Are You Prepared for a Fire?

1/10/2021 (Permalink)

Is your smoke detectors fully charged?

Any office, even one in Coral Gables, FL, needs to be prepared in case of a building fire. Creating a fire escape plan is a critical action step in minimizing potential disaster, and making just a few easy safety checks can also greatly reduce one’s legal liability.

What To Do

As recommended by the American Red Cross, here is a select list of steps all businesses should carefully execute before calamity strikes and they need the help of fire damage restoration services.

1. Install and check all smoke alarms. Test them every month and be certain batteries have not expired. Place them in strategic locations so it will be impossible for employees on any floor to not hear them. Note: Smoke alarms can double your chance of survival.
2. Fire extinguishers and other equipment, like axes or flashlights, should be placed in easily accessible areas. Take time to consider where best to store these items.
3. Make certain that fire escape plan information is posted in conveniently readable, key locations and clearly communicate with staff regarding proper fire emergency protocol.
4. Hire a professional to check electrical systems for potential trouble spots. Pay extra attention to common dining areas, as most fires start in kitchens. Microwaves can be particularly dangerous.
5. Know your routes. Map out exit plans from every area of your building. All employees should know at least two paths leading outside.
6. Designate a proper meeting spot (or more, if necessary) where head counts can be taken.
7. Run impromptu practice drills of your emergency escape plan at least twice a year. Never let anyone back into the building until all safety requirements have been completed.

What To Remember
Maintaining an effective fire escape plan and taking preventative measures will always remain a primary responsibility for any commercial entity. Failure to do so could have serious ramifications, so it is incumbent upon companies to take all reasonable precautions before anything happens. Don’t leave anything to chance.