The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-15
SAFETY FOR FIREMEN

There has been great deal said
about safety for employees in case of
hre, and much emphasis is being placed
on protective methods, such as an or
derry arrangement of all working ma
terials, constant practice of fire drills
and in the use of ire.fghting equipment
at immediate service in industrial
plants. The safety of employees is the
purpose emphasized. There is another
group of men also highly deserving of
consideration in these protective
schemes.
In case of fire in an industry, that
becomes OF large enough proportions to
call III the company fremen or the
town or city iremen, some thought
should be given in advance to the con.
ditions which would make their work
most safe and efficient. Many of the
conditions which would insure safety
for iiremen are also the same under
which all persons in a plant would be
best protected; but in repeating the de.
tails the fireman S safety is empha-
sized, since to this group of men be.
longs the duty of assuming the most
dangerous tasks connected with burn
ing buildings. The employees duty is
to leave these buildings as rapidly as
possible; the fireman s duty is to enter
and attack the fire
In entering or leaving buildings
with greatest Speed and safety the first
requirement is free passageways. In
plants where the orderly arrangement
of all machinery and materials is the
constant rule, nothing more in this mat
ter is needed as a fire precaution. Or
DERBY arrangement would include aisles
free from any accumulation of mate
rials that would cause a person walk
ing rapidly to stumble or fall. Another
necessity is that the flooring of all
passageways should be level, free from
sudden depressions or any unexpected
irregularities. 1t is to be remembered
that the smoke of fire would be apt
to shut off light in many such places,
and iooring irregularities would be.
come dangerous. All openings to the
floors below, abrupt entrances to stair
ways, elevator shafts, etc, should be
carefully guarded
The need of stopping all machinery
in case of fire is generally recognized
as of great Importance and regularly
attended to; but for the safety of fire.
men entering machine shops it is of
value to emphasize the great danger to
them of machinery left in motion.
Another condition that would great
ly endanger the lives of fremen is the
presence of explosives in burning
buildings. 1t has been found in many
instances that persons constantly
handling explosive liquids or other ma
terial become exceedingly careless con-
eerning it. The remedy would be to
keep all such material in storehouses
built purposely for it at distance from
the main shops that would insure the
least harm in case of fire and explo-
sion.
A frequent cause of accidents to
firemen is falling glass; but, at the
present time, wire glass is coming con-
stantly into greater use and is giving
effective service. 1t not only prevents
accident from falling glass, but is a
greater barrier to smoke and flames.
Wire glass in metal frames used for all
windows is one of the best aids in pre-
venting the spreading of flames and
insuring the safety o. the lives of those
whose duty it is to fight fires.
In view of the fact that in case of
fire the firemen are the ones by whom
the greatest risks must be taken, every
scheme of fire prevention and protection
should include safety not only to the
employees of any industry, but also to
the fremen. 1t is one of the purposes
of the Department of Labor and In
dustry to assist our State industries in
every way possible to prevent fire, or,
in case of its occurrence, to provide
the greatest degree of protection.