An average of 3.5 thousand workplace fires occur each year. Many people are unaware that fires in the workplace can be just as dangerous as fires in the home. Workplace fires are a leading source of work-related injuries and property losses.
It is generally in your best interest as an employee to develop a fire prevention plan. Your safety precautions can help you avoid unnecessary hazards in the workplace.
Let’s learn more about how a fire prevention plan benefits the workplace.
Benefit #1: A fire prevention plan reduces property damage.
The extreme temperatures that fires can reach are known to compromise the structural integrity of your building, requiring additional inspection by a professional, which can be costly.
Property damage can also lead to safety issues, such as your building breaking down or deteriorating faster and carbon monoxide leaks, creating possible respiratory problems for those who work in that area. Due to the extensive general damage that the fire may have caused, your property’s overall value may be reduced.
Benefit #2: A fire prevention plan reduces employee injury & job loss.
Fire causes more than 5,000 workplace injuries each year, which continues to rise. High-degree burns, breathing difficulties, and even trauma from the incident are among the most common injuries.
Not to mention that many employee injuries or job losses might produce a hard patch in your workplace; this puts your business at risk of being shut down temporarily or permanently in the worst-case scenario.
Benefit #3: A fire prevention plan reduces avoidable extra costs.
Fires result in extensive property damage as well as employee injuries. The workplace will be liable for the damages and injuries produced; they will be required to pay compensation to employees and pay for property damage. When a fire protection plan is in place, these concerns are avoidable.
Benefit #4: A fire prevention plan eliminates risk and fire hazards.
Developing or updating a fire prevention strategy requires a careful inspection of all potential fire hazards in the workplace. Major fire hazards can be the simplest of things such as dust, power circuits, and goods like paper and cardboard. You will also need to install equipment like AARtech smoke detectors on the appropriate floors.
Implementing these plans includes removing these “at-risk” objects and pushing you to evaluate any potential fire vulnerabilities in the workplace.
Benefit #5: A fire prevention plan prepares workplace for emergencies
When you make a fire prevention plan, you go through everything the same way you would when making a fire protection plan for your home. Practicing and developing a workplace prevention plan is fun for everyone in the workplace. It also provides valuable information on what to do in an emergency.
In addition, the plan opens the door to potential enhancements in your workplace’s fire emergency alarm systems. Going over these prevention plans with employees can save time and decrease initial stress and fear.
Benefit #6: A fire prevention plan stops possible legal issues.
Having a fire safety plan implemented means regularly checking the fire protection devices in the workplace and more frequently passing fire inspections. This means there is no opportunity for legal problems and issues that may result from a fire occurring in the workplace.
3 key elements in a fire prevention plan
Having a fire prevention plan in the workplace comes with many advantages. It prevents you from unnecessary extra costs that may go into property damage, compensations, legal issues, etc. Most importantly, it prevents life-threatening or life-altering injuries resulting from a workplace fire. As an employee of the workplace, your main priority should be to ensure the safety of your co-workers and yourself, which is why creating a fire prevention plan can be highly beneficial in the workplace!
A fire prevention plan must include these key elements:
1. A building plan with marked fire exits
The overall arrangement of your workplace’s structure is represented by building plans. These plans may include or require you to mark your fire exits, which are emergency routes you may need to consider in the event of a fire.
Building plans are essential when developing a fire protection strategy since they offer employees information and directions on safely and promptly leaving the premises.
2. Fire extinguishers
A fire extinguisher is a device that works by depriving a fire of oxygen. This tool is vital when creating a fire prevention plan since it informs all employees of the location of one in the workplace, preventing a fire from further spreading.
3. Fire alarm call points
These call points are also known as alarm triggers. They can be activated in an emergency to alert everyone to leave the premises quickly. They’re frequently found on the way to marked fire exits and are helpful in a fire prevention plan since they allow employees to inform others come to the event of a fire.