Making sure your company is properly prepared for a fire will keep your employees safe and protect you from potentially expensive liability issues. That’s why it’s so important to create an office fire safety plan. However, simply keeping a fire extinguisher in your office isn’t enough to constitute a full-proof plan. Here’s how to prepare your company. 

How to Protect Your Employees if There’s a Fire

1. Assign Fire Wardens

Choose people to take charge and manage the situation if there’s a fire. Select members of your staff that will be reliable in an emergency, then have them complete a fire warden training course. This will give them the skills and knowledge needed to keep your staff safe during a fire.

2. Implement Regular Fire Drill Training

While it can seem like a waste of time, regular fire drills ensure every member of your staff is prepared for a real fire. It’ll give them a chance to become familiar with the nearest exits and where the fire extinguishers are located. Practicing will help employees stay calm in a real emergency.

3. Maintain Your Fire Safety Equipment

Keep fire extinguishers readily available and in the open when possible. Instead of hiding it under a sink, keep them on display in a clear box. Also, make sure your smoke detectors are functioning properly. At least once a month, press the test button on each detector to ensure it’s still working.

4. Make the Fire Exit Routes Clear

The fire exits should be clearly posted throughout the building. This is especially important if you have temporary employees or new clients in the office who don’t know the layout. You want to make sure everyone knows where to go if there’s an emergency.

5. Have Multiple Plans

Don’t rely on a single solution for your company’s fire safety. Installing a sprinkler system will protect your staff, but they can also malfunction, which is why it’s important to also have fire extinguishers throughout the building. The primary fire exit can also become blocked during an emergency, so make sure you have multiple exits available and that your staff is aware of where they are located.

 

There are numerous benefits to ensuring you are properly prepared for a fire. To keep your employees safe, contact Accel Fire Systems in Anchorage, AK. As a member of the National Fire Protection Association®, they specialize in providing fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems. Call them at (907) 349-1490 or visit them online to reach a member of their team.