Fire safety and emergency planning in a school setting

Abstract

Fire incidents are common emergencies that threaten schools, potentially leading to human and material costs. Fires may occur through several potential fire hazards commonly present in school settings. Fire safety in schools is an important sector of public health as it safeguards the well-being of students, staff, and surrounding school communities. As such, fire incidents can jeopardize this well-being by causing immediate and potential long-term health impacts. Having fire safety procedures and practices enacted in schools is important for reducing the risk of health hazards associated with fires. This internship focused on fire safety as an occupational hazard in schools, a unique setting that includes a significant number of persons of concern of all age groups. The intern had the chance to work on various fire safety tasks in a real-world setting by implementing a fire safety project. The project aimed to create a safer and more prepared school community, to reduce the risk of fire-related incidents and minimize harm to students, teachers, and other members of the school community. The project's objectives were to identify potential fire hazards by conducting a thorough fire risk assessment and incident investigation, to evaluate the effectiveness of existing fire safety measures in the school and provide recommendations for improvement, to develop and implement fire safety procedures, such as fire response and evacuation plans and training material, and to raise awareness and train the staff, teachers, and students on how to respond in case of a fire through conducting mock fire drills and evacuation scenarios. The internship followed an investigative methodology utilizing qualitative methods, such as interviews and inspections, and quantitative methods using online surveys. Its timeframe was determined from February 1st, 2023, until May 31st, 2023, with the extension of some activities to the beginning of the following academic year.