{"id":2103,"date":"2012-09-24T09:25:39","date_gmt":"2012-09-24T13:25:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smartsign.com/blog\/?p=2103"},"modified":"2023-10-31T06:57:17","modified_gmt":"2023-10-31T10:57:17","slug":"dwight-schrute-dunder-mifflin-osha-fire-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smartsign.com/blog\/dwight-schrute-dunder-mifflin-osha-fire-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Dwight Schrute’s office fire drill tested for OSHA safety compliance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dwight<\/a>\u00a0Dwight Schrute meets fire safety training. (Photos via\u00a0NBC<\/a> and Myhardhatstickers.com<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n

9\/24\/2012 — Dwight Schrute, Assistant (to the) Regional Manager at Dunder Mifflin, trained in the arts of surveillance, karate, and beet farming, volunteer sheriff\u2019s deputy, and bed and breakfast proprietor, knows a lot about responsibility. When Dwight Schrute was put in charge of training Dunder Mifflin\u2019s office personnel in fire safety skills in the episode Stress Relief<\/em>, his boring PowerPoint evoked little interest or response. Not to be deterred (this is, after all is the man who only lost his grade school spelling bee by misspelling the world \u201cfailure\u201d) Dwight engineered another kind of fire safety training\u2026one that involved actual fire.<\/p>\n

As Dwight knows, fire safety is a serious matter for workplaces\u2014and there are specific rules set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure safe evacuation. This week, we\u2019re taking a look to see how Dunder Mifflin of The Office<\/em> measures up to fire safety standards.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

People learn in lots of ways, but experience is the best teacher.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Good:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cFire, oh my goodness, what\u2019s the procedure?\u201d<\/p>\n

Look for the exits.<\/em><\/p>\n

OSHA requires<\/a> that \u201cevery workplace must have enough exits suitably located to enable everyone to get out of the facility quickly.\u201d If the number of employees, building size, occupancy, and workplace arrangements make it difficult for employees to evacuate, more than two exits are required by \u00a7 1910.36. In this clip, Dunder Mifflin seems well equipped–we see at least three exits (four, if you count the ceiling).<\/p>\n

Touch the door handle to see if it\u2019s hot.<\/em><\/p>\n

Dwight is right: feeling the temperature of the door handle is a good way to gauge whether there\u2019s a fire blocking that exit\u2014smoke may not always be a clear indicator of where fire is, despite the old adage. Testing the handle is better than opening a door to look out, which could allow the fire to spread.<\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t get out, call for help from a window.<\/em><\/p>\n

Michael instinctively goes to the window and yells for help, which is proper procedure\u2014although defenestrating an overhead projector is not.<\/p>\n

Use a damp rag to cover the mouth.<\/em><\/p>\n

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), fire produces toxic gases which can make you feel drowsy and disoriented\u2014the heat and smoke are also dangerous to your lungs. Dwight is right\u2014placing a damp cloth over your nose and mouth can help prevent damage.<\/p>\n

911? Anybody?<\/em><\/p>\n

Use the surge of fear and adrenaline to sharpen your decision-making! Calling 911 or other local emergency services should be an immediate step in fire safety.<\/p>\n

\"Dwight<\/a><\/p>\n

Dwight is not right. OSHA mandates that fire exits are never obstructed. (Images via Woman’s Day<\/a> and Mydoorsign.com<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n

The Bad<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have a planned, preferred means of alerting employees of a fire emergency.<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a standard of OSHA\u2019s that each employer have a preferred means of alerting employees to a fire emergency, and the emergency alarm system must be available throughout the workplace. Voice communication is ok\u2014along with bells, whistles, or horns\u2014but there is clearly not a set Dunder Mifflin procedure, as Pam ineffectually informs the office of billowing smoke by gaping and stammering.<\/p>\n

Exits must not be obstructed.<\/em><\/p>\n

OSHA mandates that fire doors may not be blocked or locked with employees inside. After inserting three door jambs and knocking off the door\u2019s key handle with a hammer, it\u2019s fair to say Dwight violated this federal regulation.<\/p>\n

Employees must be trained in the use of portable fire extinguishers.<\/em><\/p>\n

OSHA does not require portable fire extinguishers in every work place\u2014but if you have them, you must provide<\/a> hands-on training to familiarize workers with the equipment. There\u2019s at least one fire extinguisher clearly in sight (1:12), but it is not incorporated into the drill. Rather, Dwight pulls the fire alarm\u2026which only serves to heighten the confusion.<\/p>\n

\"Fire<\/a><\/p>\n

Dwight is not right. OSHA regulates that a distinctive and perceptible alarm signal is planned and communicated by employers. (Images via MySafetySigns.com<\/a> and TV Worth Watching<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n

Nobody gets hurt\u2014well, unless you count Bandit or Stanley\u2014so overall, the good outweighs the bad in Dunder Mifflin safety training. Though Dwight takes \u201chands-on\u201d safety training a bit too literally, we\u2019ll give The Office <\/em>a SmartSign safety grade of B-<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Be prepared! Take our\u00a0fire safety quiz<\/a>. It’s full of helpful tips, and requires a little less…commitment…than Dwight’s methods.<\/p>\n

C. Stebbins<\/p>\n

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