Your Guide to Fire Preparedness in the Workplace

3/4/2020 (Permalink)

If your business has experienced a fire, call SERVPRO. We provide a full service from mitigation to restoration.

When considering the risks your business might face, competition and industry-specific problems may come to mind, but it is important to consider fires as well.

Fires in commercial buildings happen quite frequently and can be dangerous, especially if the employees on-site are not prepared in advance for what to do.

To reduce your risks and make sure your business handles an emergency scenario as efficiently as possible, preparing in advance for a fire is wise. Knowing your risks, practicing evacuations and making sure everyone is aware of various fire safety measures is key to reducing your liability and making sure your business can recover quickly after a fire occurs.

Fire Preparedness in the Workplace

Follow code guidelines and inspection schedules. Your business should be up to date on fire codes set forth by the National Fire Protection Association regarding fire equipment and testing. Make sure you know when to perform your monthly tests of alarms, as well as when to work with your local fire department for more in-depth inspections.

Identify your specific risks. Every industry will have different fire risks associated with it, and it is a wise idea to assess what your specific risk profile looks like. While for some businesses, their biggest fire hazard will simply be the staff kitchen, others may have flammable chemicals or other machinery to contend with during the fire preparedness process as well.

Create (and practice) a fire evacuation plan. Identifying multiple ways to exit your building during a fire and practicing fire safety drills with your staff will ensure everyone knows exactly what to do if a fire should break out. Panic can spread through a group quickly, especially if they are unprepared for the situation, so making sure everyone knows what to do is a wise time investment as a business owner.

Have regular fire safety seminars with staff. Hosting fire safety seminars with your employees on a regular basis will also go a long way for fire preparedness. Review items such as locations of fire extinguishers, when and how to set off the fire alarm manually, and any other industry-specific knowledge that might benefit your workers and increase safety for everyone.

If your business has experienced a fire, we’re here ²⁴⁄₇ to respond and begin restoration. Call us today to learn how we can help you.