Fire safety in the workplace is paramount in order to keep your business profitable, make the staff feel supported and avoid any disasters which could destroy files and data or even cause harm to your dedicated employees.
It is your responsibility to ensure your staff are safe when they come to work, no matter what job role they have. To do this, you should have a collective fire safety plan and adhere to specific regulations surrounding fire safety.
When creating a plan to determine how to prevent fire hazards in the workplace you should:
Communicate to Your Staff
Hold fire safety training on a regular basis so all of your employees know exactly what to do in the event of a fire. Each individual should take part in fire drills and anyone with a known disability should have a specific plan of action in order to exit the building.
All workplaces should also appoint fire marshals, who take on the role of making sure everyone has evacuated.
Dispose of Hazardous Materials
Certain substances can make fires more likely. If your business works with flammable materials, there must be special protocols put into place for their disposal.
Keep Things Clean
A clean and tidy workplace will limit the risks of an office fire. If you have an office full of electrical equipment next to flammable papers, then this is more likely to cause a fire and spread more quickly. Keeping the office clean and tidy will limit the risk of something catching fire and will slow down the spread if the worst should happen.
Put in Proper Security
One of the most common risks when it comes to fires is arson. There are criminals who will make it their mission to set workplaces ablaze for fun. Hiring security guards at night and inserting CCTV that’s recorded offsite will deter criminal activity.
Create a Designated Smoking Area in a Safe Location
While smokers may complain that they need to walk further at break time, having your designated smoking area set as far away from the building as possible will help you reduce a fire risk if someone doesn’t quite put out their cigarette.
You should also ensure that there are plenty of smoking bins to allow smokers to put out their cigarettes properly before they come inside.
Carry Out Regular Risk Assessments
It is your responsibility to assess the risks of your buildings regularly. You should look for any risks regarding chemical usage, electrical equipment or anything that would stop people exiting the building in an emergency. This means that nothing should be in the way of a fire exit route.
Adhere to the Proper Workplace Regulations
When you own a business, you must adhere to workplace regulations in regard to fire exits, fire extinguishers and fire blankets. You must also test your alarm system regularly to ensure everything is in working order.
Some companies will work with you to provide a service which checks your fire regime regularly and signs off on your compliance, so you can be confident that you are doing the best thing for your employees’ safety.
For more information on fire safety in the workplace, contact Northants Fire today.
