There's No Way Out: They're Required By Law
The year was 1975. It was a hot July night in Boston when fire engines roared to Marlborough Street to save two young girls from a blazing apartment fire. Frightened and panicked, the girls were at least able to move away from the flames and walk out to their building's fire escape to await their rescue. A firefighter and fire engine ladder were seconds away from bringing the girls to safety when suddenly the fire escape collapsed from under them, dropping the two girls into a free fall of about 50 feet to the ground. One girl died from her injuries within hours. This tragedy was a turning point not just for the people involved, but it prompted Boston to revise legislation regarding fire escape safety. Read more about this story that changed Bostons laws and regulations on fire escape safety.One of the laws is that fire escapes must be inspected every 5 years.
Every building must have two separate forms of egress. Fire escapes are one of the more common forms of egress and people often take them for granted. You can't and you shouldn't, as the scenario above shows.
How would your fire escapes hold up?
Find out by getting in touch with GSS for a fire escape inspection. As foremost safety experts, we know how important this type of inspection is. We'll send out one of our licensed Professional Engineers to do a thorough examination and overview of your entire fire escape system -- from performing necessary
GSS is your go-to expert on safety -- whether it's fall protection, rooftop assessments, load testing, guardrails, façade inspections, or fire escape inspections.
Fire escapes need to be 100% operable, and GSS can help make sure that's the case with your building. Because people's lives are at stake. Contact nbellew@generalsafetyservices.com today for your fire escape inspection.
-Stay tuned for our next blog featuring OSHA"s Walking and Working Surface regulations CFR 1910.27 for Rope Descent Systems.
