Fire Safety Tips You Can Use to Protect Your Business

11/19/2019 (Permalink)

When you own a business, there are many aspects to consider, some of those being safety factors regarding risks to your business, your staff and your visitors. One of those safety factors that you should spend some time planning for and working toward is fire prevention.

<h4causes-of-commercial-structure-fires">Top Causes of Commercial Structure Fires

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the leading causes for structure fires in office properties from 2007–2011 were (in order):

1. Cooking equipment, 29% of fires
2. Electrical distribution and lighting equipment, 12% of fires
3. Heating equipment, 11% of fires
4. Intentional, 10% of fires
5. Smoking materials, 9% of fires
6. Exposure, 4% of fires
7. Electronic, office or entertainment equipment, 3% of fires

From that list of causes, intentional accounted for 20% of property damage, exposure accounted for 18%, and electrical distribution and lighting equipment accounted for 15%.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in 2007, fires and explosions accounted for 3% of all workplace fatalities.

Further studies conducted by the NFPA estimate that for the period from 2007–2011, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 3,340 fires in office properties per year, and those fires resulted in an annual average of four deaths, 44 injuries and $112 million in direct property damage.

<h4your-business">Protecting Your Business

There are certain steps to take to protect your business from the risk of fires. When you focus on fire risk assessment, fire prevention and staff education, you are working toward reducing the chance of a fire breaking out.

First, assess your risk for fire hazards. In some areas, a fire marshal is provided by the local government to help identify these risks and provide guidance on your fire prevention plan.

Make sure that the right fire protection equipment is in place on each floor. This includes an automatic sprinkler system, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

Most importantly, you must consider the safety of your employees. Create a fire plan and review it regularly with your staff, and then you’ll can be assured everyone will know what to do in the case of a fire. Plan to conduct fire drills at least once a year to keep fire safety procedures fresh in everyone’s minds, and take time to review evacuation plans and routes and the locations of the first-aid kits with your staff.

Despite best efforts with fire prevention and safety tips, the worst could always happen at your business. If a fire has damaged your business, SERVPRO® of Garden Grove East/Anaheim Central is available to help make it 'Like it never even happened."