Last Updated on December 30, 2022 by Kravelv
If you are safeguarding your home from possible fire incidents, you should also be concerned about your workplace or your business. No matter what type of company you have, you should never be complacent about the safety of your assets and personnel. Fire does not only damage your property, it can also cause you hundreds of millions of dollars in an attempt to compensate for your losses.
However, you can use reliable fire detection and alarm system to protect your company against fire-related events. You can also have several employees undergo fire rescue training, so in case of emergencies, someone from your workforce knows how to instruct people into safety.
Here are 5 of the best fire safety tips for your office:
1. Plan
Escape routes, meeting places, and emergency procedures are important. You need to determine the fastest paths to safety and have a map on every floor where a person might easily see the nearest exits. You also need to have a coherent procedure on how to evacuate employees with special needs, especially if you choose the stairs as an escape route. Last but not the least; keep an updated list of emergency contact information for the quick response.
2. Practice
Just like how earthquake drills are done every now and then, your company should also schedule fire drills. This is a perfect opportunity to see if what you have planned would be effective in the occurrence of a real fire. Review your procedures frequently and include the sound of the fire alarm, so, your employees would know what it sounds like. You may also ask the local fire department to assist in the drill or for a demonstration on how to effectively extinguish the fire.
3. Purchase Items You Need
Fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and fire alarms are just some of the few things that you need to equip your building with to prevent additional injuries and damage. Commercial buildings are usually required to have these items installed to meet local building codes. Additional supplies may consist of a first aid kit, bottled water, flashlights, escape masks, etc. These are important to avoid any employee from succumbing into smoke inhalation.
4. Prevent
A lot of fire safety experts would often say that to prevent fire, you must think ahead and be smart when it comes to using everyday things that, most often than not, can cause the fire. You need to follow the maximum volt/wattage load for surge protectors, power strips and adaptors; have an electrician check your electrical wirings for potential overload. Do not hesitate to replace old wires. Always be careful storing flammable materials and ask a fire marshal to inspect them to ensure proper storage. You can also use fire inspector software to keep track of your inspections and make sure they are done correctly and on time.
5. Don’t Panic
One of the most important things to remember when an actual emergency occurs is to not panic. If you start to panic in the face of danger, you instantly lose good judgment and this might lead to you or the people around you being injured. Keep calm and think rationally before doing anything. Call the fire department and give the dispatcher as much information as you know.