Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) expert Dr. Tuğçe Oral, who made critical warnings about the risk of fire in construction sites and container cities, explained that most fires at construction sites occur during post-working hours accommodation in containers.
Explaining what needs to be done in case of a fire, Dr. Tuğçe Oral said, “The person who notices the fire should simultaneously reach the nearest fire extinguisher and activate the alarm system. The first 5 minutes are also crucial for proper intervention in a fire.”
Res. Asst. Dr. Tuğçe Oral from Üsküdar Üniversitesi, Faculty of Health Sciences, Occupational Health and Safety Department, made critical warnings regarding the risk of fire in construction sites and container cities.
Construction should not start without a fire risk assessment
Pointing out that most fires at construction sites occur during accommodation in containers after working hours, Dr. Tuğçe Oral explained the steps to be taken to reduce fire risk at construction sites.
“The most known and effective application is to conduct a detailed Fire Risk Assessment, taking into account the type, location, and surroundings of the construction site,” said Dr. Oral, listing the basic precautions that should be taken at construction sites:
“If the construction site is in the rough work phase, employees should be informed, within the scope of basic OHS training, about the location of fire fighting equipment, the list of assigned emergency team members, and the locations of warning-alert buttons. When moving to the fine work phase, an effective fire detection system should be installed; fire extinguishing equipment should be complete, operational, and easily accessible. Especially the pressures of fire extinguishers should be checked at regular intervals. Emergency teams should gain practical experience in both training and application; the work area and environmental layout should be meticulously maintained. Passage ways used by employees should be predetermined, and placing materials on these routes should never be allowed. A site layout that does not obstruct the use of emergency escape routes should be created, and regular inspections and controls should be carried out in this regard. Furthermore, emergency plans and evacuation procedures should be prepared at the start of the project and made ready for implementation. The continuity of all these listed items is ensured through regular site controls and by raising employee awareness on this issue.”
Training stops fire before it turns into a disaster
Emphasizing the importance of fire safety training, Dr. Tuğçe Oral said, “In business sectors classified as very dangerous, detailed training should be given to employees, considering that the machinery and equipment used can cause fires. These trainings are planned with content specific to the work area, within the technical topics section of Basic OHS Training. Even if they are not part of the emergency team, all employees are taught the correct use of fire fighting equipment; theoretical knowledge is supported by practical fire drills. During the trainings, critical topics such as the formation and stages of fire, fire classes and appropriate extinguisher selection, risks that can cause fire and chemicals on the construction site, correct behaviors during a fire, duties of extinguishing and rescue teams, extinguishing techniques, what not to do when using an extinguisher, the importance of the first 5 minutes for intervention, emergency evacuation plans, methods of informing employees, and first aid applications after a fire are conveyed.”
Fire extinguishers should be pressure checked every month
Referring to the control processes of fire equipment, Dr. Oral stated, “Due to the scattered nature of construction sites, emergency exit routes should be checked every day. This ensures both order and teaches employees to act consciously.”
Reminding that fire extinguishers should be pressure-checked and labeled every month, Dr. Oral said, “An unprepared extinguisher can cause a disaster to escalate during a fire.”
What to do in case of a fire?
Explaining what needs to be done in case of a fire, Dr. Tuğçe Oral stated that it is essential to have a fire safety plan specifically prepared for each stage at the beginning of the project.
Dr. Tuğçe Oral, “The person who notices the fire should simultaneously reach the nearest fire extinguisher and activate the alarm system. Employees should follow the determined escape route to the emergency assembly point and should not attempt intervention unless absolutely necessary.”
Dr. Oral stated that while authorized emergency teams intervene in the fire, other personnel should contact the fire department and manage the evacuation.
Heaters are the biggest danger in container cities
Dr. Tuğçe Oral pointed out that container cities are the riskiest areas in winter months, stating, “With falling air temperatures, heaters used inside containers create a major ground for fires. Therefore, if possible, it is very important to cover containers with non-flammable materials and to choose fire-resistant items to be used inside. Technically, it is also crucial for every container to have a fire extinguisher, a detector, fire alarm systems, and a water source nearby, which would prevent the spread of fire in temporary living areas like containers or enable control with proper intervention in a possible situation. Additionally, families living in container cities should definitely be given training and drills on fire classes, situations that can cause fire, and proper intervention. An escape route, assembly points, and rapid evacuation scenarios must be established within container cities.”
Beware of electrical installations!
Dr. Oral pointed out that the most common cause of container fires, especially, is electrical installations or used electric heaters. “Halogen-free cables should be preferred in electrical installations. All electrical appliance cables used inside the container should be regularly inspected visually, care should be taken to ensure there are no cuts or breaks, otherwise they should not be used. Fuses and circuit breakers that will prevent overloading due to increased heating needs with falling air temperatures must be present. Correct capacity calculations must be made. Furthermore, the electrical systems of containers should be made safe with grounding, and cables should be protected from external factors (water, humidity, temperature). Generally, fire risk is reduced by using low-heat, low-energy LED lamps for lighting in containers. Used sockets must have protective covers and be designed not to be affected by water/humidity/dust,” she stated.
First 5 minutes of correct intervention save lives
Explaining what needs to be considered when investigating fire causes, Dr. Oral concluded her words by saying, “It is very sad that warning and alert systems, despite being easily accessible and low-cost today, are not actively used. Just as in first aid in emergencies, the first 5 minutes are very, very important for proper intervention in a fire. Anything can cause a fire at any moment, but every workplace or residence where we stay must have emergency scenarios related to fire, drills related to this must have been carried out at least once, and the situation must have been assessed when escape routes are used without an emergency. In the simplest terms, how many of us keep a ready-to-use fire extinguisher in our homes?”