A fire develops very quickly. Smoke is more dangerous than flames because it makes it impossible to breathe and see. That is why you need to know the rules before anything happens.
Why fires start
A fire needs three things at once: combustible material, oxygen and a source of ignition. Remove one of them, and the fire will not develop or will go out.
The most common causes at work:
- damaged or overloaded electrical installations and equipment,
- cigarettes thrown away in the wrong place,
- hot work, for example welding, without safeguards,
- careless storage of flammable liquids and rubbish.
Prevention
- Do not overload sockets and do not use damaged cables. Report sparking.
- Smoke only where it is allowed. Put out cigarettes in the containers provided.
- Do not block evacuation exits, extinguishers, hydrants or instruction boards.
- Store flammable materials in designated places and in closed containers.
- After work, check that equipment that does not need to run has been switched off.
The employer must provide firefighting equipment, marked evacuation routes and instructions. The employer also tells you who is appointed for firefighting and evacuation (Article 207¹ of the Labour Code). You must follow fire safety rules, and breaking them can lead to a disciplinary penalty (Article 100 § 2(3) and Article 108).
What you do when you see a fire
The fire protection law says that anyone who notices a fire should immediately warn the people in the danger zone and call the fire brigade. In practice, remember the order:
- Raise the alarm. Shout, trigger the fire alarm, warn others.
- Call 998 or 112. Give the address, what is burning, whether anyone is hurt, and your name.
- Rescue. Help people who are in danger, but do not risk your life.
- Fight only a small fire and only if you can do so safely, have an escape route behind you and know the equipment.
- Evacuate if the fire is growing, there is more smoke, or you doubt that you can manage.
Fire extinguishers
An extinguisher is chosen to match the type of fire. The rule is: do not use water on live electrical equipment or burning fat. First cut the power, if you can. For fires in electrical equipment, CO₂ ("snow") or powder extinguishers are safer. Read the label before use. Practical training in using an extinguisher is part of training with the employer. This course cannot replace it.
Evacuation
- When you hear the alarm, stop work and leave. Do not wait for confirmation.
- Go along the marked evacuation route (green signs). Do not use lifts.
- Close doors behind you. This slows the spread of fire and smoke.
- In smoke, keep low, because the air is cleaner near the floor.
- Gather at the assembly point and report to the person in charge so that they can check that nobody is missing.
- Do not go back into the building until the fire brigade or the incident commander allows it.
- Help people who need support during evacuation, for example people with disabilities.
When clothing catches fire
Do not run. Stop, drop and roll until the fire goes out. You can also wrap the burning person in a fire blanket or a coat.
Key points
- A fire needs combustible material, oxygen and ignition.
- When you notice a fire: raise the alarm, call 998 or 112, rescue, fight only a small fire.
- Never use water on live electrical equipment.
- During evacuation: along the marked route, no lifts, to the assembly point, no going back.