Most businesses, especially startups, do not pay attention to fire safety. However, fire safety is an important requirement for every business. Thousands of fire accidents happen every year across the world. Therefore, it becomes essential for every business to know and practice fire safety.
Educating your employees and installing the best fire safety equipment can protect your business from fires. However, there are many other things businesses can practice for protection from fires. Let us explore some best tips for fire safety.
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Create a fire safety plan.
Most businesses, especially startups and small businesses, do not have a fire safety plan that can prove to be a fatal mistake. If you don’t know how to create a fire safety plan, you can hire a fire warden to create it for your business. The fire safety plan includes the installation of fire detection equipment and a fire evacuation plan for your employees.
Install fire safety equipment.
It is essential to install fire safety equipment like fire alarms and smoke detection devices to protect your business from the fire like emergencies. In addition, you can install water sprinklers and fire extinguishers in your office. This equipment is a one-time investment that can save your business assets and employees in case of a fire.
Maintain the electrical equipment.
Electrical failure or malfunction is the primary reason behind most fire emergencies in homes and offices. Therefore, it is essential to inspect and maintain your electrical equipment periodically. Even if you have a new office and recently installed the electrical wiring, you should call a local electrician in leopod to inspect it every six months.
Avoid overloading of electrical switches. Connecting multiple electrical devices to a single point can lead to overheating that can spark a fire.
Therefore, employees should avoid the overloading of electrical switches and use them only for the purpose for which they are installed.
Employees should know how much load an electrical point can take and should not overload them under any condition.
Dispose of the office waste properly.
Paper is one of the primary waste materials in offices. Also, the paper is one of the materials that quickly catches fire.
A bin full of waste paper can be dangerous as even a little spark can ignite a fire in it. So it needs to be disposed of properly. Do not let your bins overflow with paper waste. Ask your housekeeping staff to empty the bins twice a day to avoid overfilling.
Cooking and heating equipment.
If you have a pantry in your office, make sure all the cooking and heating equipment are safe to use. Make sure that the people using cooking or heating equipment in your pantry are trained to use them safely.
Also, make sure that people working in the pantry do not place any fire catching items like paper near the cooking stove. It is best to use cooking equipment like an induction stove as it works without a flame.
Have an emergency evacuation plan
An emergency evacuation plan helps you to leave an area in case of any emergency. An emergency plan involves leaving an area through the primary exit or alternate exit route, whichever ever seems relevant according to the situation.
Fire safety training
Installing the first safety equipment is of no use until and unless your employees know how to operate it. Businesses should conduct fire safety training every six months to train their employees for using fire safety equipment. Training also educates your employees on how to use the evacuation routes to exit a building in case of emergencies.
Fire safety drills.
Although a fire safety drill sounds like fire safety training, it is much different. Fire safety training involves educating the employees about everything related to fire safety. On the other hand, a fire safety drill comprises practical activities like using the fire safety equipment and practicing evacuation of a building, and assembling at a common area outside the building.
Storage of Chemicals.
Some chemicals are flammable and should be stored with care. Moreover, only authorized employees should be allowed to enter the area where chemicals or flammable materials are stored.
No smoking zones.
Businesses should not allow their employees to smoke in the working area under any condition. You can create a separate smoking zone away from the working area where there is no risk of fire. Creating a smoking zone for employees reduces the risk of fires to a much extent.
Workplace Emergency Management offers emergency training to businesses in Australia. The company is based in Sydney and has been serving organizations for more than 15 years. They offer fire training, emergency evacuation training, women, and child safety services in Australia. If you have a business in Sydney, you can contact them for a fire safety plan Sydney.
Final Words
These were some tips for fire safety that businesses must follow for the safety of their assets and employees. Training your employees and installing fire safety equipment can help you to deal with fire like emergencies and protect your business assets.
Fire safety training and equipment is like an investment for the protection of your employees and property. Now, as you know about the importance of fire safety, you can educate your employees and train them to create a safe and secure work environment.
