It should be the policy of an organization to take all rational and practicable steps to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees and to protect all other persons against hazards to safety and health under their premises and its activities. The Safety awareness among individuals in an organization and realistic emergency procedures should be strictly in place to safeguard against accidents and injuries. But when your Emergency arrangement is not yet well structured or there is no such arrangement in your organization at all, at least you or your superior must be able to react efficiently at your own level and capabilities to evacuate others away from danger. That is why it is very important to assign a responsible person in case an emergency arises. Herein you will find the general procedures on an emergency and how to evacuate safely from your building premises to a safe area:
1.        Immediately upon hearing the fire alarm or an announcement to evacuate, all personnel shall do so calmly. On your way out, turn off lights and all electrical equipment and proceed to your designated assembly points; or to an area clear from walls, buildings and other dangers in case you do not have this arrangement.
2.        A responsible person shall let their subordinates to form two lines (only when dealing with a huge crowd or evacuating from narrow corridors) inside the premises and prepare to move out. Unless they receive contrary instructions, they shall lead towards the exits until they reach the assembly point.
3.        Everybody shall walk briskly but do not run, push nor attempt to overtake one another. The responsible person shall call the roll to account for individuals under their look-out. Should there be anybody missing, the responsible person shall immediately inform authorities so that actions can be made.
4.        Do not let anybody to re-enter the building unless it has been secured and confirmed that it is clear and out of danger.
Emergencies are unpredictable. So be prepared when it happen.
You may also like to read: http://www.web-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Bear-Facts-about-Personal-Safety-and-Self-Defense/

Fire is probably the greatest single safety-related threat to our workplaces, our homes and the members of it.   Even if everyone were to escape safely, a fire could destroy our facilities and all our documents and data.   It is important therefore that we do as much as we can to prevent a fire starting.   If despite our best efforts a fire should start, a fast and effective response can help save life and property.  So I made a simple guide and hope this will make you aware of the procedures in case a fire arises.

If you discover a fire, it is important to take the following steps in the order given:
1)         Sound the alarm whether the fire is still small as no fire is so small that the alarm does not need to be sounded.  A fire extinguisher should not be discharged onto a fire until the alarm has been sounded.
2)         Get someone to call the fire department.
3)         Warn others in the area by shouting “fire”!  as some people do not always respond immediately to fire alarms and may only think of it as a false alarm.
4)         Only if you can do so without putting your own safety at risk, attempt to fight the fire with a suitable extinguisher, otherwise close the door to the area where the fire is to contain the fire and leave the building and await the arrival of the fire brigade.           

If you hear the fire alarm (normally a continuous ringing of the bell for more than 10 seconds):
1)         Check the rooms near to yours, if you can, to ensure the occupants have heard the alarm and have left
2)         Leave the building by the nearest exit and go to the assembly points
3)         If you have any information about someone who might be still in the building, report to the person in charge.
Do not re-enter the building until the fire alarm has been silenced.
Always make it a daily habit to check that corridors and escape routes must be kept clear. Combustible materials should not be stored in corridors or on escape routes where they could become a source of fire and smoke.
 
Furniture and other items should not be placed so they partially block escape routes. Narrowing of escape routes will reduce the rate at which people can leave the building in an emergency.  In a corridor filled with smoke, furniture can create a serious obstacle for someone who is trying to find their way out. To read on the overview of Fire, click here or check the gallery section for firefighting photos.

     The word hazard could either be any activity, situation or substance that can cause harm. Hazards can:
     * be actual or potential
     * be physical, biological or behavioural, including temporary conditions such as fatigue, shock, alcohol or drugs
     * arise or be caused within or outside a place of work.
      Overall, the aim of this is to minimise accidents and ill health on workplace.
    To further minimize accidents and/or minimize ill health on workplaces an assessment should first establish what (if any) hazards are present at the place of work and then identify the most effective way to manage them. The assessment will depend on the nature of the activity and the type and extent of the hazards and risks. The process should be simple, but meaningful.
     The preferred action or safe guard is to eliminate the hazard so that it no longer poses a risk to safety. If this can’t reasonably be done, the hazard should be isolated. If this can’t reasonably be done, the danger posed by the hazard must be minimised.

