I was watching a show on 9/11 that contained actual footage taken inside the Towers that day. Two brothers were making a documentary about a rookie firefighter growing up and learning his job. It just happened that the rookie was stationed at the first firehouse to respond to the disaster.
What struck me was some of the similarities of what happened in 2001 to what happened in 1911 with the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire–people unable to evacuate, weaknesses or inadequacies in building design and fire protection, even, very sadly, people jumping to their death.
In a prior blog , I wrote about some of the changes that came about as a result of the Triangle Fire.
Here are a few of the changes as a result of the 9/11 tragedy:
- Improvements to NYFD’s communications and monitoring system
- Implementation of 900 mHz so all emergency responders are on the same frequency and can talk to one another
- Upgrades to firefighter breathing apparatus and uniforms
- Changes in hourly fire-resisting ratings used in certain tall buildings
- An increase in minimum exit stair width in certain structures. This increased width allows enough room for people to descend from higher floors while emergency service personnel go up. There is also discussion about the use of elevators in an emergency.
- Provisions for ways to assist people with mobility challenges, such as descent devices and Braille markings.
- Requiring specific evacuation procedures appropriate to the building, occupancy, and emergency, as well as appropria.teness of elevator use, during an emergency.
For more information, NFPA has published a story on the differences that have emerged in the last decade.
CHESS can help you develop an emergency response plan for your workplace.