Protect Your Business With Our Fire Safety Tips | SERVPRO® of Cedar Mill/Oak Hills

5/27/2022 (Permalink)

Having a plan in place and the proper equipment installed can prevent many business fires. Contact us today to make a plan or start cleanup services.

Experiencing a fire is never something that is on someone’s agenda, but they happen more often than you might think. Over 18,000 business fires caused more than $700 million in damages in 2019 alone. Taking a proactive fire safety approach is key to making sure you are reducing your chances of ever having to deal with a fire in your business.

Fortunately, implementing fire safety in your business is about planning ahead and generally developing good habits to prevent it from becoming an issue. Prevention and escape planning recommendations are similar to those of house fires.

How Can I Take a Proactive Fire Safety Approach?

Check your smoke detectors. If you never consider the smoke detectors in your building, now is the time to start. Smoke detectors should be installed throughout the business and be tested every 30 days to make sure they do not have defects. The majority of business fires are caused by cooking, so kitchen/cafeteria smoke detectors are especially important. Most commercial buildings will have their own fire suppression systems, so make sure they are regularly inspected by professionals.

Create a fire escape plan. If the smoke detectors do go off, it is important that everyone at your company knows what comes next and how to escape safely. Employees should:

• Call 911
• Notify co-workers of the fire
• Walk, don’t run, down the stairs – never use the elevator
• designate a spot for you to all reconvene outside to check in.

Limit your fire risks. There are many ways to get into the habit of fire safety to lessen your overall fire risk profile including:

• Post clear fire escape plans on every level of a building
• Teach employees about exit locations, escape routes and fire protection equipment
• Check the condition of fire ladders and escapes
• Conduct regular emergency drills

Keep a fire extinguisher handy. Though there are many fires that will immediately be too large to use a fire extinguisher on, if there is a small and contained fire, knowing how to use one can keep a small issue from becoming a large one. A working fire extinguisher should be installed in the kitchen/cafeteria and any other high-risk areas (following all fire codes), and you and your employees should all be familiar with how to use them.

If your business is damaged by a fire, we are here to help. Our expert fire restoration technicians are here ²⁴⁄₇ to spring into action as soon as you call. Contact us at any hour to report your damage and receive a quick response.