3 Tips To Prepare Your Workplace for a Fire

8/27/2022 (Permalink)

Biannual training on emergency evacuation is suggested for all businesses.

Prepare Your Workplace For A Fire

The success of your South Garland, TX, business requires a great deal of planning, organization and creativity. In addition to daily operations, it’s essential to make your workplace ready for emergency situations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported an average of over 3,000 fires in office buildings during the years of 2007-2001. Therefore, it’s critical that businesses actively develop a contingency plan. Here are three tips that can help you prepare your workplace for a fire.

1. Develop an Evacuation Plan
The size and complexity of your business determine the details of your office emergency action plan. Smaller offices that have fewer hazards can create a simple plan. The NFPA states that the most common causes of workplace fires are cooking, electrical and heating equipment. Less common causes include intentional fires and smoking materials. Establish an emergency response team to identify hazards and draft an emergency action plan. The plan should include evacuation procedures and routes that are specific to the office location.

2. Train Employees
A well-drafted contingency plan is useless without employee training. All employees need to be trained on the specifics of the plan. Employees should know about potential hazards and what action to take before, during and after a fire. Employees should also be able to recognize alarm systems and know where fire extinguishers and fire sprinkler systems are located.

3. Review and Practice the Plan
Biannual training on emergency evacuation is suggested for all businesses. Additionally, new employees should be trained within the first few weeks of employment. Workers should understand all aspects of the plan including the types of possible emergencies, evacuation routes, alarm systems, reporting procedures and individual responsibilities. Assign individuals on the emergency response team to be responsible for reporting to emergency personnel and working with emergency restoration professionals.
Creating and practicing a contingency plan is critical to prepare your workplace for a fire. With proper planning and training, your employees will be prepared for an emergency.