JUNE 2022
Dr. Gething noted that one resounding thing that operators do to make a difference is to do a daily walkthrough of the facility with an eye to fire safety.
“What we all really need to understand is that we're all pulling on this rope together as an industry,” he said. “The great thing is that we have opportunities to talk about these things through associations, and hopefully, we can continue to get the word out.”
Fire Safety and Employee Retention
Brint Walker began his presentation by emphasizing the importance of attracting and retaining employees. The creation and maintenance of a safe work environment is a big issue, he said. Fire safety, of course, is a key component of a pallet plant’s safety system.
He observed that there are four basic causes of fire. Three are relevant here: burning debris, human activity, and electrical. He noted that a spark can travel several miles before landing and causing a fire.
With regard to fire extinguishers, he said, there is not an OSHA requirement of locations, but they need to be in a location that's visible and easily marked. If they're not easily visible, there needs to be some sort of signage denoting extinguisher location. Extinguishers are required to be checked at least once a year.
“My advice is to check those more often,” Walker said. He commented that OSHA does not require extinguisher training for employees if you have an evacuation plan. The goal in the case of a fire is to safely evacuate all employees, but he suggested that it was probably advisable to provide supervisory staff with both fire extinguisher and first aid training. He also stressed the importance of fire drills and adequate evacuation signage if needed.
“There is an old saying that practice makes perfect and Coach John Wooden (legendary UCLA basketball coach) changed it to perfect practice makes perfect,” he said.
“I have to tell you that I've never received a call from a client thanking me for saving them money on their premiums when they have a claim,” Walker said. “What they want from the claim is the most that they can possibly get.” (Cont'd on Page 18)
He emphasized the importance of policy review, especially in the current environment of high inflation, making assets more and more costly to replace. Have a complete description of all machinery, including make, model, and serial number, as well as sales or lease documents. They can be stored in a fire safe in your office. If it is stored on an office computer, he recommended having a backup on the Internet.
Anyone requiring additional information can contact Brint Walker (805) 642-5290 (office) or cell at (805) 427-5720.
Coastal States Insurance offers an initial and ongoing safety assessment that includes a review of the safety manual and a safety “walk thru” of the facility. “This is something we do for our clients free of charge as part of our services,” he said.