Business Self-Inspection Program
EAST PIERCE FIRE & RESCUE HAS IMPLEMENTED a self-inspection program for businesses within the city. This program provides an opportunity for East Pierce Fire & Rescue and the city business community to form a partnership in fire and life safety.
Goals: The primary focus of this program is to provide annual fire and life safety inspections to businesses within the city, while keeping business disruptions and costs to a minimum.
History: The fire department does not have the staff to provide annual inspections to a majority of businesses. In the years past, when the fire department provided inspections, it was done by the crews on the fire engines. The crews are now more actively involved in life safety 911 incidents and have a difficult time getting back to the inspections.
Objectives: Although the targeted businesses are classified as low hazard occupancies, the fire department feels it is important to provide these businesses with appropriate information regarding the International Fire Code and safety issues. In addition, the fire department feels that these businesses need to meet a reasonable level of fire and life safety standards for the benefit of the entire community. The self-inspection program will educate the business owner/manager of fire safety deficiencies and develop a proactive attitude toward fire safety.
The Program: The self-inspection program is a fairly simple process that includes a self-inspection checklist. Just fill out and mail the form back to the fire department when the inspection is completed.
Businesses will be requested to respond within thirty days. After thirty days have passed, a reminder letter or phone call will occur. Those businesses that do not respond will be placed on the on-site inspection list, tagged for actual physical inspections by the fire department. The self-inspection program is not mandatory. All designated businesses will also be given the opportunity to request an on-site inspection and may also be inspected randomly during business license renewal.
Rotation: Our goal is to provide the opportunity for businesses to participate in the self-inspection program for three years. On the fourth year, they then may be required to have an on-site inspection done. This four year rotation will provide the opportunity to become familiar with the interior, and the actual operation of each business.