children's wing. And at
Royal Marsden Hospital in London, a fire in a research laboratory spread to engulf a large section of the hospital as reported
here. Only one patient and two firefighters suffered smoke inhalation.
These are recent, not isolated, cases. Fire is always a danger, and hospital laboratories have specific hazards that put you and other employees at risk. These include flammable chemicals, compressed gases, and combustible materials. On-call staffing policies can increase the risk of a fire going undetected. Crowded equipment can create a setting with unseen crushed or frayed electrical wiring that is a serious risk.
OSHA requires employees receive annual fire extinguisher training--a good idea--and all employees should understand fire science and prevention. Paradoxically, fire extinguishers are not designed to put out fires--large ones, anyway--but are for rescue and evacuation. That's why they are located near exits and in egress corridors. A fire extinguisher could just save your life.
Not only should laboratory employees understand fire extinguishers, but there also needs to be an evacuation plan. It's not uncommon for laboratories to have rooms tucked away beyond main corridors. You may not be able to hear overhead pages in all areas. What happens if there is a fire? How do you account for everybody in your laboratory, and how do you keep them safe?
Drills are key to reinforce training. Make sure laboratory employees know the location of extinguishers, how they are used, and what happens when there is a fire. Your maintenance/safety department or local fire department can help.