In your busy work environment, fire safety is probably the last thing on your mind. Between meetings, assignments, and quarterly reports, you probably forget to pencil in time to talk about fire prevention measures. As a leader in your organization, it’s crucial to stay knowledgeable about fire safety to prevent and handle emergencies. Here are some fire safety tips to keep in mind in your work building or office space:
Install Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors have special sensors that set off an alarm to detect smoke. These detectors are valuable because smoke is extremely harmful to inhale, even for a short time. You and your employees need the security of smoke detectors to alert you when a fire is present in the building. Make sure your building’s smoke detectors stay in good working condition, so they work correctly. It’s good to test smoke detectors and other fire alarms regularly, ensuring that your equipment will function correctly if an emergency arises.
Keep Fire Extinguishers Around
Building fire codes require that all buildings purchase and store fire extinguishers in preparation for a potential fire. Fire extinguishers can stop small fires from spreading and save lives. There are four different types of extinguishers you can keep in your building:
- Class A Extinguishers: Used on fires from materials like wood and paper
- Class B Extinguishers: Used on flammable liquids like grease
- Class C Extinguishers: Used on electrical fires
- Class D Extinguishers: Used on flammable metals
Don’t be scared of over-preparation—in this case, having an excess of extinguishers over none should be your goal. Depending on the types of fire hazards present in your building, you can keep specific extinguishers in certain areas, depending on their function.
Install Fire Sprinkler Systems
Fire sprinklers are key for emergency preparedness. In the event of a fire in your workplace, fire sprinkler systems can dispense water to put out the fire quickly—or keep the file under control until professionals arrive. Sprinklers can help save files, work materials, and, most importantly, human lives.
Professional fire sprinkler installation services consider both your building’s needs and aesthetics. While safety should always be a priority, it’s a nice bonus when you can keep spaces visually appealing. Fire sprinkler installation professionals know how to adjust the sprinkler covers to blend in with the room and stay hidden until needed for use.
Fire sprinkler design, installation, and regular inspection are critical elements of fire prevention that your long-term office safety plan should include. You want to have a system capable of putting out or reducing fires before emergency services arrive.
Review Your Fire Safety Plan Regularly
All employees need regular education on fire safety tips. Every workplace needs a concrete fire safety plan in place in case of emergencies to prevent potential injuries, harm or damage to property.
Your workplace fire safety plan should include step-by-step instructions on what to do if a fire occurs. Employees should be able to remember how and where to evacuate and where to meet up after the evacuation. This level of preparation can prevent panic and chaos in the event of a fire.
Plan to review your fire safety plan with your employees twice a year. For more hazardous working conditions, you can (and should) review fire safety plans as often as once a month. New employees should be informed of the fire safety plan upon hiring.
Know Your Building’s Risks
Some older buildings cannot keep up with modern fire safety standards. If this is the case, reach out to a professional organization like A&A Fire Protection to start a renovation. You may memorize many fire safety tips, but this knowledge can only protect you in a safe building.
If you know that your building’s electrical system is faulty, get it repaired. If you know that your fire sprinkler system is outdated, work with a team to get a new system reinstalled. If you know that your fire extinguishers aren’t accessible and are expired, replace them and add easy-to-break cabinets for access.
Your main goal should be to keep your workplace free of as many fire hazards as possible. This preparation will help prevent catastrophic fires from destroying your workspace and the lives of all employees who are there each day.
