Fire Evacuation Plans for Your Business

12/6/2019 (Permalink)

Know what to do if disaster strikes.

Safety First

Everyone should know exactly what to do in the event of a fire.  A proper evacuation plan for your business is important for several reasons. Whether you are a restaurant owner, contractor or manufacturer, you should be well prepared.

To prepare for the eventuality of a fire, it is not enough to have fire extinguishers (although this is a good start). You should take all possible preventive measures to avoid a fire, but also put a place a plan in case of disaster. Start by imagining possible scenarios and then create a plan that addresses each one.

Establish roles and responsibilities, such appointing an inhouse Chief fire warden. This employee has overall responsibility for a fire event. Next you must make sure you have a communication plan. Designate someone such as an assistant fire warden whose primary job is to disseminate information to all if a fire did occur. Make sure the meeting points are far away from the building and train staff on the protocols and procedures to follow in the event of a fire.

Once all are evacuated, a designated employee needs to check that all employees are out of the building and accounted for. In addition to setting up a plan in the event of a fire, you can take other steps in your business to reduce the risk of such a disaster. Regularly inspect your tools, clean your equipment well, and do it often. Make sure all heating equipment is installed and maintained by a technician.

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