Fire Safety And Prevention In The Work Place

Industrial & Manufacturing Blog

Teaching your employees how to prevent fires or avoid increased risk can take some time, but it's entirely worth it in the long run. Adding fire prevention and suppression systems (from companies like Ace Fire Protection) to your office can further reduce the chances of a catastrophic fire claiming the premises. How you go about protecting your facility, and the information you pass on to your employees, can make all the difference when a fire does break out.

Likely Ignition Sources

Take stock of the most likely places for fire to break out in your facility, and focus your efforts there. Power outlets, emergency generators, and anything that generates high heat output can be an ignition source, so make sure you're aware of these and any nearby fuel sources that might allow a fire to spread. Install fire suppression systems that are designed to specifically address these likely threats, such as compressed CO2  canisters for electrical fires.

Regardless of what kind of suppression system or fire extinguishers you have in your facility, they're only effective if someone nearby knows how to use them. While not every business needs every employee to be a stand-by firefighter, it's a good idea to familiarize some of your personnel with the use and function of your fire suppression system. This can provide crucial minutes for the local fire department to arrive, or simply ensure that an automatic suppression system has deployed.

Risk Reduction and Fire Prevention

Suppressing fires once they happen is only one approach to addressing fire safety, but stopping them from being a problem is far more cost effective. Set policies which enforce common sense practices in the office, such as not overloading outlets, and avoiding the use of space heaters in close quarters. Candles and hotplates should also be avoided in an office environment, as the threat is simply too great.

Set up maintenance schedules that address any flammable materials on the premises, such as some kinds of paint, various chemicals, and fuel for equipment. Make sure storage for these containers is secure, and well away from ignition sources. Avoid overcrowding storage cabinets, and dispose of older chemicals and paint appropriately.

Fire safety doesn't stop with suppression or prevention, and the job of minimizing risk is an ongoing one. If your office or facility doesn't have anyone responsible for managing risks of this nature, assign that responsibility to someone directly. This will ensure that it falls to someone to keep track of potential fire safety issues, and addresses them in a timely fashion, helping to keep your business protected.

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26 June 2015