To ensure full fire security and safety in your home, you may be following the best practices, but what about your office and commercial property? You need to ensure the safety of workers, customers, and visitors at your workplace, regardless of whether you own a retail company, a manufacturing industry, or an IT agency.
In your workplace and other industrial buildings, fire protection and prevention should always be a primary concern
Have your electrics tested?
You are likely to deal with a lot of electrical equipment if you work in an office, including computers, photocopiers, printers, telephones and desk lamps, etc. Did you know, however, that electrical equipment poses one of the biggest fire safety risks?
Make sure that electricity risks are minimised by periodically inspecting equipment for damage, ensuring that equipment is used correctly by employees and immediately removing defective equipment from usage.
Regularly monitor the fire detection/warning systems
A fire detection and warning system must be in place in all workplaces, but how often can you check that they are functioning correctly? Make sure that the smoke detectors are checked at least once a month and that the fire alarm is tested regularly to ensure that it works properly and can be heard by all in the office.
Keep an eye on escape routes for emergencies
By regulation, in the event of a fire, the office must have a way of getting individuals from the premises to a place of safety outside. This could either be down the staircase of the main office, or you may have an external fire escape or a dedicated hallway that can be used only in the event of a fire.
But when did you search for the escape route for the last time? Is it possible for people to use it or is the corridor obstructed by tables, plants or other objects? As good housekeeping is important, your emergency escape routes must be accessible at all times.
Appoint a professional warden of fire
Is there a dedicated person in your office who is responsible for fire safety? There are numerous fire warden duties that, if neglected, could lead to serious consequences, so it is vital for the appointed individual to take the role seriously (and not just see it as a fun ‘label’ they’d like to have).
In order to maintain the evacuation plan, carry out a fire risk assessment and ensure that fire-fighting equipment is present and correct, fire wardens must be qualified.
Healthy Breaks of Smoke
Are your workers aware of the fire safety hazards that follow the mid-morning cigarette break, whether you have a designated area outside, or simply ask people to head away from the building?
Ensure that staff are mindful of taking care of smoking, especially when discarding smoking materials that could easily light up nearby flammable materials, such as dry leaves, papers and textiles in garbage bins or spilt fuel in the parking lot. In order to inflict significant harm, it only takes one minor accident or act of carelessness.
Wrapping Up:
In order to understand how to recognise hazards, how to avoid them and what to do if a fire breaks out in the workplace, it is vital that all workers are trained in fire safety. Even if your office has all possible plans, procedures, signs and equipment in place, if workers don’t understand their duties, it’s unlikely to be successful.
