How to Avoid Fires at Work?
Workplace fires account for 32% of the national count for fires as stated by the Fire and Safety department. 15% of these fire injuries are fatal and 28% lead to permanent scarring. Fires are dreaded by everybody and the last 4 years have seen a 70% increase in the use of fire/smoke alarms.
Fire exit signs are also deemed mandatory by the Workplace Health and Safety Laws. However, dysfunctional alarms are often quoted as the major source of casualty by fire and improperly placed exit signs lead to confusion amongst staff trapped in a fire. Avoiding fires is easier and more effective than escaping them.
The Fire Prone Factors at work
Carefully observe and remove any accumulated pile of litter and waste paper (these are combustible in nature) as they might increase the potential risk of fire. Any object/piece of furniture/decorative item obstructing the route to the evacuation points or emergency passages should be immediately removed as this will put staff into considerable danger in case of a sudden fire.
All damaged, defunct and missing fire extinguishers should be located and replaced with new ones. Damaged or contradictory fire exit signs, warning signs and lights should be removed as these lead to utter panic in emergency situations. Remove any non operational smoke doors which are self closing. Don't store odd irrelevant objects in the fire hose cabinet space as this will tend to obstruct the hose.
Any area which has the presence of electrical wiring, heating and cooking appliances should be fitted with special fire extinguishers. Portable smoke detectors should be installed in the office in the loo (most employees try to smoke on the sly here€) and near the following items. Paints, spirits, turpentine, aerosols, kerosene, petrol, dry paper/wood, vegetable oils and nail polish are common inflammable substances.
Fire Safety Awareness
As a responsible employer/manager, you need to inculcate the knowledge of fire avoidance and fire safety in the minds of all your employees. This has to be done at frequent intervals till your staff considers fire prevention as a natural part of their daily life. Some common ways to do this are as follows.
Courses on fire safety and fire education seminars/campaigns are simple yet effective measures on educating your staff about the importance of prevention of fires. A fire drill should be organized at least once in two months to train employees on how to behave during emergency fires.
The use of all warning signs in the office, including fire exit signs - http://www.directsigns.co.uk/fire-exit-signs_c132.aspx - should be demonstrated along with knowledge of all escape points. All signage should comply with the national norms.
Create human resource policies like restrictions on cooking appliances for employees. Ask your staff to use a microwave and not a hot plate. You can simply state that as a business you cannot afford the use of certain electrical appliances.
Enforce strict discipline about no smoking in the office premises. Remember smoker's materials ( majorly cigarettes) are responsible for about 70% of workplace fires.
Fire exit signs are also deemed mandatory by the Workplace Health and Safety Laws. However, dysfunctional alarms are often quoted as the major source of casualty by fire and improperly placed exit signs lead to confusion amongst staff trapped in a fire. Avoiding fires is easier and more effective than escaping them.
The Fire Prone Factors at work
Carefully observe and remove any accumulated pile of litter and waste paper (these are combustible in nature) as they might increase the potential risk of fire. Any object/piece of furniture/decorative item obstructing the route to the evacuation points or emergency passages should be immediately removed as this will put staff into considerable danger in case of a sudden fire.
All damaged, defunct and missing fire extinguishers should be located and replaced with new ones. Damaged or contradictory fire exit signs, warning signs and lights should be removed as these lead to utter panic in emergency situations. Remove any non operational smoke doors which are self closing. Don't store odd irrelevant objects in the fire hose cabinet space as this will tend to obstruct the hose.
Any area which has the presence of electrical wiring, heating and cooking appliances should be fitted with special fire extinguishers. Portable smoke detectors should be installed in the office in the loo (most employees try to smoke on the sly here€) and near the following items. Paints, spirits, turpentine, aerosols, kerosene, petrol, dry paper/wood, vegetable oils and nail polish are common inflammable substances.
Fire Safety Awareness
As a responsible employer/manager, you need to inculcate the knowledge of fire avoidance and fire safety in the minds of all your employees. This has to be done at frequent intervals till your staff considers fire prevention as a natural part of their daily life. Some common ways to do this are as follows.
Courses on fire safety and fire education seminars/campaigns are simple yet effective measures on educating your staff about the importance of prevention of fires. A fire drill should be organized at least once in two months to train employees on how to behave during emergency fires.
The use of all warning signs in the office, including fire exit signs - http://www.directsigns.co.uk/fire-exit-signs_c132.aspx - should be demonstrated along with knowledge of all escape points. All signage should comply with the national norms.
Create human resource policies like restrictions on cooking appliances for employees. Ask your staff to use a microwave and not a hot plate. You can simply state that as a business you cannot afford the use of certain electrical appliances.
Enforce strict discipline about no smoking in the office premises. Remember smoker's materials ( majorly cigarettes) are responsible for about 70% of workplace fires.
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