Business Fire Safety & Prevention
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' fires and explosions accounted for 3% of workplace fatalities in 2007. Each year in the U.S. 70-80,000 serious workplace fires occur. These fires cause the deaths of nearly 200 and injure another 5, 000 employees. It is estimated that property losses from workplace fires exceed $2 billion annually. This page provides valuable information for prevention of fire-related injuries in all workplaces. Workers have a right to a safe workplace. The law requires employers to provide their employees with safe and healthful workplaces. The Bushkill Twp. Volunteer Fire Co. will work with businesses on fire prevention and preparedness within the community. This includes drills with the businesses and emergency pre-planning. If you are an area business owner or manager, please take the time to review some of the business fire safety tips and prevention below. If you need further assistance please use the contact us form on the home page or call 610-759-2274.
Safety Tips
* Fire codes specify the size, number, and locations of a fire extinguisher, make sure you are adequately protected.
* There are different types and sizes of fire extinguishers, make sure you know them and what is correct for your business.
* Make sure all employees know basic fire extinguisher operation.
* Have a fire evacuation plan. Make sure that all employees know what to do in case of fire.
* Have fire evacuation plans posted so all customers and employees know the nearest fire exits.
* Treat every alarm as an emergency.
* If you have an elevator in your business, do NOT use it in a fire situation.
* In areas where smoking is allowed, use large, non-tip ashtrays and make sure everything in them is cold before they are emptied. Be sure that no one leaves moldering cigarettes on furniture or in a wastebasket.
* Designate an employee to turn off or unplug all appliances including coffee makers at the end of each working day.
* Do not overload outlets and make sure to replace any damaged cords.
* Pay attention to security measures, make sure all doors are locked at the end of the day. Keep combustibles away from the building and loading docks should be well lit at night to keep any unwanted visitors away who may want to start any fires.
* Try not to clutter exits, stairways, and storage areas.
* Conduct fire drills. Let the alarm company know ahead of time so the fire company is not dispatched for a false alarm.
* Identify common fire hazards & know how to prevent them.
* Make sure all exit signs are properly lit and visible.
* Fix all broken or missing fire safety equipment.
* Do not silence or reset the alarm until the fire company has investigated and said it is ok to do so.
* Close all doors when exiting the building and establish an employee meeting place.
* Discuss what to do if a fire is discovered: Alerting others in the building, begin evacuations, call 911, closing all doors.
* If you own apartments, inform tenants about fire safety and prevention. Make sure all tenants know the meeting place.
* Consider the building occupants, is the building changing or is the population changing?
* Note any special needs for any individuals, including disabilities and language barriers.
* Conduct employee fire and emergency training.
* Store chemicals properly in tightly closed containers. Be sure t read all MSDS sheets and labels.
* Keep incompatible chemicals away from each other.
* Clean all flammable liquid spills immediately.
* Shut down all equipment that sparks or smokes.
* Handle compressed gas cylinders carefully.
* Place any oily rags in a metal container with a lid.
* Keep machines free of dust and grease.
Safety Tips
* Fire codes specify the size, number, and locations of a fire extinguisher, make sure you are adequately protected.
* There are different types and sizes of fire extinguishers, make sure you know them and what is correct for your business.
* Make sure all employees know basic fire extinguisher operation.
* Have a fire evacuation plan. Make sure that all employees know what to do in case of fire.
* Have fire evacuation plans posted so all customers and employees know the nearest fire exits.
* Treat every alarm as an emergency.
* If you have an elevator in your business, do NOT use it in a fire situation.
* In areas where smoking is allowed, use large, non-tip ashtrays and make sure everything in them is cold before they are emptied. Be sure that no one leaves moldering cigarettes on furniture or in a wastebasket.
* Designate an employee to turn off or unplug all appliances including coffee makers at the end of each working day.
* Do not overload outlets and make sure to replace any damaged cords.
* Pay attention to security measures, make sure all doors are locked at the end of the day. Keep combustibles away from the building and loading docks should be well lit at night to keep any unwanted visitors away who may want to start any fires.
* Try not to clutter exits, stairways, and storage areas.
* Conduct fire drills. Let the alarm company know ahead of time so the fire company is not dispatched for a false alarm.
* Identify common fire hazards & know how to prevent them.
* Make sure all exit signs are properly lit and visible.
* Fix all broken or missing fire safety equipment.
* Do not silence or reset the alarm until the fire company has investigated and said it is ok to do so.
* Close all doors when exiting the building and establish an employee meeting place.
* Discuss what to do if a fire is discovered: Alerting others in the building, begin evacuations, call 911, closing all doors.
* If you own apartments, inform tenants about fire safety and prevention. Make sure all tenants know the meeting place.
* Consider the building occupants, is the building changing or is the population changing?
* Note any special needs for any individuals, including disabilities and language barriers.
* Conduct employee fire and emergency training.
* Store chemicals properly in tightly closed containers. Be sure t read all MSDS sheets and labels.
* Keep incompatible chemicals away from each other.
* Clean all flammable liquid spills immediately.
* Shut down all equipment that sparks or smokes.
* Handle compressed gas cylinders carefully.
* Place any oily rags in a metal container with a lid.
* Keep machines free of dust and grease.
|
Download a Business Fire Safety Checklist --->
You will need Adobe PDF Reader or similar program. |
| ||
