Sai Fire Safety Checklist

SAI FIRE SAFETY CHECKLISTINTRODUCTIONThe Social Accountability International (SAI) Fire Safety Checklist is a guidance tool prepared forSA8000 & BSCI Auditors to enhance their skills when auditing the occupational health and safetyrequirement of the SA8000 Standard and BSCI Code. The aim of this checklist is to identify thepossible opportunities for improvement for fire safety within the audited workplace.BACKGROUND:Accredited certification to SA8000 provides confidence in the facility’s ability to meet therequirements of the standard.Complying with the requirements for social accountability is intended to help a workplace: Develop, maintain and enforce policies and procedures in order to manage the issues it cancontrol or influence Credibly demonstrate to interested parties that existing policies, procedures and practicesconform to the requirements of the standard or code.Please note: Certification Standards are not alternatives to government regulation and national laborlegislation. This checklist does not replace any provision, standard or rule contained in the SA8000 Standardor BSCI Code. SAI has developed this checklist based on a review of existing fire safety materials, including thatof the International Labor Organization. This checklist is not an exhaustive list of all necessary areas for consideration. The auditorshall add to this checklist any additional items they consider appropriate to improve firesafety at the audited workplace. Completion of this checklist is not a mandatory requirement of an SA8000 or BSCI Audit.COMMON FIRE RISKSThere are a number of common fire risks that may be found at workplaces. SAI highly recommendsthat SA8000 & BSCI auditors keep these common risks in mind when utilizing the SAI Fire SafetyChecklist during the audit. These risks include:Social Accountability International Fire Safety Checklist – Version March 2013

1.Blocked emergency exits.2.Blocked evacuation routes.3.Lack of assembly point directions for evacuation.4.Lockable or locked emergency exit doors.5.Emergency exit leading to dead end.6.Bars on windows.7.No sprinkler system.8.Dysfunctional fire alarm and/or no battery back--‐up.9.Inaccessible or non--‐functioning emergency alarm button10. Non--‐standard or non--‐functioning emergency lights.11. Lack of firefighting equipment.12. Inaccessible and/or inappropriate firefighting equipment.13. Locked fire equipment cabinets.14. Unsafe electrical wiring and/or installations.15. Dirty and dusty workplace.16. Lack of gas sensors around gas--‐using equipment.17. Flammable and hazardous materials improperly stocked and/or labeled18. Lack of manager, supervisor and worker awareness of fire and emergency prevention andresponse procedures.19. Inadequate fire safety and evacuation training.20. Number of workers understated in official records, leading to ineffective evacuation process.21. Lack of an effective risk management process.Social Accountability International Fire Safety Checklist – Version March 2013

THE SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY INTERNATIONAL FIRE SAFETY CHECKLISTSECTION A: MANAGEMENT SYSTEMSThis category refers to the presence and effectiveness of a management system within the facility. Thisincludes all policies, procedures and record- ‐keeping related to occupational health and safety, with aspecific focus on fire safety.SECTION A: MANAGEMENT SYSTEMSYes1Does the facility have any kind of firesafety certificate from a competentauthority (e.g. from the local FireDepartment)?2Is the facility regularly inspected by thecompetent authority that issues thecertificate?3Does the facility have a current riskassessment that identifies the fire risks?4Does the facility have procedures thatspecifically address fire preventionrelated to the identified risks?5Does the facility have emergencyresponse procedures that address themost likely fire risks?6Does the facility conduct an internal laborstandards performance audit, whichincludes fire safety, at least annually?7If the facility conducts internal audits, arethe auditors qualified to perform the audit?8Does the facility have a corrective actionsystem that tracks unsatisfactory facilityconditions until they are resolved?9Does the facility have an emergency plan incase of fire or other emergency?NoComments/Action RequiredSocial Accountability International Fire Safety Checklist – Version March 2013

10Does the emergency plan includeevacuation routes, procedures forpersonnel to follow, assembly areas, fireextinguisher and first aid locations,telephone numbers for fire brigade andmedical emergency responders?11Are there records that indicate regularevacuation drills & alarms tests beingconducted to measure the effectiveness ofthe plan available for inspection?12Have you confirmed through interviewsthat the fire drill and alarm tests areconducted?13Does the facility have an internalcompliance team or a health and safetycommittee to monitor fire risks andprevention?14Does the facility management meet toreview the findings of external and internalsocial audits on a regular basis and arethese meetings recorded?15Have any fire incidents been recorded inthe company in the past year?16Has the facility established a program inwhich workers can make suggestions orcomplaints to management for the purposeof improving the operation?17Does the facility have records that provideevidence of suggestions/complaints madeby workers through the complaint system?Social Accountability International Fire Safety Checklist – Version March 2013

