Fire Inspection Checklist

Any problems with potential freezing of sprinkler pipes  

Was the fire pump tested for churn O rated EH overload EH  

Are approved safety cans used for handling flammables  

Are empty wooden pallets stacked at 6 heights or less  

Are combustible waste materials removed on a regular basis  

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During inspection, be sure that the correct class of extinguisher is properly located next to the hazard it is intended to control. Figure 5-3 represents a fire inspection checklist. 

The date the inspection was performed and the initials of the person performing the inspection should be recorded. Records should be kept on a tag or label attached to the fire extinguisher, on an inspection checklist maintained on file, or in an electronic system that provides a permanent record. 

Each building or area should be assigned to a specific person who clearly understands that he or she is responsible for the building and accountable for all aspects of the fire plan. This includes fire inspections and items on the inspection checklist, tools, and equipment being used by the employees. 

The Special Supplement concludes with a bibliography and appendices which cover useful standards, books and journals on occupational health and safety and fire safety, safety organizations in the UK and USA, and a model safety inspection checklist. However, lists of manufacturers, suppliers and distributors are not included for the reason that addresses, and even the names of companies, have the habit of changing so rapidly as to render their inclusion unhelpful. 

Compile a fire-safety checklist and set up an inspection programme to regularly monitor observance and remedy defects. 

Generic inspection checklists can be used to save time in covering areas of universal concern such as basic life safety, housekeeping, or fire protection. However, generic checklists need to be customized for the specific operational needs that may exist. 

Inspections consist of a visual check of the fire protection systems by qualified personnel to ensure the system is available for immediate use. Visual checks should be made using a checklist. The inspection should verify that the fixed and portable equipment is ready to be operated. The associated devices, fittings, piping, and valving are inspected to ensure they have not been tampered with and that there is no obvious deterioration, physical damage, or condition to prevent operation. Documentation of the visual inspections may vary from... 

Checklists are a valuable tool for documenting the inspection, test, and maintenance of fire protection equipment and systems. The CD-ROM accompanying this book contains checklists developed by one company. Many small and medium size companies may not have the resources to develop these checklists. 

Fire-fighting equipment can be portable, mobile, or fixed, and may be manual or automatic. Because of the prime importance of operational fire-fighting equipment, strict equipment inspection schedules are adhered to and recorded. Defective equipment is immediately replaced. Inspection of fire and safety equipment is normally carried out by process employees as part of their scheduled routines. Firefighting equipment that would be on their checklist include ... 

The following are some of the practices which can help ensure that fire hazards are reduced to their absolute minimmn. As with any inspection, it is efficiently carried out if a checkhst is prepared first. You m wish to consider the following in the checklist you prepare ... 

The commonest way to introduce order into safety inspection is to use checklists, and there are many examples—most textbooks on safety contain at least one. Although the examples can be used as models, the best checklists are those constructed for a particular workplace. The basis for them all, though, is much the same. They comprise a list of types of hazard, together with a list of how hazards could manifest themselves. Within a museum workshop, the main types of hazard are likely to be fire, chemicals, electricity, radiation, machinery, handling equipment, micro-organisms and the general work layout. Most of these are self-evident from a quick inspection of the workplace. 

Theme-specific checklists are developed in order to secure a reliable and comprehensive mapping of deviations. It is recommended that the checklists be made company-specific. Typical input to the design of such checklists is regulatory requirements, company standards and experience from accidents, near accidents and previous inspections. An example of a checklist for inspection of fire protection is shown below ... 

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