Keep It Cool, Protect Your Workspace From Fire
Fire is one of those risks that exist near universally across all kinds of workplaces and, yet, many business owners don’t pay as much heed to this particular risk as they should. Fires are not just a major danger to your business, belongings, and people, but they are often environmental catastrophes as well. As such, here are a few tips on how to keep your workplace safe from fire.
Understand your fire risks
The first thing that you should do is get a good understanding of which fire risks actually do affect the office, as well as the probability of them becoming an issue. One of the best ways to do this is with a fire safety audit. This means working with professionals who will highlight every instance of hidden safety hazards, what kind of damage they can cause, as well as solutions you can use to mitigate those risks or shut them down should they actually start a fire.
Ensure the office is equipped
Whatever the workplace, make sure that it has the installations that you need to help your team combat fire risks and stop them from spreading. Installing fire extinguishers throughout the workplace is vital, but it’s important to install those that are best suited to combat specific causes of fire most likely in the area. After all, water is not always an effective solution. Otherwise, look at fire protection systems like sprinklers that can help you deal with the most common causes of fire. You might not always be able to prevent a fire but often you can make sure that it doesn’t cost you too much in terms of damage.
Know the materials that you work with
In industrial settings or any workplaces in which you work with chemicals and substances not usually found in the office, then you should make sure you understand the properties of those substances and treat them as safely as those properties demand. Combustible dust testing is one way that you can see how flammable or explosive materials may be, which may lead you to change how you store and use them. You should also be sure that you know how to safely dispose of any materials that have these properties so that you don’t unduly affect your environment.
Have a plan
If a fire does break out, then it is essential that you do your best to keep your team acting in a safe and organized manner. Running fire drills should be a semi-frequent occurrence in the office to make sure that everyone understands the plan to follow should a fire break out. Having some practice and prior knowledge of the plan is the best way to make sure that they’re able to follow it in the event of a real crisis.
It’s your responsibility to protect the health and safety of your team from all risks, including fire. With the tips above, you can start learning about where the biggest risks lie and what you can do about them.