Worried about your office going up in flames due to an accidental fire? Here are some ways to prevent fire accidents in the workplace!
Workplace fire accidents can be incredibly traumatic for you and your employees. They also have the potential to be pretty costly. This is why you should follow certain safety precautions so that you and your employees don’t have to deal with a fire at the workplace.
Make Your Equipment Accessible
Make sure that all of your fire protection equipment such as control panels and fire extinguishers are easily accessible. Also, keep fire sprinklers and alarms as clean as possible and free of dust, paint, and debris. This will ensure that the functionality of your equipment is not hindered.
Schedule Regular Maintenance
Don’t forget to schedule regular maintenance for all of your fire protection equipment to ensure that everything is up to code. Additionally, keep all the equipment and machines in your building properly maintained so that they do not overheat and spark, which might lead to a fire.
Clean Your Workplace
Make sure to keep your workplace as clean as possible. Get rid of all the clutter such as boxes, papers, etc., as they can easily catch fire. Moreover, clutter can also block exits during a fire accident so make sure to tidy up your office floor.
Safely Store All Flammable Materials
If you have flammable materials such as chemicals or other hazardous materials at your workplace, make sure to store them in a safe and dry cabinet or room with appropriate ventilation. Additionally, keep some fire protection equipment near the area that contains the flammable materials.
Properly Dispose of Hazardous Waste
Dispose of all the hazardous waste from your office such as oils and chemicals in a metal container with a properly fitted lid. Make sure to properly dispose of all combustible and flammable materials as well.
Have a Designated Smoking Area
Keep a designated smoking area for your office that’s away from the main building. Also, provide ashtrays and trash cans for people to safely distinguish and discard their cigarette butts. This will keep your building safe from an accidental fire caused by a lit cigarette.
Take Precautionary Measures
Make sure to teach your employees how to react to a fire. Conduct regular fire drills and teach your employees how to use a fire extinguisher. This will enable them to keep themselves safe during a fire accident and also prevent the spread of the fire in your building.
Have an Emergency Plan
You should have an emergency evacuation plan in place to deal with a fire accident as quick evacuation can save lives. Additionally, teach your employees how to call for help and how to access the different fire exits of your office building in case of an emergency.
Stick to OSHA & NFPA Safety Guidelines
Today, many safety regulations and standards have been put in place to ensure that businesses can prevent fires in the workplace. Follow the set of rules provided by organizations such as NFPA and OSHA to ensure fire protection and safety.
