Workplace Fire Preparedness for Your Dutchess County Business

10/18/2020 (Permalink)

A strong and understandable fire evacuation plan for your staff at your commercial property is crucial for the safety of everyone.

There are many things that business owners have to be cognizant of as they plan for the future, but have you considered how an emergency could derail your plans? Experiencing a workplace fire is something that can be absolutely devastating, and they are often the most difficult to deal with for those who did not have a plan in place.

To start your fire preparedness plans, we recommend starting with fire evacuation drills. Equipping your staff with the knowledge they need to safely escape the building will keep everyone safer and keep panic at bay if a real fire starts. Involve all staff members and ask for their feedback after a test run, you might need to make some adjustments based on what works best for them or processes/places you didn't think of initially.

Fire Evacuation Drills for the Workplace

Consult with your local fire officials. There is quite a bit of information online regarding workplace fire safety, but you should also contact your local officials for personalized recommendations. They can often come visit your building and give you advice on how to structure your evacuation routes to best serve you and your employees in the event of a fire.

Communicate and mark fire evacuation routes. Once it has been decided what fire exits to use, mark the routes clearly so they are visible for everyone in the building and brief staff on the future drill. Preparing everyone in advance for the drill can reduce panic and help everyone move to safety more efficiently.

Have fire drills frequently. Though it is common to view fire drills as an interruption to productivity, enforcing safety in the workplace is the most important thing. While your individual needs may vary, many businesses find that hosting a drill every quarter is sufficient enough to keep the protocols fresh in everyone’s minds without becoming too tedious.

Run different fire scenarios. There are many variances in how fires start and how they spread, so adding variances to your fire drills is highly recommended. Different exits may become blocked in a real scenario, so do the same during your drills so staff can get used to making decisions quickly in a high-stress scenario.

If your business has experienced fire damage, you can count on us. We specialize in commercial property restoration, no matter the type of business and will be here for you at any hour—contact us today.