Garment Factory Fire Safety: A Bangladesh Perspective

W22
Garment Factory Fire Safety: A Bangladesh Perspective
Kathleen Almand, Fire Protection Research Foundation Randy Safer, NPFA Olga Caledonia, NFPA Noah Ryder, Fire & Risk Alliance, LLC Ray Bizal, NFPA

This presentation will review the results of a fact-finding mission by NFPA and the University of Maryland to explore the status of an initiative by the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety to upgrade fire and electrical safety in the factories in Bangladesh that source to the American apparel industry. Learnings that may apply to factory fire safety in emerging nations will be presented.

Presented by:

Kathleen Almand, Fire Protection Research Foundation
Kathleen Almand, Vice President of Research at NFPA, is responsible for its affiliated Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF) and its fire analysis, research, and library functions. She has an MS in Civil Engineering from the University of Ottawa, Canada, is a registered professional engineer in the State of Maryland, and is a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. Prior to joining FPRF in 2004, Kathleen was the Executive Director of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and held research and management positions with the Civil Engineering Research Foundation, the American Iron and Steel Institute, and the National Academy of Sciences.

Randy Safer, NPFA
Please send 175 word bio to Andrea White awhite@nfpa.org. Sample bio: John Doe is a Vice President at Doe & Associates, Inc, in Atlanta, GA. He is a professional engineer registered in the states of Georgia, Utah, and Ohio. John is an NFPA member and serves on several technical committees. He is also a member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, the Building Industry Council - City of Atlanta, and the Fire Protection Engineering Honorary Society. Mr. Doe is the author of many technical papers, publications, and speeches.

Olga Caledonia, NFPA
Please send 175 word bio to Andrea White awhite@nfpa.org. Sample bio: John Doe is a Vice President at Doe & Associates, Inc, in Atlanta, GA. He is a professional engineer registered in the states of Georgia, Utah, and Ohio. John is an NFPA member and serves on several technical committees. He is also a member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, the Building Industry Council - City of Atlanta, and the Fire Protection Engineering Honorary Society. Mr. Doe is the author of many technical papers, publications, and speeches.

Noah Ryder, Fire & Risk Alliance, LLC
Mr. Ryder is the lead of the Risk and Forensic Engineering Group. Recent work includes li-ion battery flammability studies, a fire and risk assessment for the largest plastics production facility in the Middle East, computer modeling to support a smoke control rational analysis for a major amusement park ride and the investigation/reconstruction of a large multi-fatality fire.

Ray Bizal, NFPA
Raymond B. Bizal, PE, is a NFPA Regional Director for AZ, CA, CO, HI, KS, NM, NV, and UT. Prior to joining NFPA, Mr. Bizal served as director of Strategic Business Initiatives for the International Conference of Building Officials. He also provides suppor