Fires are one of the most disastrous accidents that can ever happen. As much as people are being careful, installing fire protection, and increasing awareness about it, fire can still occur pretty much anywhere and any time of the day. No matter how prepared you are against this kind of event, it is better to always be aware of your surroundings.
Since we have mentioned that a fire can happen anytime and almost anywhere, it can also affect the workplace. It would be nice to see any office or business establishment that properly informs its staff regarding fire prevention and protection. If you are a manager or a business owner who would like to improve the level of preparedness against fire, here are some pointers you should consider.
Hire the services of fire watch guards.
Fire watch guards are highly skilled and professional security guards that focus on the prevention and proper handling whenever there’s fire. Aside from this, there are states that require businesses to hire their services whenever the fire protection system is under maintenance, being repaired, or in the process of installation. They also create logs, proper documentation, and inspection to ensure that potential hazards will be properly addressed.
Increase awareness against fire prevention.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specific guidelines that will increase the awareness of employees when it comes to fire. It will also help to have regular fire prevention lectures and periodic checks on potential areas where the fire could start. Another important point to consider is to ensure that all the staff is aware of the fire exits in the property or establishments. It is not enough just posting them in specific areas in the workplace, it is essential to inform them about its details. This will help them be informed on the exit’s exact location and what to do before leaving the property.
Always have a plan.
If the worst happens and the building catches fire, you’ll need to have a plan in place. You must establish the safest pathways for everyone to exit the building as fast as possible as part of this strategy. Then assign duties to specific employees or colleagues, such as who will act as a guide during the evacuation. The guide should also perform frequent exercises or inspections to search for possible fire dangers that might obstruct the evacuation procedure.
Ensure proper handling of flammable or light materials.
If your workplace deals with operations that require the use of fire, ensure that flammable materials and those that can easily catch fire (such as papers) are at a safe distance. In addition, proper training should be given to all employees in the building or property, not just to those who are working directly dealing with the fire. This will give an assurance that people have an idea of what is the proper thing to do in case a fire breaks out.
It is a must for employees to be informed on what to do in case a fire happened in the workplace. If you are not confident that the area has potential fire hazards, getting the service of fire watch guards will help in the prevention of fire. It is now easier to hire fire watch guards, as they can be contacted online or even through social media.