Across the USA, OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is the main governing body that enforces workplace safety training. One major aspect of OSHA’s rules and teaching involves fire safety and fire hazard training. While manufacturing and industrial facilities with large machinery often have higher rates of workplace fires, any business or industry can experience a fire, as fire is always a danger no matter where you are.
In order to keep your employees, colleagues, and property safe, it is important that quality workplace fire safety training is provided. If your employees know how to identify potential fire hazards, as well as know what to do in case of a fire emergency, you can guarantee a much greater level of safety for your entire business. Below are some quick tips on the basic components of workplace fire safety training:
There are three (3) major components in any given workplace that when combined in different ways, cause a fire. These are:
If employees can recognize each of these in a workplace, and know how to use all equipment, appliances, cleaning products, etc, then you & your business can prevent a fire from starting in the fire place.
If you are a business owner, facility operator, or campus supervisor, it is incredibly important that you, your colleagues, and all employees know where any fire alarm pull-stations are, and how to activate them. It is imperative that your building’s fire alarm system is up-to-code and maintained (FireAlarm.com can you help you with that, easy!), as well as functional so that your employees know how to respond when the fire alarm system is set into alarm. Whether it be a fire alarm, or a fire suppression system, your employees should know how to activate these systems safely, as well as dial 911 in the case of a fire emergency.
Next, it is important to recognize that each workplace, building, facility, etc, which will have vastly different safety requirements, safety procedures and evacuation plans. If you are a business owner, it is imperative that all of these procedures and plans are pre-made, made known, and are able to be exercised in the case of a fire emergency. All workplace fire safety training should include, at the minimum, the following things:
There are more procedures than these to be covered, but these are the basics that all employees/owners should know, understand, and implement.
Although not technically code-required in certain parts of the world, it is of great value to have multiple, small, portable fire extinguishers located within all floors/access points in a building, facility, warehouse, etc. Even more important, is to enforce strict training procedures on how to use a fire extinguisher safely and properly. Any employees or colleagues that do not get proper training on how to use a fire extinguisher should not try and attempt to use one in a fire emergency.
It goes without saying, but a small, portable fire extinguisher should only be used if a fire is small enough, and if deemed appropriate. If a fire is large, or clearly not able to be contained, it is imperative that your local fire department and law enforcement combat the fire. Understanding when to walk away from a fire is just as important as knowing how to fight one.
That’s all I have for you for now. There are tons more workplace fire safety tips and training that you, your employees, and colleagues should be privy to. In the coming months, FireAlarm.com will continue to provide the best tips, equipment, and services, in order to keep you and your business safe. Make sure you shop FireAlarm.com right now for a number of fire safety tools including fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and smoke masks, in order to be prepared for when a fire emergency breaks out.
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