Practice Fire Prevention in Your Business

3/10/2020 (Permalink)

Fire is unpredictable. It can happen anytime, anywhere, to any business. But almost a third of office fires happen between 7pm and 7am, the hours workers aren’t present. Those fires also cause about 67% of property damage because they went undetected for a longer time. Fortunately, there are preventative measures you can take to minimize the chances of a fire happening in your Southwest Missouri business or commercial building.

According to OSHA, employers are required to perform a full maintenance check on their workplace’s fire extinguishers at least once per year. “Maintenance” means a thorough examination and repair, as needed, of all your businesses portable fire extinguishers, as covered in NFPA Sec. 4.

Besides checking that your fire extinguishers are regularly inspected and maintained according to local fire codes, each month you should take these actions:

1. Look for signs of damage, including dents, corrosion, and leakage.
2. Check the pressure gauge to make sure that the indicator is in the operating (green) range.
3. Make sure the pull-pin isn’t missing and that the pull-pin seal is unbroken.
4. Verify the date of the last professional maintenance inspection.
5. Date and initial the tag to log the visual inspection.

Your company should have a fire prevention plan in writing that’s kept in the workplace and is available to all employees for examination. Even if you have only a few employees, having it written down instead of communicating it verbally is better as that it can be reviewed at any time. Your plan should include:

1. Pertinent information about the building’s layout
2. The building’s fire protection systems and equipment
3. Emergency evacuation procedures

Space heaters are notorious for starting fires, so if you can get by without them, do so. But if you must have them, follow these safety tips:

• Require employees to get approval before using a heater in their workspace.
• Instruct that space heaters and cords be placed in out-of-the-way areas.
• Stress the necessity to turn off space heaters at the end of the workday.
• Establish minimum standards for heaters, including safety features and independent testing certifications.

Keep other appliances such as coffeemakers and toasters away from paper and other flammables. You should also reduce the amount of clutter in your building. Items like boxes, piles of paper, and other flammable materials can provide fuel for a fire, especially if left near a heat source. Before plugging anything in, make sure the cord hasn’t been damaged or frayed. If it has, replace it immediately. Wires should not run under rugs or between furniture and walls; they tend to heat up, so they need to be clear of any flammable objects.

We understand how devastating and confusing a fire to your home or business can be. Don’t hesitate to contact the experts here at SERVPRO®? of Springfield Greene County to help guide you through the restoration process.