Fire Safety Fire Evacuation Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a fire warden or floor marshal during an evacuation?
- To fight the fire until firefighters arrive
- To ensure all occupants leave and report to incident command (Correct answer)
- To reset the fire alarm system
- To use the fire hose cabinet
Correct answer: To ensure all occupants leave and report to incident command
Fire wardens sweep their assigned areas to confirm all occupants have evacuated and then report the all-clear to the incident commander.
Question 2: What is a 'shelter-in-place' procedure and when should it be used?
- Evacuating to a designated outdoor shelter
- Remaining inside and sealing the area from external hazards (Correct answer)
- Hiding under a desk during an earthquake
- Locking all doors during a fire
Correct answer: Remaining inside and sealing the area from external hazards
Shelter-in-place means staying indoors and sealing the space from outside air, typically used for hazardous material releases rather than fires.
Question 3: Which OSHA regulation requires employers to have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for fire evacuation?
- 29 CFR 1910.36
- 29 CFR 1910.38 (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.157
- 29 CFR 1910.165
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.38
OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.38 mandates that employers with more than 10 employees have a written Emergency Action Plan.
Question 4: How often must fire evacuation drills be conducted in most US high-rise office buildings?
- Once every five years
- At least annually (Correct answer)
- Every quarter
- Only upon occupancy
Correct answer: At least annually
Most codes and OSHA standards require at least one fire evacuation drill per year for high-rise and commercial buildings.
Question 5: What should occupants do if the primary evacuation route is blocked by fire or smoke?
- Return to their workstation and call for help
- Use the alternate evacuation route identified in the EAP (Correct answer)
- Wait for firefighters to guide them out
- Jump from a window if below the third floor
Correct answer: Use the alternate evacuation route identified in the EAP
Emergency Action Plans require at least two evacuation routes so occupants can use an alternate if the primary is compromised.
Question 6: What information should be reported to the fire department upon calling 911 for a building fire?
- Your personal identification and insurance number
- The exact address, nature of the fire, and if anyone is trapped (Correct answer)
- The value of property at risk
- The time the fire started and who caused it
Correct answer: The exact address, nature of the fire, and if anyone is trapped
Dispatchers need the address, type and size of fire, and whether people are trapped to deploy the appropriate resources quickly.
Fire Safety Fire Evacuation Procedures 2
What is the purpose of a fire warden or floor marshal during an evacuation?