œGLOW-IN-THE-DARK� SIGNS SAVE LIVES and ARE REQUIRED BY LAW!

NYC's amended Local Law 26 makes œGlow in the Dark� signs for Class E Commercial High Rise Buildings MANDATORY
Installation Deadline¦July 1, 2006

Firefox Security offers all required RS 6-1 photoluminescent low-level exit signs and egress path markings certified by NYC DOB MEA. HYLINE SAFETY signs and markings are both affordable and in complete compliance with Local Law 26. Competitive price structures offered.

Turn-key services include:

oComprehensive Property Assessments and Surveys
oSales of NYC Compliant Signs and Markings
oInstallation Services (union and non-union)
oPreparation of Affidavit Filings
oSign Maintenance Programs / Inspection Record Log

Firefox has New York City Department of Buildings
Report of Materials and Equipment Acceptance Division (MEA).

The currently promulgated LL26 has recognized the need to plan for nonfire related emergencies in all commercial office buildings (Class E) 75 feet and higher. All buildings affected by this legislation will be required to create and maintain an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) that will establish emergency response procedures to be followed in the event of incidents and emergencies affecting the building that are separate and distinct from emergencies caused by fire/smoke conditions. NYC Local Law 26 EAP plans must meet strict requirements set forth by the FDNY. However the Emergency Action Plan is devised for non-fire related emergencies. These non-fire related threats require the expertise of individuals with a specialized law enforcement and emergency preparedness planning background.
The types of incidents / emergencies to be addressed by the EAP clearly include, but are not limited to:

Blackout
Biological Incident/Release
Bomb Threat
Chemical Attack
Civil Disturbance
Dangerous/Disgruntled Person
Elevator Entrapment
Explosion (Bomb)
Explosion (Mechanical)
Fire/Smoke
Flood
HAZMAT Spill
Suspicious Package
Mechanical Failure
Medical Emergency
Natural Disaster
Radiological Incident
Severe Weather
Thinking about your personal safety? Plan ahead just in case.

Does your building or business have a Safety Evacuation Plan? Planning for emergencies saves lives. Preparation is usually very simple but must be done and effectively communicated to others in your workplace / living place. It is very important to train for emergencies so that each person knows the correct procedures for a safe evacuation if needed.

BUILDING SAFETY INFORMATION

EVACUTION INSTRUCTIONS

Your immediate response should be:

¢Stop work- Remain Calm
¢Shut Down all equipment
¢Leave your office area - Close your door

EXIT THE BUILDING

¢Walk quickly to the nearest exit
¢Alert other employees
¢Escort visitors from the building
¢Do not panic - Do not run

ASSEMBLY AREA

¢Assemble in your designated area
¢Advise supervisor if anyone is missing
¢Do not return to work area untill all clear signal is given by proper authority

EMERGENCY EXIT ROUTES

¢Post Floor Plans on Safety Information Board
¢Indicate Your Location on the Exit Map
¢Mark Main Exit Route
¢Mark Fire Extinguisher and Fire Alarm Locations
¢Review Emergency Procedures with Employees at Regular Safety Meetings

FIRE EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS

Your immediate response should be:

¢Remain calm
¢Evaluate fire condition
¢Extinguish the fire if possible

BUILDING EVACUATION

¢Sound the fire alarm
¢Follow evacuation procedures
¢Escort visitors from building
¢Never use elevators to exit the building (unless instructed by firefighter officials)

NOTIFY FIRE DEPT.

¢Notify fire dept. of all hazards or evacuation concerns
¢Notify fire dept. of all fire extinguishers used or missing
¢Notify fire dept. of all blocked exits or obstructed aisle ways.



FOUR ELEMENTS OF SAFETY SIGNS AND LABELS

"A product safety sign or label should alert persons to a specific hazard seriousness, the probable consequence of involvement with the hazard and how the hazard can be avoided."- ANSI Z535.4-1998.

Even when appropriate design features and safety devices are incorporated into machinery, some risks may remain. Safety labels alert operators or other exposed workers to these risks, instruct them of the consequences of interaction with the hazard, and convey the severity of the hazard.

Though other standards exist, for products sold in the U.S., ANSI Z535 is the standard that applies. First published in 1981, it was revised in 1998 and again in 2002. For international standards, ISO 3864 can be applied to both Public Area and Facility Signs or Product Safety Labels.

Although ANSI Z535 is a voluntary standard, a legal duty to warn operators and end users of hazards is based on meeting or exceeding this standard. When choosing a safety sign or label, there are four elements to look for. They include the following:
-Signal Word;
-Specific Hazard;
-Probable consequence of involvement with the hazard; and
-How the hazard can be avoided.

The Signal Word communicates the degree or level of hazard seriousness. The other three components: the specific hazard, the probable consequence of involvement with the hazard, and how the hazard can be avoided are communicated through the word message and the optional use of a pictorial.

Signal Word
The ANSI Z535.4 standard (section 4) contains the following Signal word definitions:

DANGER indicates an imminently hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury. This signal word is to be limited to the most extreme situations.

WARNING indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.

CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury. It may also be used to alert against unsafe practices.

In choosing a signal word there are two questions to ask:
1. If the safety label's message is ignored, how severe will the injury be?
2. If the safety label's message is ignored, how likely is it that an injury will occur?

If the answer to the first question, "death or serious injury" is YES: The choice is between DANGER and WARNING.

If the message is ignored, how likely is it that an injury will occur? If it is highly likely (a will likely happen situation) the correct signal word is DANGER.

f it is a possibility (a could happen situation) the correct signal word is WARNING.

If the answer to the first question "death or serious injury" is NO: the correct signal word is CAUTION. The signal word's color background, in accordance ANSI Z53.1 9 (Safety Color Code), in combination with the signal word, communicates the seriousness level of the hazard.

The other three components: the specific hazard, the probable consequence of involvement with the hazard, and how the hazard can be avoided are communicated through the word message and the optional us of a pictorial.

The use of a pictorial is recommended. A pictorial is able to communicate a message across language barriers. It is also a quick, attention getting form of communication.

There are two distinct formats for the pictorial, a standard graphic or a graphic formatted to the ISO 3864 standard.

Note: This article has appeared in the June 2004 issue of Facility Safety Management.