FIRE ESCAPES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 130, 26 February 1929, Page 13

FIRE ESCAPES

A SPECIAL INQUIRY

IGNORANCE OF REGULATIONS

LECTURES TO BE ARRANGED

The Department of Labour, which is particularly interested in the welfare of factory workers, has been engaged during the last few months on a special inquiry into the provision of fire escapes throughout the city, especially in the cases of those factories situated above the ground floor. In conjunction with Captain T. T. Hugo, the Government Inspector of Fire Brigades, the officer in charge of the Department’s local office (Mr. A. E. Waite) has visited many of the larger factories. As a result, it is stated, some fire escapes that were considered inadequate have been brought into conformity with the regulations, and in other cases (generally new premises) where no escapes were provided satisfactory provision has been or is being made. “A feature of the inspections was that in many cases the employees were found to be unaware either of the existence of the fire escapes provided or of the means of access to them,” says the Department in a statement issued yesterday. “The requirement of the regulations that access to fire escapes must be kept clear of all obstruction was frequently not continuously observed.

“Another‘regulation that did not appear to be generally known to factory occupiers or to assistants was that by which a duty is placed upon the occupier to arrange for the workers employed above the ground floor to select at least one representative from among themselves who is required, together with the occupier, to test all fire escapes and approaches thereto within the factory at least once every three months. Special attention will be paid to this regulation and to the necessity for its observance in the lectures to which reference is made below. The purpose of this regulation is first to ensure that the escapes are kept constantly in order for immediate use when required, and also that the employees, through their representative, may at all times be familiar with their location.

In a city like Wellington, where so many of buildings are constructed of wood, and are old and consequently dry, escape in cases of emergency might be a matter of moments—particularly where a fairly _ large staff of assistants has to be considered. The Department has adopted the view that lifts, whether passenger or goods, are pot to be considered as a means of egress on account of the fact that they are generally put out of action as soon as outbreaks occur. On this account an alternative means of egress apart from the lift is insisted upon. “As a means of bringing before the notice of factory occupiers generally, the need both of satisfactory provision in this connection, and also of the education of workers in the use of it. Mr. Waite has arranged with a large number of local occupiers of factories to allow the superintendent of the Fire Brigq.de (Mr. J. Creeke), or one of his officers, in conjunction with an officer of the Department, to address workers on the subject generally of fire prevention, and of the use of fire escapes. A number of circulars were disnatched to factory occupiers asking that such arrangements be made, and the response was. in practically all cases, satisfactory. It is expected that these lectures will be given during the course of the next few weeks, and anv occupiers, whether of factories or of other premises, who would be willing to allow their staffs jo be addressed in a similar manner, should communicate with the Department."