Fire Safety Best Practices to Help Carrollton, TX, Businesses Prevent Fire Damage

10/11/2022 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Carrollton highlights tips for promoting fire safety in a commercial facility.

SERVPRO® of Carrollton provides commercial fire damage restoration for businesses, professional office complexes, manufacturing units, schools, and other educational institutions. When the property damage restoration needs are large and need quick action, SERVPRO can scale to meet the challenge.

Commercial fire safety strategies

A fire damage disaster in a commercial environment or workplace has the potential to cause personal injury to employees, ruin inventory, destroy machinery used in the production of products, damage office equipment, and cause massive structural damage to the facility. Sometimes the consequences are tragic, resulting in fatalities.

Workplace fires pose a constant risk and annually cause millions of dollars in property damage. Some fires are entirely accidental or act of God. In other instances, fires are a result of negligence, carelessness, or arson.

Appropriate fire prevention strategies, a well-trained workforce, and a strong corporate culture of fire safety and awareness are key elements of maintaining a fire-safe environment in the workplace. SERVPRO® of Carrollton offers fire prevention strategies as a starting point to create a culture of fire prevention and safety.

Formulate a comprehensive fire safety plan

Employees must be well acquainted with the company’s fire safety plan so that in the event of a fire, the proper response is responsive and second nature. A fire prevention strategy and a safe evacuation route are foundational. The plan should be formalized in writing and conspicuously posted in prominent areas in the workplace. The plan can be made easily accessible in a digital format through the use of a QR code.

Some critical elements of the plan include the following action steps:

• The identification of evacuation routes, which also should be clearly marked
• The implementation of a well-defined evacuation protocol, which should include a process that accounts for all employees once the evacuation is completed
• Instruction on how to activate the facility’s emergency notification system
• The location of fire extinguishers or other fire suppression equipment
• The designation and clear identification of safe areas
• The highlighting of all major fire hazards
• Instruction and hands-on training in the proper management, handling, and storage of hazardous materials
• The creation of a flow chart listing the names and titles of designated fire safety personnel

Fire safety tips for the workplace

The top priority in the event of a workplace fire is the personal safety of each employee. A swift, safe evacuation will save lives. Familiarize employees with evacuation routes so that if a fire should occur, each employee will know how to evacuate the facility no matter where they find themselves at the time of a fire event. Emergency exits should be well-marked and well-lighted.

Make the workspace a safe place. Maintain a clean, uncluttered, dry, dust-free, and well-ventilated workspace. Organization fosters efficiency and awareness while eliminating distractions. Clutter on the work floor may impede evacuation and increase the risk of a trip-and-fall injury. If the power to the facility is interrupted, auxiliary lighting may be dim. In this case, clear evacuation lanes become vital.

Utilize a fire safety checklist. The list should be easily visible and accessible.  A sturdy, laminated infographic, in tandem with the printed checklist, reinforces important fire prevention information while accommodating employees with different learning styles.

Be aware of the fire risks of equipment. Heat-producing equipment should not be used near combustible materials. Extreme caution should be exercised in the use and storage of flammable liquids and chemicals.

Electrical safety can reduce fire hazards in the workplace since electricity is involved in nearly four in ten workplace fires. Electrical cords should be inspected when used, and damaged cords should be repaired or replaced. Compromised or damaged electrical outlets should never be used. Overloading an outlet has never been easier with the growing demand to recharge devices. Where this fire hazard exists, consider installing GFCI outlets.

Functional smoke alarms save lives. Smoke detection systems are crucial in office areas, especially in the break room where electrical appliances such as the coffee pot and microwave are located. Schedule and document testing of smoke alarms and CO detectors at least once a month. Replace batteries every year. Smoke alarms should be replaced around every ten years. If a smoke alarm is giving off an annoying chirping noise, do not remove the battery. Instead, replace the battery immediately. It is too easy to remove the battery and then forget to replace it.

Fire extinguishers are a cornerstone of immediate fire suppression. A delinquent inspection protocol puts everyone at risk. Instruct employees on how to safely operate the devices. The location of fire extinguishers should be clearly marked. Avoid obstructing access to fire extinguishers.

Remember, these fire safety prevention and emergency response tips are basic and do not reflect an exhaustive solution. A comprehensive fire safety program requires much time and effort, as well as professional input.

In the event of a fire damage disaster in a commercial environment, the team of professionals at SERVPRO of Carrollton is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Unlike most property damage restoration companies, SERVPRO can scale to meet any size of disaster. The rapid response helps businesses quickly recover from a property damage disaster.

To learn more about fire damage restoration for Carrollton, TX, businesses, reach out to SERVPRO of Carrollton by email at office@SERVPRO10952.com or by phone at (972) 446-0383.