The interview was conducted with R. S., a fire inspector at Portland Fire & Rescue in Portland, Oregon. Mr. S. answered a few of the questions below.
- What is the most common disorder you must deal with?
Improper placement of fire extinguishers.
- What incidents are the most difficult to deal with?
Blocked passage to the building.
- What are the requirements for fire inspectors?
Certificates of passing the required qualifications.
- What is the daily routine of a fire inspector?
The working day is usually different for all departments.
- What are the main duties of a fire inspector?
Monitor compliance with fire safety regulations.
- How can safety inspectors in different buildings help the work of a fire inspector?
Comply with established safety rules
Qualified fire inspectors are very important because people’s safety depends on their training level. They must ensure that fire safety regulations are properly followed in different places so that people can work safely and not worry about a possible fire (Okumus & Sonmez, 2019). The primary duty of a fire inspector is to inspect and test buildings for compliance with fire safety regulations. This concerns the inspection of fire exit signs and their accessibility, electrical wiring, and the storage of various hazardous materials. After inspections, reports must be drawn with the results and conclusions for specific premises. These reports analyze existing violations and the expected solutions to problems. Conducting investigations to determine the cause of a fire is an important part of the job. Many plans must be followed to help people prevent fires.
The violation that fire inspectors have encountered most often is the improper placement of fire extinguishers in workplaces in some organizations. Many companies are reckless about arranging such necessary items on their premises, which can lead to negative consequences in the event of a fire. Workers will not be able to find a fire extinguisher in time, as a result of which they may be injured.
The Portland Fire Department is committed to ensuring that its code aligns with the national standards for firefighters. This is achieved through regular professional development training (Diamantes & Jones, 2020). Working as a fire inspector requires several levels of academic and physical fitness. Certification of fire inspectors in the department where the interviewee works, according to him, complies with the national standard NFPA 1031. Passing an exam according to these standards and constantly rechecking them is a mandatory part of the job. The importance of such qualifications is to ensure that the skills and knowledge of the inspector are not reduced. The schedule of inspectors largely depends on the fire department. The standard schedule of the day is to start work at 9 am and end at 5 pm. The schedule is usually fixed, but there is room for unplanned events.
The fire department is working with other organizations, such as the police and the ambulance, to raise public awareness of the causes of fires. In addition, construction companies are cooperating with firefighters to make their workplaces safer. This allows firefighters to reduce the possibility of incidents and respond in time thanks to communications with different authorities. The hardest problem is blocked or forced by other vehicles entrances.
From the interview, one could learn a lot of useful information about the work of fire inspectors. This is important because if people are better aware of the duties of inspectors, it will be easier for them to help and assist them. Fire inspectors should monitor the implementation of security rules in enterprises and try to eliminate any existing problems that could lead to unwanted incidents. Doing this can greatly help prevent fires and, as a result, facilitate the work of fire brigades and inspectors. The interview is an excellent opportunity to understand what violations can be fatal and what fire regulations need to be followed.
References
Diamantes, D., & Jones Jr, A. M. (2020). Principles of fire prevention, 4th ed. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Okumus, B., & Sonmez, S. (2019). An analysis on current food regulations for and inspection challenges of street food: Case of Florida. Journal of Culinary Science & Technology, 17(3), 209-223. Web.