Preparation and Training Key to Fire Safety
The America Red Cross reports that fire kills more Americans every year than all natural disasters combined.
As fall begins and temperatures drop, SCF Arizona, the state’s largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance and leading advocate of workplace safety, urges all businesses and families to be vigilant and to be prepared for the dangers of fire, as furnaces and fireplaces begin to be used instead of air conditioning.
The first step is to develop a fire-prevention plan. This plan should include marking all emergency exits in your business or home as well as where fire extinguishers are located.
Make sure to test all fire-suppression systems and smoke detectors to ensure they are working.
Also, schedule some time to practice and train your employees and family members on your emergency evacuation plan and what they should do in case of a fire.
“Employers should train workers about fire hazards in the workplace and about what to do in a fire emergency. If you want your workers to evacuate, you should train them on how to escape,” the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends. “If you expect your workers to use firefighting equipment, you should give them appropriate equipment and train them to use the equipment safely.”
OSHA also suggests asking these questions when developing a fire-prevention plan:
- Is your local fire department familiar with the location, construction and specific hazards of your company?
- Is your fire alarm system certified and tested annually?
- Are interior standpipes and valves inspected regularly?
- Are your outside private fire hydrants flushed annually?
- Are fire doors and shutters in good operating condition and are they unobstructed?
- Are fire doors in place?
- Are sprinkler systems checked periodically?
- Is proper clearance maintained below sprinkler heads?
- Are portable fire extinguishers provided and mounted in readily accessible locations?
- Are fire extinguishers recharged regularly and when they are, is it noted on the inspection tag?
- Are employees instructed in the proper use of fire extinguishers and fire protection procedures?
If you can answer these questions affirmatively and routine fire-prevention measures are taken, the risk of fires in the workplace and at home can be greatly reduced.
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