Steps For Fire Safety in the Workplace

12/3/2020 (Permalink)

There's a lot less work to prevent fires in your workplace rather than recovering from them.

Taking steps to prevent a fire in your business can save you thousands in property damage and lost revenue. In the event of a fire emergency, you want your workplace to be prepared and have a quick recovery. Making a fire prevention plan is the first step for fire safety in the workplace.

Steps For Fire Safety in Your Business

• Identify any fire hazards. You should identify what kind of fire risks are in your workplace and then create a plan to lessen the likelihood that these hazards will start a fire.
• Install and test smoke detectors. Any business should have smoke detectors working and stationed throughout the building to allow ample time for employees and customers to evacuate in case of a fire. Utilizing smoke detectors also allows for your local fire department to arrive on site sooner, hopefully lowering the amount of fire damage done to your business.
• Have fire extinguishers close by and ready. Place portable fire extinguishers in clearly marked places and have them inspected and maintained per the directions on the label. Place fire extinguishers in higher risk areas of your business.
• Keep your business uncluttered. Built up dust and cluttered boxes can act as fuel in a fire, allowing it to grow and spread much more quickly than it would have without the extra clutter. 
• Correctly store flammable materials. If you own a restaurant, be sure the grease and oils are stored in areas away from open flame or high heat. In cleaning businesses, be sure to keep flammable chemicals away from sparks or high heat, and know what chemicals cannot be mixed. 
• Have a clearly posted fire evacuation plan. Be sure that your business has emergency exit signs clearly posted, as well as any specific routes to exit the building. Make sure that there are not excess boxes or furniture blocking clear paths out of the building. 
• Invest in a fire suppression system. If your commercial building doesn’t have a fire protection system such as a sprinkler system, look into having one installed. Once they detect high heat or smoke, they will go off and hopefully put out the fire before it spreads or the fire department arrives. 
• Train employees in fire safety. If your business has a restaurant or kitchen, be sure that your employees are trained in using fire extinguishers and know what to do if a grease or oil fire starts. It’s best in any business to have all employees trained in fire safety, but even more crucial in businesses that work with open flames or any sort of heat. It's always a good idea to have a fire drill once a year so that all employees are informed.
• Have proper insurance coverage for your business. A workplace fire can leave your business closed for months, so you’ll want to avoid any extra out of pocket expenses after a fire if possible. It’s best to invest in robust commercial insurance to be sure you’ll be able to reopen your doors after a large scale disaster. 
• Research local fire damage restoration companies before ever needing one. You’ll want to start the cleanup process as soon as possible after a fire, so it’s best to already know a reputable company to that provides emergency response get the job done.