7.02.1.01 – Fire Watch Procedure

Purpose

A plan of action, should the fire alarm system and/or the sprinkler system fail to work properly so, as to not provide continuous facility-wide fire detection and alarm capabilities. A fire alarm system could include, but is not limited to: fire alarm panel, smoke or heat detection system, sprinkler system and fire department notification system. The units have vinyl chip epoxy flooring.

Access

Fire Watch Procedures are available in writing in each apartment and comprehended by training of all facility staff.

Staff Training

Facility staff trained in Rescue, Alarm, Contain, and Extinguish/Evacuate (RACE) and the implementation of a facility-wide fire watch.

Documentation

Each tour is recorded with findings noting the date time and staff initials.  A fire watch tour is a periodic walking tour of the entire facility by one or more assigned and trained staff.  The tour monitors the facility through direct observation of all rooms for possible signs of fire. Records of fire drills will be maintained in the CEO’s office.

Identifying Work Hazards

The equipment selected will be used for respiratory protection from potentially airborne infectious diseases; they do not provide protection from chemical exposure. 

Through normal working situations employees may be asked to have contact with clients who could be infected with a potentially airborne infectious agent such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis.  Examples of other potentially airborne infectious diseases that Public Health employees may be exposed to in emergency situations include:  COVID-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), measles, and smallpox. (NOTE: Please refer to policy 6.01-6.10 for full exposure plan and TB specific protocols.)

Occurrences

Fire alarm systems and sprinkler systems outages can occur during construction, maintenance, renovation, electrical storms or other unplanned events, which eliminate part or, all of the fire alarms system.

• Contact the Executive Director and maintenance on-call staff when any problems are encountered with the fire alarm system
• The maintenance on-call staff will contact the fire alarm company and/or the sprinkler system company.  The fire alarm company and/or the sprinkler system company shall be on site or on contract until the system is repaired, replaced or reinitialized and working.
• The maintenance on-call staff will notify the fire department (614-279-6373) that the fire alarm system is not working properly.
• If the alarm system is inoperable for a time period of four (4) hours or more, the Executive Director will notify the Ohio Department of Health District office at 614-466-5357.
• The apartment staff on duty will monitor each of their apartments.The assigned staff person will have no other assignments during the outage period
• Fire watch tours shall occur at ¼ intervals, 24 hours a day.

Last Revised: 4/30/21