IDENTIFYING HIDDEN HAZARDS
When examining the “lessons learned” from nearly evenarticle on a significant fire, one constant seems to be the critical importance of prefire inspections and planning. The Walsh Recreational Center fire was no different. However, it was obviously not enough to make a quick walkthrough inspection in order to identify the hazard posed by the construction of the gym floor. Countless inspections failed to reveal this hazard. A detailed inspection, perhaps including an examination of the building’s blueprints by someone trained to read them, would have been necessary.
While personnel from the college’s maintenance division routinely accompany firefighters during building inspections, it is doubtful whether maintenance personnel even could have realized how significant a role the “spring wood” floor would play in a fire. It also is uncertain how many of the maintenance personnel even were aware of the gym floor’s construction prior to the fire. Thus, do not assume that people familiar with the building will be able to identify all the fire hazards for you.
How many other “spring wood” gymnasium floors are out there across the country; and perhaps more important, how many other “nightmarish” building practices are sitting out there in silence waiting for firefighters?
