Emergency Preparation and Fire Hazards
Fire hazards are a threat to workplace safety in any industry and it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure the safety of all patrons residing within the workplace. It is important to be prepared so that in an emergency situation the safe and timely evacuation of all employees, contractors and customers is assured.
Make Evacuation Plans
In the event of an emergency it is important that all affected patrons understand safety procedures so that they can evacuate in a timely manner. Preparing an evacuation plan ensures that if an emergency does occur panic and indecision are minimized.
- Evacuation plans should be kept up to date so that any changes to fire exits or evacuation routes are reliable in an emergency scenario.
- Plans should be kept simple, self explanatory and in the interests of evacuation. This ensures that confusion is minimized especially for visitors and customers.
- Ensure that all patrons understand the evacuation procedure and are able to follow it in the event of an emergency.
- Plans should allow for multiple routes, exits and meeting points so that patrons can evacuate safely regardless of where the hazard is located.
- Prepare and maintain an up to date fire evacuation plan that includes multiple exits and meeting places.
- Ensure that all patrons understand the plan and are able to follow it in an emergency scenario
- Conduct regular fire drills to ensure the reliability of evacuation plans and the ability of employers to follow those plans.
- Plans should include the use of fire safety equipment if necessary and the locations of this equipment should be included within the plan.
Make the location of important exits and equipment clear and readily available.
Installing signage around the workplace detailing the locations of fire exits and fire safety equipment ensures that in the event of an emergency exits and safety gear is easy to find and access. This can be particularly helpful for visitors or customers as they may not be privy to established evacuation plans.
- Locate important places such as office blocks, visitor waiting areas and break rooms and ensure that they are outfitted with fire extinguishers or fire blankets.
- Utilize lights and high visibility colouring on signage to ensure that they can be seen in low visibility scenario’s
- Ensure that signage is kept in a reliable state so that in an emergency scenarios lights and signage work as intended. This includes maintaining battery life on lit signs.
- Include fluorescent lining on floors that can guide patrons to exit points in low visibility scenarios. This is particularly important for visitors or customers who may be unfamiliar with the workplace.
- Place warning signs at potentially hazardous places around the workplace so that workers understand the potential risks and procedures associated with the use of specific machinery.
Eliminate Fire hazards
Preventative measures ensure that the workplace is free from any undue risk and simply rectifying fire hazards can significantly reduce the potential of an emergency situation occurring in the first place.
- Ensure that any damaged or exposed electrical cables be disabled or removed by a qualified professional.
- Combustible objects and materials should be stored safely and securely in accordance with industry guidelines. This includes flammable waste materials such as office paper and cardboard boxes.
- Maintain a well ventilated work environment free from flammable spillage such as oil and excessive dust build up.
- Remain vigilant in the prevention of fire hazards by continually checking the workplace for potential risks.
- Avoid putting off preventative measures. Ensuring that potential hazards are rectified as soon as possible minimizes risk given that emergencies can occur at any time. If a qualified professional is needed to remove hazards then cease work in the hazardous area and monitor the point of concern.
