The best way to avoid fire damage in an office is preventing it from happening in the first place. In fact, the large majority of fires that do cause damage are those which could have been easily prevented. And so whilst commercial fire protection and ensuring that a business has the right safety equipment is important, it is actually more important that businesses understand how simple behaviors can reduce fires from ever starting.
When you are drawing up a commercial fire protection system, here are the preventative steps which it must include, and which your staff need to be aware of.
Good Housekeeping
Not only does a clean and tidy office reduce the risk of fires breaking out, it also minimizes the risk of a fire spreading. Soda cans spilling onto electrical equipment or paperwork being too close to hot machinery are real causes of fire which are so easy to avoid.
Checking Electrics
One of the most common causes of fire in the office are faulty electrics which is why every business should have a maintenance plan in place. Sockets, electrical goods and wiring should be regularly checked and instantly repaired wherever damage occurs. It is important to create a culture in the workplace whereby these kinds of issues are raised as soon as they are identified.
Smoking
Despite the fact that smoking indoors is outlawed, we still see more than 1/3 of fires which are started because of smokers’ materials or cigarette lighters. This is exactly why it is so important that all smoking areas are away from the main building and that they are well managed.
Cooking Appliances
Many offices are equipped with kitchens which house a variety of cooking appliances. This of course poses a very clear risk and this area should feature in the fire protection system which has been set up. It is imperative that employees are taking care of this area and that they make sure that all appliances are switched off when not in use. Not only should staff understand the dangers which exist here, they should also know exactly what their responsibilities are when using cooking equipment.
Heating Systems
Another common cause of fire in the office is the heating system, which must be maintained on a regular basis. Faulty heating systems are not the only risk here, because so too is the risk of leaving flammable objects close to the heat of radiators. Once again, this is down to the behavior of the staff and they should all be educated on exactly what kind of dangers there are with regards to the heating system.
The best way to truly prevent fires from occurring in the workplace is to highlight all of the dangers which are present, and then dissect the best way to avoid them from happening. This is why it is so critical that staff receive regular training about the potential dangers of fires, how easily they can begin and what their roles should be in helping in the prevention of such an event.