4 Effective Fire Safety Tips For Your Workplace
Fire is undoubtedly one of the biggest threats to businesses in America and beyond. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, American fire departments responded to nearly 3,300 office property fires annually between 2007 and 2011. Therefore, it is prudent to take proactive steps as a responsible business owner to reduce your workplace’s risk of being destroyed by a fire. Below are some effective fire safety tips worth considering for your office.
- Train your employees
Research shows that human error is one of the leading causes of workplace fires in America. This error can be from failing to follow appropriate health and safety guidelines, kitchen mishaps, improper equipment use, or common errors in judgment. However, these mistakes can be costly and fatal, so it is vital to train employees to minimize the risk of human error. You can train your employees to safely store and dispose of dangerous materials to lower fire outbreak risk. In addition, train them to properly operate machinery and follow safety procedures to reduce negligent behavior that can cause fire outbreaks.
- Conduct thorough risk assessments
Many experts agree that you can’t properly safeguard against fire outbreaks without full awareness of your workplace’s hazards and the risks they pose. You should conduct a thorough risk assessment of your workplace to know what safety measures to implement. Many businesses need to satisfy risk assessment requirements to remain compliant with the law. However, besides compliance, these assessments are crucial to general workplace safety, protecting your employees from harm, and preventing financial loss. Therefore, these thorough risk assessments should include fire hazard identification. If your business generates combustible dust, you can consult dust fire and explosion specialists to help you meet NFPA-652 standards, so keep this in mind.
- Have routine fire drills
Your employees must know what to do during a fire to prevent excessive panicking, leading to undesirable consequences. Therefore, organize routine fire drills yearly to familiarize employees with your emergency action plan. These drills will help your workers respond to fires calmly and quickly since they can easily guide themselves and others from the premises. Additionally, set a timer to observe how long everyone takes to arrive at the meeting point. You might need to examine your evacuation procedures if workers take longer to arrive than you would like them to. Perhaps some employees are sitting far away from the nearest escape route and must be brought closer. A blockage may also be preventing people from reaching the meeting point faster. These drills will help you find and address problems in your procedures, ensuring that your workers are safe when fire safety is not a drill.
- Invest in essential fire safety equipment
Fire safety equipment can lower the risk of a fire occurring or progressing, so it is best to acquire them for your business. Purchase fire exit signs and lighting, smoke alarms, and fire escape ladders if needed. Also, sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers are worth having to prevent fires from worsening. However, remember to inspect and maintain these fire safety equipment regularly to ensure that they are useful in the event of a fire.