WORKPLACE SAFETY TRAINING

Is your staff adequately trained when it comes to dealing with a fire or emergency situation in your building? Does everyone know how to evacuate safely and the proper way to account for everyone in your workplace?

The Ontario Fire Code also states “that training must be provided to supervisory staff and building occupants for them to become aware of what to do in case of an emergency.”

This safety training teaches fire and emergency preparedness and how to properly evacuate a building safely. Staff and occupants must be familiar with your building’s safety features, fire alarms detection and suppression equipment and how you can use them to save lives and property. We will also discuss the duties and responsibilities of a building or company’s fire safety responsibilities and floor fire evacuation wardens.

If you would like to train your employees for emergencies like this in your building or workplace, then contact Firehouse Training today to find out what we can do to ensure your compliance with the Ontario Fire Code and Ministry of Labour safety requirements.

When is the last time your company or occupants in your building have conducted a fire drill? Did you know that specific occupancies require a certain amount of fire drills each year? Have you been meeting the standard as laid out in the Ontario Fire Code? Did you know that most fire departments do not conduct fire drills for the private industry?

A fire drill is a rehearsed and planned evacuation. We will help train your building management staff, occupants and employees in fire drill safety. Participants will learn all about the duties of key personnel prior to a fire drill, within our custom training programs and seminars within Firehouse Training.

If your business or building needs some expertise in co-ordinating and running your annual, bi-annual and quarterly fire drills, then Firehouse Training can help you. We can assist in planning and running your fire drill training, contacting your local fire alarm monitoring company and providing a liaise with the local fire department and authority having jurisdiction.

We will also conduct a mock fire drill and provide or clients with an immediate on-site critique, followed by a written fire safety report.

Firehouse Training can provide the following:

• Fire drill staff training in-class
• A rehearsed mock fire drill
• Communication with the local fire department and AHJ
• Written fire safety report

We can help teach and provide on-site staff with fire extinguisher training and certification, to better help them deal with small fires and other issues that may occur in your workplace.

Becoming familiar with other fire safety systems, in addition to the use of a fire extinguisher is imperative throughout various buildings today. Understanding the locations and use of a standpipe hose cabinet, high rise and industrial hose reels, firefighter telephone use, pull station locations and accessing the fire alarm panels and equipment will all be included be our fire extinguisher training seminars as well. We also offer combined training in Spill Response as part of our seminar and course selection. Inquire for more details on this option.

Our fire extinguisher operation seminars will combine theory and hands-on training. You will learn how to identify the different types of fires, what fuels them, how to select the right extinguisher, and how to use an extinguisher properly.

Things to consider, before you even think about fighting a small fire:

• Know how to use a fire extinguisher correctly and safely.
• Stay at least two-three metres away from the fire. Being too close is not only dangerous, but also makes it harder to manipulate your extinguisher and be exposed to smoke.
• Avoid direct smoke exposure. If smoke blocks your vision or can engulf your escape route, you must always leave the building immediately.
• And, be sure your fire extinguisher fits the fire, based on its material and class type.

Is your building meeting the requirements, not only for staff training but fire alarm detection and suppression equipment in your workplace, including the correct amount of fire extinguishers on site, illuminated exit signs, proper control of combustibles and appropriate exits?

Firehouse can assist in providing consultations, checklists and audits to ensure your building is in compliance with the Ontario Fire Code, before you have to deal any issues that come up when dealing with your local fire departments fire prevention bureau and the authority having jurisdiction. Work with us to avoid the hassle of any unforeseen requests, or violation notices during your next surprise fire prevention visit.

Firehouse Training can provide you with:

• On-site fire and life safety walkthroughs and audits
  Immediate critique of any violations, and education on proper compliance
• Provide the training of an on-site fire safety checklist for staff for use in the future
• Final Report of any potential issues, areas of concern and solutions to mitigate the problem to ensure compliance with Ontario Fire Code and Ministry of Labour

It is absolutely imperative to have a fire safety plan for your business. This is not only because it is a prerequisite and major requirement of the Ontario Fire Code, but because it protects the life of the people in your building and your property. Fire prevention and adequate protection must always be congruent with training, preparation and planning. We also include evacuation training, spill response training and spill protection as a component of our fire safety plan training needs.

