Workplace fires can destroy your business regardless of its size. According to the UK government statistics, about 25000 fires occur every year in Wales and England. Unfortunately, most enterprises plagued by this catastrophe don’t recover from it. So, knowing how to prevent a fire outbreak should be your priority.
Many business owners think that their premises are unlikely to catch fire. As a result, they don’t work to safeguard their workplaces. However, it’s part of risk management that you should take seriously. Fortunately, companies like Totnes Fire Protection & Signs Ltd can help you reduce its risks if it occurs.
Here are some tips that you should adopt in your workplace:
1. Keep It Clean And Tidy
Dirty workplaces have more safety and health hazards than tidy ones. Some of these hazards are fire-related. If you have more clutter around your workplace and a fire breaks out, your premise’s fire load will increase. The more items you have, the more likely they are to catch fire. Apart from that, they may inhibit swift evacuation.
As a rule of thumb, you should ensure that your stairs, corridors, and fire exits areas clean and clear as possible. Store any stock properly and implement appropriate control measures when storing flammable liquids and materials. It would be best even to store such materials away from the workplace where they pose less risk. Additionally, they should also be kept in fire resistance cabinets and containers that retain spills.
Removing waste from your workplace enhances fire safety. Waste not only takes up space, but it can also be hazardous if left to the pile. Some debris may even block your fire exits, while flammable ones like cardboard will add to the fire load.
2. Buy The Right Fire Safety Equipment
Fire safety equipment may help you to minimize the risk of a fire outbreak. This equipment can alert your employees and public members if a fire breaks out in the workplace. They may even help you to extinguish the fire before it spirals out of control.
Ensure that your workplace always has lighting, smoke alarms, fire escape ladders, and fire exit signs. You also need to have prevention systems like sprinklers and extinguishers. That way, in case a fire breaks out, it’ll be busy to evacuate the building and put it out.
3. Train Your Employees In Fire Safety
Having control measures is vital, but trained employees can only implement them. All your staff needs to know what to do if a fire breaks outright, from raising the alarm to leaving the building. They also need to know their fire wardens.
If your employees don’t know fire safety procedures, they won’t be prepared. You don’t want this to happen because it may turn the situation from bad to worse. But with the proper training and experience, your staff will likely use fire drills to evacuate the building and extinguish the fire.
The Bottom Line
If you’re a business owner, you shouldn’t downplay fire safety measures. Though it may take your business long to experience a fire outbreak, you should always be prepared. These are a few tips that can help you prepare for workplace fires.
