Fire Safety Education for Employees
Written by Michael Purser
Workplace fires cause billions of dollars in property damage each year. Worse, they also lead to hundreds of injuries and dozens of deaths.
You can protect yourself and your business from danger. It's critical to know how to prevent damage, disruption and even death from preventable hazards.
This article will help you understand the importance of fire safety training for employees. Find fire safety training courses online to start learning today!
Flammable Hazards on the Jobsite
Combustion needs just three ingredients:
- Fuel: Wood, clothing and certain gasses burn readily
- Oxygen: A blaze can turn fresh air into deadly smoke and suffocate workers
- Heat: Everything from the office microwave to a welding torch can touch off a disaster
These three factors are found in most jobsites. Some environments are more dangerous than others. But workers should always be on guard.
From proper disposal of oily rags to double-checking the electrical grounding of heavy machines, careful hazard management can stop an inferno before it begins. Educated workers can spot the buildup of combustible dust. Knowledgeable colleagues can help prepare and execute an emergency action plan (EAP) in case of accidental ignition.
Hot Statistics
Even a lunch break can turn deadly. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there were 16,500 office and store fires in the United States in 2020. Cooking was the leading cause of those blazes, accounting for 29.4% of incidents. That's almost three times the next leading cause.
Accidents in industrial and manufacturing settings are even more common. The National Fire Prevention Association reported an average of 36,784 cases per year at industrial or manufacturing properties between 2017 and 2021. Damages amounted to more than $1.5 billion annually. That number does not include medical costs or lost productivity.
A Heated History
Tragedy is often at the heart of change.
Chicago adopted its first building code after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. That horrifying blaze spurred legislation that mandated flame-resistant building materials. Those laws are directly responsible for the first steel skyscraper. The Home Insurance Building broke ground in 1884.
One of the worst industrial accidents in U.S. history was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911. On March 25 of that year, 146 garment workers died in a locked factory floor in Greenwich Village, New York. Most of the victims were women and teenagers. The incident shocked the country.
The Triangle disaster was one of several accidents that led to major labor reforms. Emergency preparedness systems improved, too. The “panic bar” door openers found in almost all public buildings were created to prevent similar mass-casualty events.
Most importantly, it was one of the major inspirations for the landmark 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Prevention and Protection Standards
OSHA's mandate includes setting fire safety standards. The administration provides standards for exit routes and emergency planning, hazardous material storage and more. Separate requirements apply to general industry, construction, maritime and others. There is a standard for almost any situation.
Each one can help employers prevent or protect against major on-site hazards. The difference between those two approaches is when they take effect.
Prevention stops accidents from happening in the first place. Safe chemical storage keeps fuel away from ignition sources. Banning smoking from the jobsite reduces unprotected heat sources. Correctly installing electrical devices minimizes dangerous failures.
Fire protection includes anything designed to respond to a blaze in progress. Extinguishers can keep a smoky circuit from burning down an entire building. Evacuation routes tell building occupants where to go when the smoke alarm starts beeping.
Both approaches are vital to protecting your jobsite.
OSHA emergency plans emphasize the value of education in preventing tragedy. Untrained workers could carelessly ignite a blaze. Or they could rush into danger by accident. An appropriate program might be the difference between life and death.
Online Courses
Every business has different needs. We offer a wide range of related courses. Each one is designed to teach crucial lessons to make your job safer.
While each program differs in subject matter, they all share a few key features:
- They're available 100% online. That means no traveling to classrooms or testing centers. Ever. You can finish each lesson from any internet-connected device.
- We offer 24/7 access to all lessons. Finish a quiz during a coffee break. Spend a lazy Sunday afternoon studying. Learn at your pace.
- Instantly download your certificate. Print proof of course completion as soon as you finish the program. Need another copy? No problem. Print as many as you like.
- We offer 24/7 student support. Help is just a message away if you get stuck.
- Lessons include audio narration, interactive activities and quizzes. No matter how you study, we make each topic simple and engaging.
We offer more than 150 industry-leading compliance training courses, including:
Fire Detection and Protection Safety Training for General Industry
This course is a primer on all facets of flammable hazard management on the job. Minimize hazards, plan for the worst and prepare to battle any blaze. Increase emergency readiness levels with sound flame, heat and smoke detection strategies. This class is appropriate for all general industry workers.
Fire Prevention Safety Training for Construction
Construction sites and work zones are prone to ignition hazards. Careless storage or improper use of equipment may lead to disaster. This course teaches valuable construction site precautions. Learn how to establish a fire watch. Properly separate fuel from potential sources of ignition. Use flame-retardant products to minimize hazards.
SST 1-Hour Fire Protection and Prevention
New York City requires construction workers to obtain a Site Safety Training (SST) Card. This DOB-approved class provides one elective hour toward your card. You will study approved protocols and key NYC regulations. Satisfy Local Law 196 requirements as you learn about a deadly hazard.
Using Electrical Safety Programs
Improper installation, grounding and use of electrical equipment are common causes of workplace blazes. This program teaches lessons from NFPA 70E. You will learn how to develop and implement an Electrical Safety Program. It offers a primer on key standards and the use of PPE, too.
Start Learning Today
You can start studying within minutes by enrolling in any of our fire safety training programs. Pick any of the options above or browse our extensive course catalog for the compliance instruction you need.