Is your business prepared for a fire emergency?
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Fires are one of the disasters that most people never expect but that will devastate a business in just a few minutes. When you open a business, you likely will have to comply with various local and even state regulations with regard to fire safety and inspections. Don’t do just the minimum! Instead be proactive about making sure that your business is ready in case of a fire. Here are a few tips to help keep your employees and your property safe.
Annual Fire Extinguisher Inspection
Fire extinguishers do not work forever. They are essentially pressurized gas, such as nitrogen, or air, which interacts with chemicals to spray out foam. Over times, this pressure can decrease or miniscule punctures in the extinguisher can cause it to leak out. Be sure that you call Desert State Fire, we can perform an annual safety inspection for your fire extinguishers. Just add it to your list of other annual items that require checking and make the call at the beginning of each year.
Safety Exit Plan and Practice
Most local governments require business owners to have an evacuation route mapped out in case of a fire. These maps usually are in the office next to the door. The problem with them is that they often don’t make sense on first glance. It may be difficult to tell exactly where to go, and in a fire, people are not thinking clearly. All employees should know how to exit from various points in the building. Make fire safety part of a new hire’s orientation procedures and have practice fire drills at least once a year to refresh everyone’s memory.
Review Procedures
Fire safety precautions are not a “one and done” type of job. In addition to having an annual fire extinguisher inspection, it is imperative to review procedures annually or any time there is a change in the office set-up. Make sure that employees can get out from their offices in addition to break rooms, restrooms, and other places they are likely to frequent. If you move desks around, check that the fire extinguishers are still in an easily accessible location.
Don’t be caught off-guard if there is a fire in your business. While you hope it never happens, the reality is that it sometimes does, and knowing that you are prepared for it will help you feel better about the safety of your business and employees.
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