Safety is an important consideration for companies all over the world. Common workplace safety threats include fire, biological, physical, and chemical hazards. It can be helpful to leave the ins and outs of safety equipment installation and maintenance to professionals. Here are some ways to stay apprised of fire hazards in the workplace and ensure that your business is adhering to safe practices.
1. Training Employees About Fire Safety
A fire safety training course for all employees can be extremely beneficial in the case of preventing and dealing with fires in the workplace. Properly trained employees have the potential to help prevent loss of life and property, saving the business thousands of dollars in insurance and other costs each year. Further benefits of fire safety training include:
- Increasing productivity in employees since they are no longer worried about potential safety hazards in their work environment.
- Boosting the likelihood that employees will remain calm during an emergency since fire safety training will instill confidence in people to know what to do during emergency procedures.
- Showing that your company truly cares about the safety and well-being of employees and is willing to put time and resources into achieving this goal.
Employees who are confident and well-informed in fire safety will carry this confidence over to other safety and overall business practices of the company.
2. Working With a Professional Safety Company
A professional fire safety company can help identify and prevent fire safety hazards that your business might not have otherwise considered. Depending on the industry and type of building you are in, some of these hazards might include:
- Using machinery that can generate excessive friction or static electricity, causes the machinery to overheat. Welding, cutting, or brazing machines are common culprits.
- Packing flammable or combustible materials tightly together or otherwise storing them in a way that blocks the effectiveness of sprinkler systems and hampers the response of fire departments. Examples of flammable or combustible liquids include gasoline, acetone, and diethyl ether.
- Allowing employees or customers to use ignition sources close to flammable materials. Examples of ignition sources include cigarettes, sparks from electrical tools, hot surfaces, open flames such as torches, and static electricity.
A fire safety company will be trained to work with delicate and hazardous electrical equipment. Damaged electrical equipment is a leading cause of fires in the workplace and mishandling this equipment can cause injuries and even fatalities. A professional will be able to use technology such as infrared scanning to identify problematic areas in a building’s electrical system. Fixing these problems early is key to fire prevention and ensures that your business does not suffer losses due to power outages and other catastrophic events.
Not only will a professional fire safety company be able to identify issues in your building and install preventative measures, but they will also be available to train employees on how to use the preventative equipment. Such equipment may include a sprinkler system or an early warning alarm system.
3. Installing and Maintaining Fire Safety Equipment
After hiring a safety company that you trust, decide what equipment you want to install in your company’s building and learn what you will need to do to maintain the equipment. Some fire safety equipment to consider:
- Fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems.
- Emergency lighting, including exit signs and floor lighting.
- Fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Hoses if you have ready access to a fire hydrant.
If your business deals with flammable and combustible materials, implement proper procedures for the storage and disposal of these materials. Proper procedures should include the following:
- A fireproof storage cabinet that is placed in a secure location.
- Labels for all containers that note the type of substance, age or expiration date, and the Hazard Class 3 flammable logo.
- Guidance on the location and frequency of which to dispose of hazardous materials, including the use of a toxic waste management company.
It is important to maintain your building’s fire safety equipment, any hazardous materials, and your workspace, in general, to help prevent fire hazards. A clean and clutter-free work area is necessary for quick evacuation in the unfortunate event of an emergency.
Maintaining a safe workplace is the right thing to do and fire safety is one important aspect of overall safety.
