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FIRE SAFETY

Safety at the Office

There are a range of fire safety equipment that can help prevent fires. Fire blankets and fire extinguishers can help putting out a minor fire and prevent it from spreading further. Ensure you are using the correct fire extinguisher. If in doubt, contact us for your Fire Training requirements. Choose an extinguisher that is approved by the Australian Standards and have it serviced every 6 months. Only use a fire extinguisher if it is safe to do so and the fire is small.

Each fire extinguisher must:

  • be serviced every 6 months by an authorised person.
  • be readily accessible and have a surrounding clearance of at least 1m.

When using an extinguisher - remember the PASSword:

  Pull the pin
  Aim low, point to the base of the fire
  Squeeze the handle
  Sweep from side to side until the fire is extinguished

Fire Blankets are ideal for oil and fat fires and can be used to wrap around a person if his/her clothes are on fire.

See our Safety Tips and Extinguisher Guide for more information.

Safety at Home

By making your home fire safe, you can save the lives of your loved ones and reduce the damage to your property significantly for example, install fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and have a fire blanket in your kitchen. Ensure you have an evacuation plan and that everyone in the family knows it well.

Teach your children about fire safety and keep lighters and matches where it cannot be found by little hands. Use heaters only as directed by the manufacturer. Check your smoke alarms regularly and replace the batteries if they are flat.

When you make your home safe from intruders, keep in mind the issues of life protection in the event of a fire. There are many security devices, such as deadlocks and window grills that prevent intruders getting into your property by these same security devices can prevent you and your family from getting out.

Install deadlocks that can be opened from inside without a key, otherwise leave the key in the lock or on a hook outside the reach of potential intruders and have locks keyed alike. When installing security grills on windows, select a unit that can open without keys from the inside. Ensure the grill opens outwards. Be prepared to smash a window to enable escape.

Smoke Alarms are compulsory for all homes in Queensland. Smoke alarms alert and wake people, allowing them to escape from a burning building. When you sleep, so does your sense of smell. Toxic smoke can overcome you before you wake up.

Reports indicate that the risk of death in a house fire reduces by more than 50% if a smoke alarms is installed and of course - work properly.

The level of protection against fire increases with the quality, type and number of smoke alarms installed. Smoke rises and therefore smoke alarms should be installed in the ceiling. The ideal locations for smoke alarms are:

  • Between bedrooms
  • On every story of a multi-level house
  • In every area, if there are separate sleeping areas.
  • Inside the bedroom if you are a heavy sleeper of if you sleep with the door closed.

Do not place smoke alarms in the kitchen, near doors, windows or air conditioning as this could result in the alarm going off at any time.

Check the smoke alarms once a month by pressing the test button. Keep them clean from dust and debris. Replace the batteries at least once every 12 months. Some alarms will beep if the batteries are low. Never remove batteries from the smoke alarms. Check the manufacturer's instructions for the time to replace the alarms.

Kitchen

Most fires in the kitchen start from cooking. Never leave cooking unattended. If you must leave the kitchen, turn off all the plates and take the pots off the stove. Keep the cooking area clear. Curtains, tea towels and oven mitts should be kept away from the cooking area - even when the hot plates are turned off. Don't get into a habit of putting utensils or other flammable items on the stove.

Be careful when cooking with oil. Use the right type and size of pot or pan and keep the heat of the plate low enough to avoid fat spatters. Always keep your cooker clean from grease.

Never put out oil and fat fires with water. This could result in horrific injuries and could cause the fire to spread more rapidly. Ensure you have the correct fire extinguisher and a fire blanket in your kitchen. If possible keep it close to the kitchen entrance. Familiarise yourself with the use of the extinguisher.

If a fire starts in the kitchen:

  • Turn off the heat source, whether it's the stove or an appliance.
  • If oil catches fire, slide a lid over the pot or pan or use the fire blanket to smother the flames. Then turn the stove off.
  • Do not remove the pan/pot from the stove until it has cooled down. Never attempt to run outside with a flaming pot or pan! Wait until the pot has cooled down before removing the fire blanket or lid.

Electrical

Potential electrical fire hazards are everywhere. A build up of dust, trash and spider webs is an invitation for a fire to start. Many fires start from defects in or misuse of the power delivery system. Faulty installation, overloading, physical damage and aging can all result in fires. Replace old appliances and have the power delivery system of your house checked for safety. If a circuit breaker trips repeatedly, check for faults in the line or devices. Do not resume power use until the problem is fixed.

If a fire starts at a wall outlet:

  • Pull the plug by the cord or turn off the main switch.
  • If the fire is small, use your CO2 fire extinguisher. Never put water on an electrical fire.
  • If the fire is large, call 000. Do not try to extinguish the fire yourself. Evacuate everyone from the home.

Child Safety

Children are fascinated by fire. Parents have a vital role to play in educating their children about fire safety. Teach older children how to use matches safely and the importance of only lighting a fire where adults can supervise.

Smaller children tend to play with fire where their parents cannot see them e.g. their bedrooms. Keep matches and lighters away from small children. Be aware that children watch and copy behaviors, so set a good example around the home in the way you use heaters, open fires and other heat sources.

Do not allow children to use stoves without supervision and make sure that all pot handles are turned away from the front of the stove.

Keep children at least 1 meter away from heaters.

Never leave children unsupervised near an open fire.

Do not use an electric blanket if your child is prone to wetting the bed.

Teach your kids about 000. Young children are capable of learning how and when to dial 000. Explain it to them carefully. Put the emergency number on the wall by each phone,and in their line of sight, so it's clearly visible to them. Some people (not only children) panic and forget to dial or assume someone else has dialed 000. Go through the steps of what happens when the operator answers the emergency call:

  • Tell the operator what service you want - the police, the fire or ambulance service.
  • When you are connected you will be asked what type of emergency it is - e.g. a house fire.
  • Teach them the full address. However if they are too small to remember, caller line identification will give the operator the address they are phoning from.
  • Tell the operator if someone is hurt.
  • Wait outside the house until the Emergency Service arrives.