Owning a small grocery store can be incredibly rewarding, giving you the chance to get to know your customers and provide them with items they need every day. However, a sudden fire could send your business up in flames, which is why it is crucial to understand how to negate risks. Here is a brief guide to learn how to protect your grocery store from fire hazards, and how simple additions, like fire alarms, can help. 

How to Reduce Fire Hazards in Grocery Stores

Common Hazards

One of the most significant risks involving store fires are departments where cooking takes place. Whether you have a fresh deli that offers chicken fingers and fried potato wedges, or a bakery that has its own artisan oven, fires can start quickly, especially when employees aren’t properly trained to handle the equipment.

Fire hazards also lurk around heating systems, electrical wiring, and motorized trash compressors. Fires can start wherever there’s a potential fuel source, like paper or insulation, and an ignition source, like sparking electrical wires, open flames, or overheated mechanical equipment. 

Employee break areas are also prone to fires. If aluminum is placed in a microwave, it can spark a fire. Toaster ovens and other cooking equipment can also be hazardous, especially if they haven’t been cleaned regularly or repaired properly. If you have employees that smoke, their discarded cigarettes could cause a fire to erupt. Make sure there’s a designated cigarette disposal outside your building so employees aren’t discarding their butts on the ground or next to cardboard boxes. 

How To Protect Your Store  

Protect your store from fire hazards by taking the time to train workers carefully. Do not allow employees to operate cooking or mechanical equipment without thorough training, and always schedule newcomers with veteran employees who are well-versed with the equipment.

Keep ashtrays anywhere employees may smoke, and install fire alarms and suppression units throughout your store. Make sure all team leads understand how fire alarms are triggered, how to evacuate your staff and any customers in your store, and how to report fires to authorities as quickly as possible. 

If you run a grocery store and you are concerned about preventing fire, turn to Tempo Fire and Security LLC in Harrison, AR. These trusted professionals are committed to loss prevention. They understand how fire alarms and suppression systems work and will use their knowledge to help you to evaluate and find solutions to potential hazards. Since their inception in 1983, they have been committed to doing everything in their power to identify and resolve threats early on, protecting lives and livelihoods. Learn more about this company online, or call (870) 741-1331 to speak with a trusted team member.