Firehouse Training can work with business owners, managers and health and safety staff to ensure we create a fire safety plan that doesn’t only work for you, but can be easily implemented through training. All of Firehouse Trainings custom fire safety plans come with staff training and a sign-off sheet to ensure everyone is familiar with and understands the on-site fire safety plan. All fire safety plans must suit the resources and particular layout of each building in Ontario. We create fire plans according to user needs in any type of structure:

• Low-rise, Mid-rise and small buildings (8 stories or less)
• High-rise buildings (8 stories or more)
• Industrial complexes, factories and plant facilities
• Institutional and educational facilities
• Vulnerable occupancies such as retirement facilities and long term care homes

We make sure that every fire plan is customized, created and reviewed in accordance with the Ontario Fire Code. According to the Ontario Fire Code Section 2.8, “the implementation of a Fire Safety Plan helps to assure effective utilization of life safety features in your building to protect people from fire.”

Firehouse Training offers the following fire safety planning services:

• Current Fire Safety Plan reviews, audits, critique
• Staff Training of your current Fire Safety Plan in place 
• Coordination with local jurisdictions and fire department until final approval
• Re-work of your current Fire Safety and Evacuation plans in place
• Development of custom fire safety plans and evacuation drawings

Firehouse Training specializes in dealing with incidents involving hazardous materials and chemical spills in industry and commercial properties and factories. Is your company ready to handle or deal with an emergency like this? Does your building have a spill kit, that hasn’t been opened in years and the staff has not received proper training? 

Did you know that the Ontario Fire code and Ministry of Labour green book requires that all staff be familiar with spill response awareness, and that a spill response checklist must be posted in your workplace when dealing with various products and chemicals. 

We have training staff trained in the areas of hazardous materials technician, and specialist disciplines that can provide training in the notification, communication, mitigation and clean-up of basic workplace spills. We can provide spill response training, in conjunction with our fire safety training to better meet your business health and safety needs.

Firehouse Training can provide you with:

• On-site spill response training seminars (2-4 hours in length)
• Understanding of current workplace legislation and laws 
• Familiarization with on-site spill kits
• Selection of personal protective equipment if required
• Isolation and Identification of products in your workplace
• Building familiarization walkthroughs 
• Mock spill training scenarios 
• Proof of Training Certificates

In our Transportation of Dangerous Goods In-Person Training Course, participants will learn various aspects of Dangerous Goods legislation, Hazards and Classes of Dangerous Goods, Packaging & Labeling, Shipping Documents & Vehicle Loading.

The purpose of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations is to promote public safety when dangerous goods are being handled, or transported. The regulations are a set of rules that prescribe safety standards and shipping requirements for thousands of different dangerous goods across the country.

The Emergency Response Guidebook is used by emergency services personnel to provide guidance for initial response to hazardous material and dangerous goods incidents.

This publication helps to provide consistent emergency response procedures for hazardous materials in North America, and is an essential tool for preparedness, planning, and training. Firehouse Training provides online and in-person training on this guidebook in an interactive, case study driven educational program for industry staff or first responders.

Hot work is any work that has the potential to produce heat, spark, or flame. This may include welding, grinding, cutting, and even drilling. Industry employees who are assigned to perform hot work have the ability to identify and control potential hazards before completing the task.

This Firehouse Training in-person or virtual program will provide students with the ability to recognize the potential hazards and the appropriate controls when performing hot work and explain the different areas of a Hot Work Program, and Hot Work Permit system in industry. During this multi-hour program, participants will be able to:

• Identify general requirements for hot work
• Identify hot work hazards through a job-site risk assessment
• Explain hot work program requirements and controls for the workplace
• Fill out a hot work permit and utilize a hot work program

This Firehouse Training course provides a hands-on introduction and overview to common types of personal protective equipment (PPE) used to protect against common workplace hazards, such as chemicals, noise and mechanical injury.

The basics of PPE are covered, including commercial and industrial training for safe use, understanding the limitations of various personal protective equipment and legal responsibilities in accordance with local jurisdiction and health and safety.

Various topics in this training program include hazard control, PPE familiarization,
responsibilities of workers, supervisors and employers. Most PPE training programs are between approximately 2-4 hours in duration, and can be paired with other training programs offered.

The Firehouse Training employee training Occupational Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) can assist with the goal of preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) if the employees don’t know how excessive noise exposure can harm them or haven’t learned the behaviours that are necessary to reduce their risk.

Employers may be able to improve the success of their hearing loss prevention efforts by strengthening worker training program with this module presented in-class or online by firehouse Training. Most hearing conservation training programs are between 1-2 hours in duration and can be paired with other training programs offered.