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Posted By Phil Tye
We are currently carrying out a full review of our fire procedures, at the minute we have 500+ employees and the supervisors mark each employee in and out as and when they leave site. With all the will in the world it is nothing more than a paper exercise and I have little confidence in it working. I believe when we have a drill the supervisors just mark the person as and when we have a drill. The size of the site also causes problems.
Is it realistic to do away with roll call’s altogether in favor of sweeping the buildings in the event of an alarm activation. I have asked the local fire authority for advice but they told me to review the fire risk assessment and make the decision based upon that. Easier said than done, any ideas for a manufacturing plant?
Phil Tye (CMIOSH)
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Posted By Jonathan Breeze
Phil,
Is there any way you can implement both systems?
They both have their strengths and weaknesses and it is useful to have a backup system in place.
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Posted By Mark Mace
Phil,
might be overkill, but here goes
1) RFID tagging for all personel via means of a name tag.
2) sensors on all doors to track tags
3) Disciplinary action for anyone not found wearing the tag
as i said might be over the top but those are my first thoughts.
Regards
M A Mace
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Posted By Peter Longworth
Phil
I work for a large manufacturing company in the northwest. We have operated a sweep system now for about 4 years and have found that it works very well. There were a few teething troubles at fist, things like:
Should fire wardens be paid extra,
What happens if a fire warden is away at a meeting.
How do you control contractors etc. All you can do is publicise the new system well in advance. Consult properly with the trade unions. Liaise with the local fire service so that they are aware of your system and provide adequate training for fire wardens. Finally have regular drills so that you can quickly identify and iron out any problems.
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Posted By Phillipe
Roll calls are fine and dandy for the type of organisation with a static workforce employed in a relatively static environment.
Personally I have never used them as they do pose problems such as:
- human error factor
- staff leave and systems are not updated
- staff may be off site when the alarm activates
- requires attention to detail which people don't have in an emergency
I prefer to use a system based upon fire wardens and individual floor sweeping. It seems to work much better and is less hassle when it comes to updating control logs, lists of names, etc. The only part of the regime that uses a controlled check list would be reception who would have a list of visitors and they are asked to meet at a visitor rendezvous point
At the end of the day it is horses for courses and you need to identify a system that works for you, but try to keep it simple and effective.
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Posted By Merv Newman
Even with repeated rehearsals (twice a year for years and years) I have seldom known a roll-call to be 100% correct. Even with swipe card activated tourniquets connected to a computer and printer in the gate house. I would still make the effort though. It gives colleagues time to look around for workmates who should be there. Someone might say ; "I thought I saw nelly and jack going in the staionary cupboard half an hour ago. Can't see them now"
It also gives managers something to do and stops them milling around asking daft questions during the first critical moments when you are busy trying to find out what happened. You DO NOT want to be surrounded by a dozen panicky bosses all trying to talk at once.
So, ok, do the risk assessment and the head count but put more confidence in well trained sweeps. And lets have none of that "Do I go into the mens/ladies toilets ?" "Yes you B****y do.And you bang on all of the stalls, call "anyone there ?" and look under all of the doors" (just for feet) This more technically demanding part of the sweep's role is best communicated informally to male and female staff in advance of any practice drill.
I once had the pleasure of being in an hotel which caught fire. (my trainees (petrochem managers) were all out in about 5 seconds). Fire brigade took about 10 minutes to arrive and were not pleased to find that nobody had done a head count nor checked the rooms. Nobody hurt but I had to bin most of my clothes. My somewhat scorched passport (all the gold printing had gone off the cover and two corners were a bit charred) had to serve for another few years).
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Posted By Stephen D. Clarke
I've worked at sites with both systems. At my previous workplace up to 200 staff, little movement off site, computer clock in, few entrances, when the alarm sounded computer at main entrance gave a print out of who was on site. But it didn't always give a quick response, and what if a fire occurred at the entrance?
My current main office complex houses approx 800, it would take far too long to do a roll call which couldn't anyway give a true account of who was in/out, there are several assembly points, several entrances, staff have meetings all around the site and can be on/off site, only their specific unit would know their whereabouts and only then if off site.
We use a sweep system with a large number of fire wardens, sufficient numbers so each can check their assigned rooms in less than a minute so they are not put at any greater risk than other employees and then proceed to their assembly point, all out including wardens within 2-3 minutes.
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Posted By Phil Tye
Many thanks for the responses I think that exploring the sweepers and wardens route seems the best option.
Thanks
Phil
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