The National Fire Protection Association, Research Paper Example

In being a safety professional, one of the primary tasks is to comply with OSHA safety standards in regards to fire and lighting safety. The requirements of OSHA is to hold companies to a number of different fire safety locations in which help ensure the people and the company are safe. While the all the standards of OSHA may be daunting to the outside viewer, they are mandatory in ensuring that the company follows the safety requirements. In looking at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)101, it is apart of the standards that OSHA uses as a benchmark for fire egress used in the insurance industry. The importance of OSHA using NFPA codes is “OSHA references NFPA 101, the Life Safety Code, clearly demonstrating that OSHA looks to NFPA’s expertise for assistance in developing standards” (Adams, 2007). The purpose of implementing the code is that OSHA is continually updating their outdated or unnecessary requirements in order to comply with standards that are useful in the industry.

OSHA Standards 1910.34, 1090.36, and 1910.37 covers each employer that work in the general industry, in which have exit routes so that employees will be able to immediately evacuate in case of an emergency. As buildings change to meet the modern demand, codes must be regularly updated to overwrite inconsistencies, and prepare for worst case scenarios. These codes are implemented in order to ensure that employers keep their employees safety in the best interest. According to OSHA in revising and implementing NFPA 101, “they believes that the proposed revisions will reduce compliance costs, eliminate paperwork burdens, and clarify requirements without diminishing worker protections” (OSHA, 2010). NFPA 101 not only coincides with existing OSHA standards, but also placed necessary conditions that include lighting, making exits more adequate,  and making requirements that are useful in fire, non-fire, and other non-emergency situations.

References

Adams, Dr. Shawn. (2007). Complying with OSHA’s Fire Safety Standards. Occupational Health & Safety. Retrieved from http://ohsonline.com/articles/2007/04/complying-with-oshas-fire-safety-standards.aspx

OSHA. (2010). Standards Improvement Process. Department of Labor. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=21620