It’s vital that business owners and managers have a good knowledge of how they can improve fire safety levels. It may only be necessary to make a few small changes to ensure that your workplace is a safer place in which to operate. Here are five top tips for managing fire safety in a commercial environment.
Undertaking a risk assessment will highlight the key problem areas when it comes to fire safety and how you can best protect those who may be in danger. This will enable you to identify what steps can be taken to rectify the matter and limit the risk to those working in the business. These might include fitting fire curtains or fire-suppression appliances.
The maintenance of your office can also reduce the risk to employees if a fire were to break out. For example, clutter and piles of paper can fuel a fire and restrict access to emergency exits. If the business has any high-risk substances or products on the premises, these should be stored safely and any chemicals require adequate ventilation.
The way in which you work can also contribute to fire safety. All your employees should understand the emergency and contingency plans and keep up to date with any changes. Any equipment should be properly maintained to prevent sparks or overheating issues. Any electrical repairs must be carried out by a qualified electrician.
Fire doors and fire curtains can prevent fires from spreading, enabling people to escape safely and reducing the amount of damage to the property. The areas around these should be kept clear at all times to ensure that they will work efficiently in the event that a fire does break out.
Even with all the right preparation and protective equipment, fires can still start in commercial properties. Therefore, it’s vital that you have the right warning systems in place and that they work properly. All smoke alarms and detectors need to be tested regularly, and it’s recommended that they are replaced every ten years. You should also have frequent fire drills so that all your employees know how to evacuate correctly.
