Fire Safety Fire Evacuation Procedures 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes a 'defend in place' strategy used in some occupancies such as hospitals?
- Moving patients to a safer section of the building rather than fully evacuating (Correct answer)
- Fighting the fire with staff until it is extinguished
- Locking all doors to prevent fire spread
- Evacuating all patients to the parking lot immediately
Correct answer: Moving patients to a safer section of the building rather than fully evacuating
Defend in place (horizontal evacuation) moves occupants who cannot be fully evacuated to a protected area on the same floor or adjacent section.
Question 2: What should an evacuation warden do immediately after all personnel have exited their assigned area?
- Report the area clear to the incident commander or gathering point coordinator (Correct answer)
- Begin fighting the fire with available extinguishers
- Search adjacent areas not assigned to them
- Re-enter to collect personal belongings for employees
Correct answer: Report the area clear to the incident commander or gathering point coordinator
Wardens must communicate area-clear status so the incident commander can track evacuation progress and direct search efforts accurately.
Question 3: A fire door is found propped open with a wedge in a stairwell. What is the correct action?
- Remove the wedge and allow the door to close as designed (Correct answer)
- Leave it open to ensure clear egress for evacuees
- Report it to maintenance after the workday ends
- Only close it if you smell smoke nearby
Correct answer: Remove the wedge and allow the door to close as designed
Fire doors must never be propped open because they are designed to compartmentalize fire and smoke; removing obstructions restores their protective function.
Question 4: During nighttime evacuation of a hotel, guests are unfamiliar with exit routes. What precaution should guests have taken upon check-in?
- Identified the nearest exit from their room and counted door frames to it in case of smoke (Correct answer)
- Requested a room near the elevator for quickest escape
- Memorized the hotel floor plan from the website before arrival
- Kept their room door open so they could hear alarms more clearly
Correct answer: Identified the nearest exit from their room and counted door frames to it in case of smoke
Counting door frames to the nearest exit allows a guest to navigate in zero-visibility smoke conditions using touch alone.
Question 5: Which item should employees take with them during an evacuation if it can be grabbed within seconds without delaying exit?
- Their ID badge or visitor badge to assist with accountability (Correct answer)
- Their laptop and work files
- A fire extinguisher to help fight the fire on the way out
- The office first-aid kit
Correct answer: Their ID badge or visitor badge to assist with accountability
An ID badge helps accountability officers quickly confirm who has evacuated, but no personal item is worth delaying evacuation.
Question 6: If you are trapped in a room during a fire and cannot escape, which action helps signal rescuers to your location?
- Hang a visible object from the window and shout or wave to attract attention (Correct answer)
- Break the window completely to create ventilation
- Hide under the bed to stay below the smoke layer
- Open the door slightly to listen for firefighters
Correct answer: Hang a visible object from the window and shout or wave to attract attention
Signaling from a window helps firefighters locate you without opening the door, which would allow deadly smoke and heat to enter.
Question 7: OSHA requires employers to conduct fire evacuation drills at what minimum frequency for most general industry workplaces?
- At least annually, with additional drills recommended based on risk assessment (Correct answer)
- Monthly for all employees
- Quarterly for buildings over three stories
- Only when new employees are hired
Correct answer: At least annually, with additional drills recommended based on risk assessment
OSHA's Emergency Action Plan standard (29 CFR 1910.38) requires drills adequate to ensure employees know escape routes, with annual drills being the standard baseline.
Fire Safety Fire Evacuation Procedures 5
Which of the following best describes a 'defend in place' strategy used in some occupancies such as hospitals?