SECTION B: WORKER AWARENESS AND ENGAGEMENTThis category refers to the occurrence, effectiveness and usefulness of fire- ‐safety training and coachingwithin a facility. There is a specific emphasis on ensuring worker comprehension of the training.SECTION B: WORKER AWARENESS AND ENGAGEMENTYes1Does the facility have a workerrepresentative in place to communicatethe concerns and needs of the workers tomanagement?2Does the facility have records of conductinga formal training program through whichnew and existing workers are periodicallytrained on fire- ‐related issues?3Have all workers, supervisors andmanagers been trained on issues relatedto fire risk and evacuation?4Are the workers and supervisors able toexplain one task that is routinelyperformed to assist with fire prevention?5Are workers able to explain the fireevacuation plan and their assigned role &responsibilities should a fire take place,and able to recall the last fire drill?6Have workers been trained on the use offirefighting equipment (i.e. extinguishersand water hoses)?7During training, have all workers used theequipment in extinguishing a fire?8Do the workers know the location of thefirefighting equipment?9Does each worker know his or herassigned assembly area during a firedrill?NoComments/Action RequiredSocial Accountability International Fire Safety Checklist – Version March 2013

SECTION C: EVACUATIONThis category examines a facility’s capacity to quickly, efficiently and safely evacuate. The conditionand presence of the following will be examined: emergency exit doors, evacuation routes, assemblyareas, alarm systems.SECTION C: EVACUATIONYes1Are aisles, escape routes and fire doors freefrom obstruction (i.e. product or waste) andclearly illuminated?2Is there proper signage in all relevantlanguages in the facility to clearly indicateexits and escape routes?3Is there a functioning fire alarm system thathas been recently tested?4If the alarm system is electrically powered,does it have a back- ‐up power supply?5Are there clear instructions, strategicallyplaced, reminding workers on how tooperate the fire alarm system?6Are there signs directing all workers to theirrespective assembly areas, in languages theycan understand?7Are there exit signs located above each exitand are they clearly illuminated?8If there documented evidence (e.g. validinspection certificates) that the fire doorsmeet the local code?9Do the fire doors open to the outside ratherthan a confined space within the buildingsuch as a hall or corridor?10Do the fire doors have push bars to open thedoor manually?11If the push bars are operated electrically isthere an override in the event that the facilityloses power?NoComments/Action RequiredSocial Accountability International Fire Safety Checklist – Version March 2013

12Are all fire/exit doors un--‐lockable?13Are the type and size of the exits suitableand sufficient for the number of workers?14If more than one floor exists in the facility, isthe staircase sturdy and sufficiently wideenough to accommodate fleeing workers inthe event of fire?15Have warning signs been placed on allelevators/lifts indicating that they must notbe used in case of fire?16Do smoke detectors have a reliable powersupply?Social Accountability International Fire Safety Checklist – Version March 2013

SECTION D: FIRE SUPPRESSION EQUIPMENTThis category examines a facility’s capacity to appropriately respond to a fire should one occur. Thisincludes looking at the presence of fire- ‐fighting equipment as well as the condition and maintenance ofsuch equipment.SECTION D: FIRE SUPPRESSION EQUIPMENTYes1Is there a local fire brigade that could get tothe facility within the appropriate time in caseof fire?2If not, does the facility have its own firebrigade?3Are emergency numbers posted clearly andstrategically?4Does the facility have an adequate number offire extinguishers, charged within the statedlimits, to meet local codes?5Is there documented evidence that the fireextinguishers are inspected internally on aregular basis?6Is there documented evidence that the fireextinguishers are inspected by a competentexternal authority on a regular basis?7Are the fire extinguishers adequate to addressall types of fire possibilities of the facility?8Are the locations of extinguishers and firehoses clearly identified and unobstructed?9Are sprinkler systems or water hoses availableand connected to an adequate water supply?10In case of fire, is the facility’s water pump andwater pressure adequate to reach and maintainwater flow to the highest floors?11Are key personnel assigned and trained tomaintain the firefighting equipment withinnormal parameters?NoComments/Action RequiredSocial Accountability International Fire Safety Checklist – Version March 2013

SECTION E: FLAMMABLESThis category refers to the safe management and handling of flammable products and equipmentwithin a facility.SECTION E: FLAMMABLESYes1If there is a generator on- ‐site, is the fuel inproper containers and removed from any sourceof ignition?2Are any chemicals on- ‐site properly stored incontainers and labeled correctly?3Are any chemicals that can interact togetherkept apart in appropriate storage containers?4Are the steam boilers on- ‐site properlymaintained and inspected on a regular basis?5If open flames are in use during production,are appropriate measures taken to ensure firesafety with regards to use of such equipment?6If there are cooking facilities and propane gastanks, are they kept at a safe distance from anignition source?7If welding is conducted in the facility, is itcontrolled and properly managed?8Is there any periodical housekeeping processconducted in the facility?9Are flocks of dust cleaned from the machineryperiodically?NoComments/Action RequiredSocial Accountability International Fire Safety Checklist – Version March 2013

that SA8000 & BSCI auditors keep these common risks in mind when utilizing the SAI Fire Safety Checklist during the audit. These risks include: Social Accountability International Fire Safety Checklist - Version March 2013 1. . Unsafe electrical wiring and/or installations. 15. Dirty and dusty workplace. 16. Lack of gas sensors around gas .