Now is as good a time as any to think about ways to reduce the risk of a destructive fire happening in your workplace. Fires are costly, disruptive and take a toll on people’s minds and sense of well-being as well. Therefore, doing “little things” to help prevent workplace fires can only help avoid major problems down the line.

What are some things to think about in order to get your workplace thinking about safety and fire prevention?

Create an Efficient Evacuation Plan

For starters, have an evacuation plan, post it and practice it “just in case.” You’d be surprised how many businesses and organizations are lax when it comes to this sort of thing. As a kid, your school probably conducted fire drills– well, even in the workplace fire drills make sense! People should know where the exits are and what to do in case of an emergency. This is in case there is a fire, but ideally, what about doing things to prevent fires?

Training, Training and More Training

Workers should be trained properly. They should not mishandle chemicals. They should not store combustible materials in certain areas or ways. They should dispose of hazardous materials safely. They should follow safety rules and procedures, which were taught to them by someone in charge. Meanwhile, if they operate machinery, they should know how to operate that machinery properly. Proper training at work is vital if you want to avoid fire accidents.

Don’t Forget Illuminated Signage

The building should have illuminated exit signs. Floor lights can help, too, on main walkways– you never know when someone might have to crawl out of the building because the smoke is so thick. Signage with escape routes should be posted throughout the building. Doors should never be blocked.

Organization and Cleanliness

What about housekeeping? You can avoid fires by keeping your workplace clean and tidy. Get rid of fire hazards, including things like solvents and fuels (or store them properly). Maintain your machines. Clean and inspect them too. Eliminate electrical hazards like overloaded outlets. Check your smoke detectors to make sure they’re working. And if people like to smoke, have them smoke outdoors in a place where they won’t catch the place on fire.

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