Over 3,500 people died in fires in 2020 just in the United States. Commercial Buildings Most of these fires could have been prevented had the residents been more responsible. Everyone does their best to protect their homes, and the same should be done for workplaces. It’s the job of the employer to make sure no such accidents happen at the workplace by taking precautionary measures.
If you are a business owner or manager and want to keep your workplace safe from fires, here is what you should do.
Install Fire Alarms
Strategically plan and install fire alarms all around the building. You should know which places are most likely to catch fire and place detectors there.
You will need two types of alarms.
- Smoke Detectors
- Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Incomplete combustion of fuels forms carbon monoxide gas. It is odorless and colorless and can lead to poisoning by displacing the oxygen. While these detectors might detect fires, they can detect related issues.
Arrange Training Sessions
Most people would panic in an emergency situation, especially when there is smoke and a lack of oxygen. They don’t know what to do to get themselves out of the situation, which leads to irrational behavior.
This can make the situation worse than it is.
This is why it’s important to get your employees proper training about dealing with these situations. You should contact a good fire extinguisher company to install the precautionary equipment and provide the necessary training.
They will learn things like crawling to safety and cooling the burns before they get worse. This basic training could save many lives when things are at their worst.
Get the Best Fire Extinguishers
Make sure you don’t compromise on the quality of fire extinguishers and make them easily accessible. They shouldn’t be exactly where you are expecting fire; instead, they should be installed at a place where your employees sit.
This way, they will be able to easily approach and use them to control the fire before it gets out of hand.
Get as many of them as possible as they don’t expire before 10 to 12 years. It should also be ensured they are the best quality fire extinguishers that are easy to use and reliable.
Plan an Escape Route
This is something planned at the time of construction of the building. However, if they didn’t pay attention before, you can still plan an emergency escape route.
Define a plan and mark the path with paint that glows in the dark. Make sure the path has useful things for employees like fire extinguishers and equipment or open or break doors. The path should be less likely or last to catch fire.
If your employees are given the right training, they will know exactly how to follow the escape route while keeping themselves and others safe.
Designate a Safe Smoking Area
You can’t ask employees to stop smoking if they are addicts. It’s also unethical to prohibit smoke breaks. One thing you can do is designate one safe area for smoking.
According to the stats of USFA, each year, on average, 7,600 fires start due to the carelessness of smokers.
Most of the time, it’s the cigarette bud they throw away without properly putting it out. It could start a fire if there is any paper or cloth near it.
Keep Space Heater at a Distance
If you don’t have a central heating and cooling system in your office, you might have to use space heaters. They might provide a good service, but they are a little dangerous if you are not careful with them.
They can burn anything when put too close. Make some rules about how far employees should keep the heaters and when using them. They also shouldn’t be left unattended. Some heaters also automatically turn off for safety when they are moved. It would be better if you could spend a little extra to buy these safer heaters.
Install Circuit Breaker Trip Unit
Short circuits cause many fires. Anytime a hot wire touches a conductive object, Commercial Buildings it starts a fire. Most wirings are installed in pipes inside the walls, which means you can’t see them until they cause an issue.
Make sure you get the best quality wires to prevent these issues. Furthermore, you should call an electrician as soon as you notice a problem.
Don’t try to solve these things yourself if you are not a professional electrician. Commercial Buildings You might be able to find a temporary solution without hurting yourself, but that issue might arise again if not solved by a professional.
It’s important that there should be a circuit breaker trip unit in the building. It turns off the electricity the moment a component malfunctions. These are not just useful but also life-saving. It’s also usually installed at the time of construction, but you can also set it up later. There should be different switches for different areas of the house. This way, you would know where the issue is the moment lights turn off.
Pay Special Attention to Kitchen
If there is a stove in your office’s kitchen, make sure you always keep an eye there. Commercial Buildings As every employee would visit the kitchen, someone could make a mistake.
There shouldn’t be anything near the stove that could catch fire. Furthermore, it should be ensured that the gas is not left on and unattended. Methane gas can spread around the office within minutes and catch fire the moment someone lights a smoke or there is a short circuit.
Make sure there is a smoke detector and fire extinguisher near the kitchen to control the fire within seconds it starts.
Invest in Fire Sprinklers
Many people don’t like them because a false alarm could trigger them, Commercial Buildings and they spray water everywhere. An office has paper and computers everywhere, which water could easily sabotage.
While they might not be your first choice, you can at least install them in areas where there aren’t any papers or electronic devices. For example, sprinklers could be quite helpful in the kitchen and hallways. Just make sure they are nowhere near the smoking area.