With more than 16,500 office and store fires in the U.S. reported in 2020 alone, fires are a real threat to businesses and communities. As a small business owner, it is your responsibility to develop, write, and implement a fire safety plan. However, figuring out how to develop a plan for fire safety can be daunting. Thankfully, OSHA has guidelines on all the elements that need to be incorporated into your written fire safety plan. Let’s look at some key points you can start implementing today to get your plan up and running.
1. Identify Your Business’s Fire Hazards
Taking inventory of your business’s fire hazards is a great way to familiarize yourself with your property and all the ways a fire can become a threat. Common fire hazards include flammable liquids, combustible items, and heat-producing equipment. Make sure to assess the threat level of each fire hazard. All of your business’s fire hazards must be documented as part of your fire plan.
2. Recruit Your Fire Safety Team
Even small businesses need a fire safety team. This group of individuals will be trained in fire safety and is responsible for enforcing safety protocols throughout the office. In the event of a fire, this team will help all employees evacuate safely. Make sure to appoint a fire safety officer who will devise escape routes, determine meeting points for employees, make sure fire safety equipment is in working order, and maintain the fire safety plan documents. Additional members of the fire safety team should know what their individual roles are in the event of a fire.
3. Develop Your Evacuation Plan
Every employee should know where they’re going and how to get there in the event of a fire. That takes devising a detailed evacuation plan that makes sense for all areas of your facility. If your building has multiple floors, post a fire evacuation plan on each floor. Do not include elevators in your plan. Stairs should always be taken in the event of a fire. If you have disabled employees, a detailed evacuation plan for those individuals is crucial. Your evacuation plan should include routes and meeting places. Regular fire drills are imperative for employees to learn where to go in an emergency.
4. Implement Fire Prevention Measures
In the event of a fire, the best way to ensure your employees escape safely is by implementing mechanisms to slow the spread of the fire. Your fire safety plan and infrastructure should include sprinklers, evacuation signs, smoke detectors, fire alarms, fire detection systems, safe storage of flammable items, and safety measures around electrical practices.
5. Invest in Firefighting Equipment
Make sure your business has all the fire safety supplies you need in the event of a fire. Have fire extinguishers and fire blankets on hand and teach your employees how to use them properly. All of your employees should also know the locations of fire equipment.
6. Devise a Communication Plan
In the event of a fire, your employees need to know where communication will be coming from (such as an emergency notification system). Make sure you have a list of emergency contact information for first responders as well as a contact list of all of your employees. In addition, you need to train your employees on emergency communication procedures.
Once you’ve developed your fire safety plan, make sure you have all the fire protection supplies you need to execute the plan effectively. If you come up short, Zoro can help with fire safety supplies of all kinds.
Product Compliance and Suitability
The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness, or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand, and follow all manufacturer instructions.