Fire safety is an important consideration in any workplace to ensure the safety of employees and visitors alike. There are various elements to consider when looking into the fire safety procedures in your workplace.
Fire Fighting
One of the most obvious considerations is fire fighting through the use of fire extinguishers. If a fire is caught soon enough, a fire extinguisher may be enough to put it out and save property and lives. There should always be fire extinguishers in your workplace.
Make sure you have an ample number of fire extinguishers available through the building, which are designed for use in your particular industry. Fire extinguishers should be inspected regularly to keep them in good working condition.
Escape Routes
There should be an escape plan in place in your workplace and all employees should know that escape plan. There needs to be at least two ways to get out of a building, in case one of them has been blocked by fire.
There are a few considerations that should be made when looking at escape routes:
• There must ALWAYS be a clear path to each exit. Obstacles in the way can cause people to trip and fall, adding more possibility of injuries.
• Make sure all escape routes are clearly marked so those who are trying to escape the building have no problem finding where they need to go during a stressful situation.
• When it comes to those escape options, it is vital to make sure the doors are unlocked when there are employees or visitors in the building.
• Never wedge fire doors open as they are designed to protect escape routes and prevent the spread of toxic smoke and fumes. And as fire needs oxygen to survive, a fresh feed of air through wedged open fire doors may only lead to building the fire hazard.
Fire Evacuations
Always have an evacuation plan in place and let employees know where they need to congregate once safely outside of the building. You should also ensure everyone checks in with someone, so you know that all employees and visitors are accounted for.
Fires and evacuations are serious matters; therefore fire drills are essential for the safety of all staff (and visitors) of a workplace.
Walker Health and Safety Services can help with all matters related to health and safety including fire risk assessments should you require further assistance.