Inspection and Safety Matters

Call 911 for all campus emergencies

Most of us give little thought to our surroundings until there is an accident. "Who put that cord across the floor?" "Who left those boxes in the hallway?" We all notice what should have been done after an accident has occurred.

We tend to assume that our offices and buildings are safe, and that any hazardous condition or activity will be dealt with accordingly.

If a knot of extension cords shorts out and causes a fire, would you be able to use the nearest fire extinguisher? What if the extinguisher is empty--or unreachable--or isn't even there? What if you're in an unfamiliar building and can't find your way out because the exit sign is burned out or missing? What if the emergency exit is blocked or locked? Who checks on these things?

Departments are notified of safety violations with a letter from EHS.

Teaching labs are inspected twice annually, and a report submitted to the involved departments, facilities maintenance, and high level administration.

Many inspection functions are fulfilled by public agencies such as Normandy Fire Protection District, and St. Louis County Dept. of Health. This will include inspection of food service areas, swimming pools, irrigation systems, and fire pump operation. EHS will coordinate many of these inspections with the affected departments.

Facilities Maintenance checks all fire extinguishers in each building to make sure they are ready for emergency use. Sometimes extinguishers are found empty. Someone has either used it on a small unreported fire (all fires should be reported) or has discharged it "for fun." Occasionally extinguishers are stolen. If not discovered and corrected, these situations can make a big fire out of a little one. The purpose of fire protection equipment is to be available when needed.

The Environmental Health & Safety Department is responsible recommending the type and size of fire extinguisher for a particular location.

Five Main Types of Extinguishers and Their Uses:

APW: Air Pressurized Water, used mainly on wood, paper and trash. Do not use on chemicals, grease or electrical wiring.
ABC: Contains mono-ammonium phosphate with a nitrogen carrier and other ingredients to keep it flowing. Used on paper, trash, wood, liquid greases, and electrical wiring--not for computers or radio equipment.
DC: Dry Chemical: basically, baking soda with nitrogen carrier and other ingredients. Used for liquid greases and electrical--not for paper, wood or computers.
Halon: Bromochlorodifluormethane, good for computers and electronic eqipment. Also can be used on paper trash, wood, and liquid greases.
CO2

Environmental Health and Safety

Inspection and Safety Matters

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