Fires can happen in any business, and depending on the severity, they can be a serious threat to the business's survival. Therefore, as a business owner, you must take reasonable steps to protect your workers and your facility from fires of all types.
There are different approaches to avoiding and preventing fires in the workplace. However, for these approaches to be successful, they must be combined with workplace fire safety training. The best way to protect your business against fires is to prevent the fire from starting in the first place, which workplace fire safety training can help.
By providing workplace fire safety training for your employees, they will better identify potential fire hazards. More so, they will be better at implementing fire prevention practices while responding calmly and effectively in the event of fires.
This article will show you the essential things you must include in your workplace fire safety training.
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What are the Basics of Fire Safety Training?
The following are the crucial things that your employees must know about fire safety. Therefore, it's essential that you cover them in your fire safety training.
Identifying Fire Hazards in the Workplace
To keep your business protected from fire, your staff should be able to identify potential fire hazards. In addition, they must understand that fire needs heat, fuel, and oxygen to burn. Therefore, they must do their best to ensure that heat sources, flammable objects, and oxygen are not kept together in the same place.
What to Do If a Fire Happens
Your employees should also be trained on what to do in the event of a fire. Every individual should understand how to use fire alarms and fire suppression systems. Teach your staff first to evacuate everyone and quickly report fire incidents to the fire department after they have all exited the building. They should also know how to use fire extinguishers properly.
How to Respond to a Fire
Along with calling 911 and setting off the alarm system, what else should employees do in the event of a fire? Based on the workplace, you can create a role for each individual. For example, if the job is a fire hazard, teach employees how to use fire extinguishers and respond quickly to small fires.
Everyone needs to know how to exit the building and how to close each door they move through. In addition, there should be a designated meeting place outside the building so a headcount can be taken to ensure everyone is safely outside. Employees also need to know what to do if they see smoke or feel the heat when exiting the building.
What are the Employer Fire Safety Responsibilities?
The following are your responsibilities as an employer or leader in your organization:
- Emergency Preparedness Plan: as an employer, it's your responsibility to create an emergency preparedness plan ahead of fire emergencies. The plan will include all actions that your employees should take in the event of a fire. In addition, the plan must include the following:
- Roles, responsibilities of staff members
- Coordination with the fire department
- Resources for the disabled
- Evacuation routes
- Emergency communication
- First aid provision
- Emergency Equipment: you must provide your company with proper emergency equipment and ensure that they work well.
- Training: Ensure that all members of staff are well trained on how to use fire safety equipment.
What are the Employee Fire Safety Responsibilities?
These are the responsibilities of your employees in ensuring that they prevent fire accidents. These include:
- All employees must ensure they understand all parts of the emergency preparedness plan.
- All employees must ensure they take part in office drills. But, more importantly, they must take these drills seriously at all times.
- Employees must learn what they should do in case of a fire. For example, are they to exit immediately, or are they to activate fire alarm systems?
Need Help with Employee Fire Safety Training?
Koorsen Fire & Security can help you develop a comprehensive, customized fire safety and emergency evacuation plan for your business. We can also provide in-person fire training for your employees to understand and know how to use fire extinguishers, fire alarm systems, and what to do in the event of a fire occurring.