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 Bomb threats are very rampant now especially in the Philippines. So I made a safety measure which could help you guide whenever a Bomb threat is called in or you find a suspisious package left unattended.
Indicators of a possible:
-Strange, unusual, unattended baggages, bags, boxes or parcels;
-Tightly wrapped and compact packages or parcels;
-Oily strains on an envelope or wrapping;
-A ticking sounds similar that of a clock is heard;
-Presence of electric wires, plastic cord and batteries in a baggage, bag or box;
-Delivery of unexpected package or parcels;
-Keep in mind that bombs can be constructed to look like almost anything and can be placed or delivered in many ways.
Don’ts 
-Don’t panic;
-Don’t touch the suspected incendiary device or bomb;
-Don’t move or attempt to open suspicious or unattended packages;
-Don’t receive any package, bag, box or parcel from strangers;
-In case of actual explosion, don’t tamper with the debris. 
Do’s
-Move at least 300 feet away from the bomb;
-Turn off electrical and gas units when possible;
-Report immediately the presence of suspicious packages to the building administrator or chief security guard or uniformed personnel;
-Call the nearest police station.
In Case a Bomb Threat is called in…
-Keep the caller or line as long as possible. Record every word spoken by the caller;
-Ask the caller where the bomb is located and what time it will detonate;
-Pay attention to background noises, such as motors running or music playing, which may give a clue as to the location of the caller;
-Listen closely to the caller’s voice (male, female), voice quality (calm, exited), accent, speech impediment;
-Report information immediately to the authorities;
-Remain available. Law enforcers will want to interview you.

 Here I will discuss the basics of fire. This topic was the same topic I discuss during the Emergency Preparedness Seminar/Traing on Portable Fire Extinguisher held last November 8, 2008 at Capitol University. To access photos during the event go to the Gallery section. To download the powerpoint presentation, go to the Downloads section. 

FIRE – it is a chemical reaction that takes place between fuel, heat and oxygen
in form of light and noticeable heat.      
HOW FIRE BURNS?
Fire occurs whenever a given material is heated on the presence of oxygen to a temperature corresponding to the ignition point of the material.
 FUEL – any substance that will burn when heated or hot enough in the presence of sufficient oxygen.
OXYGEN – atmosphere consists of 21% of oxygen, 78% nitrogen and 1% of other elements.
HEAT
Three Stages:
1. Flash point – lowest temperature at which a flammable substance will give off vapor that will ignite when a flame or spark is introduced in the presence of sufficient oxygen.
2. Fire point – a temperature which is a few degrees higher than a flash point in which a flammable substance will continue to burn after it has been ignited.
3. Ignition point – a temperature which is higher than a fire point at which a substance is heated to give off vapor that will burn without the application of spark or a flame in the presence of sufficient oxygen.
Breaking the Fire Triangle
 Removal of Fuel:
• Shut off fuel supply
• Jettisoning or relocation  
Reduction of Heat:
• Use something that will absorb heat
• Water is the best cooling agent  
Control of Oxygen:
• Closing ventilation
• Displace or dilute oxygen by means of CO2
• Blanketing     

 CLASSES OF FIRE  
Class “A” – combustible materials
 •      Characteristics – deep seated, leave ash and embers.
•      Extinguishing method – cooling  
Class “B” – flammable liquid, gases, greases and similar products.
•      Characteristic – surface burning.
•      Extinguishing method – cut off oxygen supply or prevent flammable vapor from being given off.  
Class “C” – electrical fires
•      Characteristic – electrical shock
•      Extinguishing method – use non-conducting extinguishing agent.  
Class “D” – combustible metal fires