A Fire can be a catastrophic event, leading to destruction of property or loss of life. To ensure that people in a building are protected and assets are safeguarded in the event that a fire breaks out, it is essential that every business have a fire safety plan in place.
This fire safety plan should include a detailed evacuation plan that all building occupants are made aware of so they can exit the building quickly in the event of a fire.
The effects of a fire can be devastating in terms of lives lost, injuries, and damage to property. Most fires are preventable, and can be avoided by those responsible for commercial and other public buildings taking responsibility for and adopting fire safe behaviour and procedures.
Every business or building, no matter how large or small it may be, is legally obligated to understand and follow fire safety laws.
Fire Suppression System
Fire suppression systems are devices that are strategically placed in different areas of the office building or kitchen. These automatically trigger when the temperature changes to certain degrees or they can be manually turned on by pulling an emergency switch, which will then release chemicals onto the fire-prone locations to extinguish the fires.
Restaurants and offices should have the fire suppression systems installed professionally, in compliance with fire codes. After installation, test the system thoroughly.
Regularly inspect the system along with its fire extinguishers to ensure they comply with local laws and fire safety codes.
Evacuation Plan
Every workplace or business establishment must have an evacuation plan. Keep in mind, however, that even the most perfect plan will be useless if only the person who made it knows about it. Go through the evacuation plan and make sure that every staff member and employee is knowledgeable about what to do. The plan should include which exits to use, and employees should be aware of the number of steps required to reach the exit in case there are visibility problems. Every establishment should have at least two exits in case one of them is blocked. If the fire alarm rings, never ignore it. Use the evacuation plan and strictly follow it. Post the evacuation plan and perform fire drills to ensure you and your staff are experts at it. Make the necessary provisions for any disabled workers and take into account how you will help any visitors present during a fire but unfamiliar with your plan.
Fire safety tips for building occupants:
- Fire Plan. Make sure your employees know what to do if there’s a fire, including calling the Fire Brigade immediately. Conduct a fire drill at least once a year to keep employees aware of your workplace fire safety protocol.
- Have a Safety Officer
- Install a Sprinkler System or Fire Suppression system
- Leave Space for Appliances- Leave some room behind appliances that heat up, like coffee machines and computers, to allow them to cool down.
- Regularly Replace Wiring. Check power cords regularly for fraying, broken connectors, or cracked insulation.
- Evacuation Plan. In larger buildings, post a fire evacuation plan in several spots around the workplace. Never include elevators in an evacuation plan; always use the stairs. Businesses with disabled employees should develop a detailed evacuation for those employees needing additional assistance in an emergency.
- First Aid. In case of fire injuries, your employees should be familiar with the location of the first-aid kit, which should be kept where possible hazards can occur most, such as in the kitchen.