Workplace fires and explosions can cost businesses loss of money and property damage. The right fire prevention practices can avoid fire incidents. As an owner, you should learn how to create a safe working environment for everyone in the building.
You should educate your workers equally and abide by safety regulations to keep your building running. Following safety measures can not only save lives but also help raise awareness about fire safety in your workplace.
Here are some preventive measures that can help prevent fire and explosions.
Fire Protection Equipment
Make sure you have all your fire protection equipment in working condition. You can place them in an area where they are easily accessible. Avoid blocking the fire sprinkles or alarms with anything like a plant or dust. Maintain the equipment with time and update if necessary. You may never know when the need may arise. Here is some essential fire protection equipment.
- Fire extinguishers
- Fire blankets
- Sprinklers
- Emergency and exit signs
- Smoke alarms
- First aid kits
Proper Disposal of Waste
It is critical to dispose of any hazardous waste that can pose a fire threat if handled improperly. Hazardous waste can range from oils, chemicals, flammable and combustible materials. You can discard any waste safely in a metal container with a lid.
Safe storage of Materials
Ensure you safely store chemicals, flammable materials, and other hazardous materials in your building. It is important to store dangerous chemicals in a dry and secure closet with enough ventilation. You can keep the flammable substances near the storage area to be safe.
Maintain Fire Protective equipment
Assign a worker to carry out a regular maintenance service to ensure every fire equipment is up to standard. Ensure your fire warden training is completed to have practical experience using basic firefighting equipment.
Moreover, maintenance of your office machinery and equipment is necessary to prevent overheating, or sparks created from friction.
Keep Your Workplace Clean
Besides avoiding dirt and debris, there are many other reasons to keep your workplace clean. Like clutter of flammable materials like paper and boxes may lead to a risk of fires. If a fire breaks out by chance, it can spread faster with the help of these materials.
Ensure the emergency exit is free from any blocks, as it can be hard to escape if there is a fire. Keep your building clean and clutter-free.
Invest in Building Security
Security issues can lead to the entry of hazardous materials or chemicals by a suspicious person. In most cases, arson is the leading cause of building fires. Ensure the security guards lock up the building behind them and ensure safety during office hours.
Evacuation Plans
It is essential to create an emergency and evacuation plan if there is a fire incident. Educate your employees on how they can receive help and what the next steps should be.
It is highly important to know how to prevent fire from spreading, otherwise leading to more damages. Fire alarms should be in working condition and make the emergency exit accessible at all times to save the lives of the building occupants during a fire.