In line with the observance of Fire Prevention Month, Saint Louis University (SLU), through the Human Resource Department (HRD) in partnership with the Campus Planning, Maintenance, and Security Department (CPMSD) and Health Services Unit (HSU), conducted an orientation on Fire Safety and Accident Prevention on 24 to 25 March 2025.
The seminar, intended for the non-teaching staff of SLU, was held at the Fr. Francis Gevers hall in three sessions to accommodate all employees.
HRD Director Mr. Jeremy Lee L. Dela Cruz reminded the participants in his opening remarks how the orientation is necessary for maintaining safety inside and outside the campus. “No one’s too old or too young for this topic. Why? Because when we have the knowledge about this, then we have the power to prevent any accident,” he emphasized.
Mr. Laurence Oliver C. Navalta, CPMSD Safety Officer, tackled fire safety in the workplace. Mr. Navalta enumerated the possible fire hazards and dos and don’ts in securing fire exits for emergencies, including classifying the types of fire extinguishers. He also demonstrated the proper use of portable fire extinguishers and its correct disposal after use.
The second speaker, Dr. Ma. Lalaine Gumiran-Cheng, MPH, talked about accident prevention, citing the elements of hazard identification and assessment. She gave an insightful discussion on common hazards and risks encountered in relation to accidents. She then specified that each individual is responsible for reducing risks.
The Fire Safety and Accident Prevention seminar served as an awareness session in preparation for the hands-on training scheduled in June 2025 where the lessons gained from this lecture can be applied.
By cultivating the stakeholders’ knowledge on safety, the seminar is also a testament of SLU’s commitment to promoting United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) 3 (Good health and well-being), 4 (Quality Education), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and No. 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). (Article by Ydelvess Faith Morales, UIO Intern | Photos by Faithe Janerie Dugay, UIO Intern)
