Last week in Columbus Ohio, campus fire safety professionals from around the country gathered to talk about the issues they face regarding fire safety on campus. One theme that all shared was their shrinking budget and staff. All agreed that they are rethinking the way the deliver fire safety on campus. Fewer staff, fewer funds and just as much work all translate into a few stressed fire safety people. Many were looking towards technology to help. Online or off the shelf programs that helped collect data from completed inspections, as well as tools to help prioritize where they should spend their time were just a few of the comments overheard in the sessions and during the breaks.
There was no single correct tool, instead there were many solutions. I am curious, what are campuses around the country using to help streamline their fire safety programs? What activities are being scaled back or eliminated and which activities are seeing added attention?
I want to thank the folks at NIFAST for allowing me the opportunity to present their program to some 50 attendees. The Flashpoint course and testing tool really demonstrates a proactive approach to fire safety. Looking forward to hearing your feedback.
Mike Halligan – Associate Director of Environmental Health and Safety – University of Utah
