2015 legislation determines that professional brigade teams act in fire prevention and firefighting
The presence of professional brigade teams in places with high pedestrian traffic has been mandatory in the city of São Paulo since 2015, when the Law was enacted by the then-Mayor Fernando Haddad 16.312, later regulated in 2018 by Mayor João Dória, through the decree 58.168.
These measures were important, according to Antonio Calixto dos Santos Filho, a civil firefighter supervisor. “These professionals do all the work of inspection, maintenance, and replacement of firefighting equipment, in addition to acting in prevention, clearance of work at heights, measurement of confined spaces, monitoring of work in hazardous areas, and preventive inspections in stores, such as in shopping malls,” he states. “Although many consider that civil firefighters have little work, our activity is extensive, not being limited to firefighting.”.
Law 16.312 mandates the maintenance of professional brigade teams, comprised of civil firefighters, in establishments such as shopping malls, concert and entertainment venues, hypermarkets, large department stores, university campuses, any educational public gathering establishments, or events—whether in public or private areas—that receive a high concentration of people exceeding 1,000 or with an average circulation of 1,500 per day, as well as other buildings or facilities whose use requires the presence of a civil firefighter, in accordance with the State Fire Protection Legislation of the Military Police Fire Department of the State of São Paulo.
Article 4 of Decree 58,168, in turn, stipulates that “enforcement of Law 16,312 and the imposition of the penalties provided for therein shall be carried out by the Regional Municipal Governments, through their inspection officers, within the scope of their authority.” Article 5 stipulates that an establishment in violation will be subject to “a fine in the amount of R$ 5,000.00 (five thousand reais), adjusted annually based on the General Market Price Index (IGP-M) or, in its absence, another benchmark index.”.
According to Calixto, it is the responsibility of private firefighters operating in areas with high pedestrian traffic to identify and assess existing risks, conduct periodic inspections of firefighting equipment, including testing and basic maintenance (storing hoses and accessories, testing alarms, motors, and pumps, etc.), and perform periodic inspections of escape routes, which includes keeping them clear and properly signed. “They must also participate in simulated drills (evacuation, firefighting, and first aid). Furthermore, it is their duty to evaluate, clear, and monitor hazardous activities.”.
Furthermore, explains the supervisor, civilian firefighters are trained to apply first aid. “In these spaces where many people circulate, there are occurrences such as injuries caused by falls, feeling unwell, and sudden illness. And the firefighter has training to quickly assist these people.”
SOURCE:
FIRE MAGAZINE
