Risk+Reward from First Nonprofit

ISSUE 004

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The Triangle Shirtwaist Tragedy

This year is the 100th anniversary of a tragic fire. In 1911 the Triangle Shirtwaist Company occupied the top three floors of the Asch Building in New York City. More than 600 people, most of them young immigrant women, worked here making women's blouses.

On Saturday, March 25, 1911, a fire broke out on the eighth floor and spread rapidly to the ninth and tenth floors. Before it was extinguished by the fire department, the fire took the lives of 146 workers.

Among the many factors that contributed to this large loss of life, some have particular meaning to nonprofits today.

Rapid spread of fire between floors.
Impaired access to exits. In the Triangle fire, doors to one of the two stairwells had been locked.
Poor condition of fire escapes. The Asch Building fire escape fell off the building during the evacuation.

To honor the memory of the workers who died 100 years ago, we suggest evaluation of fire safety in the workplace. Three issues merit special attention.

If your facility has self-closing fire doors protecting the stairwells, make sure these doors are not blocked open. Generally, these doors should be closed to prevent the spread of smoke and fire.
Check access to exits to make sure they are not obstructed.
Check exterior fire escapes at least annually. Verify they have been inspected for structural stability by a professional engineer or architect.

Playground Safety Week April 25-29

Spring is here and with it comes warmer weather and increased playground activity. Here are some important reminders to help your nonprofit reduce the risk of injury and accidents to children.

About 60% of playground injuries are the result of falls. The surface material under and around equipment is one of the most important safety factors on a playground. Inspect fall zones around playground equipment to ensure these areas are adequately cushioned. Pay special attention to the composition and depth of surface material, the height of equipment, use zones, and general maintenance.

The space around swing equipment is another important feature of playground safety. Check that swings are not too close together or too close to support structures. Check for dangerous hardware like open S-hooks and protruding bolts.

Make certain elevated platforms and ramps have secured guardrails and handrails to prevent falls.

Inspect each play component examining for head entrapment dangers, protrusions, entanglement hazards, sharp points, and areas of possible pinching, crushing, and shearing. Rectify potential issues immediately.

Remove or correct tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footings, tree roots, rocks, litter, and debris.

Develop a playground safety maintenance plan and an inspection report. Regularly perform routine maintenance checks of equipment and the surrounding area to ensure a safe environment for children at play.

Carefully supervise children on play equipment to make sure they are safe. This is critical to preventing unsafe behavior and the improper use of equipment.

Consult the National Program for Playground Safety's Web site (www.playgroundsafety.org) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Public Playground Safety Handbook (www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/325.pdf) and for detailed information and additional resources.

Risk+Reward is a quarterly e-newsletter that highlights First Nonprofit's Risk Management activities and the nonprofits we serve. For more information on our products and services, contact Jaclyn Goudie at JGoudie@firstnonprofit.com or 312.239.8382.

First Nonprofit Risk Management eNewsletter

ISSUE 004