Key Takeaways
Critical fire safety reminders for commercial property owners:- Exit Sign Maintenance: Ensure exit signs are visible and well-maintained for emergencies.
- Fire Drill Importance: Conduct regular fire drills to prepare for actual emergencies.
- Doorway Clarity: Keep doorways clear of obstructions and flammable materials for safe evacuation.
- Fire Extinguisher Accessibility: Place fire extinguishers strategically and maintain them regularly.
Commercial bathroom design is increasingly becoming more important for fire safety. Every year, thousands upon thousands of commercial properties experience fires, resulting in billions of dollars in losses, thousands of injuries, and a handful of deaths, creating a need for these fire safety reminders. If that doesn’t highlight the fact that having fire protection equipment is essential, we don’t know what does. That being said, having fire protection equipment alone isn’t enough. It takes a lot more to fight fires, and a holistic approach must be taken to prevent and combat fires effectively.
In this article, we would like to offer fire safety reminders to keep you, your business, and your employees safe:
1. Put Up and Maintain Exit Signs
While seemingly unassuming, exit signs can be incredibly vital when a fire occurs. Smoke can easily obscure vision, making it difficult for anyone to navigate out of a building. However, with a brightly illuminated exit sign, people can far more easily find their way out. Plus, when the main power dies, these signs switch to emergency power, staying lit to save as many lives as possible.
As such, you must put up exit signs and maintain them thoroughly. This helps to ensure that when the time comes they need to be visible, they will be.
2. Conduct Fire Drills
No one is a big fan of fire drills. Not only is it noisy, but it can seriously disrupt the workflow. However, this does not mean the fire drills are useless or simply a nuisance. They can be the difference between life and death, and as such, must be conducted once in a while.
As part of your company’s emergency action, you should be conducting frequent fire drills even if it isn’t mandated by state or federal law. This allows you and your employees to learn how to escape the building safely and quickly.
3. Keep the Doorways Clear
Doorways and walls should always be clear no matter what. Not only should they be free from any flammable objects, but they should be clear of debris too. You wouldn’t want an escape route to catch fire nor slow down the people trying to exit the building.
For that reason, inspect your building once in a while and look at the doorways. If you see any debris, get it cleared. If you spot any flammable objects, have them moved away.
4. Make Fire Extinguisher Accessible
Fire extinguishers come in all shapes, sizes, and uses. Some are meant for electrical fires, some for oil fires. Which one you pick will depend on where it is going to be used. However, you must have them in the building in the first place. There’s no excuse not to have them ready.
According to the OSHA guidelines, your building will need to have extinguishers accessible every 75 feet. This means at least 75 feet in the building, there should be an extinguisher. Also, make sure the extinguishers have the proper gauge limit and weight. Don’t forget to maintain them often to ensure they are still in good condition.
Conclusion
All in all, if you realize that you haven’t applied one, two, or any of the above tips we’ve shared, go ahead and put the effort to implement them right away. Remember, as a business owner, despite your efforts to make money, you must never forget that some of that money should be invested in protecting you, the company, and your employees. Otherwise, not only will you be subject to violations of the OSHA guidelines, but you will unnecessarily put the lives of those who work for you in peril if a fire should ever start. As such, for the sake of your employee’s safety and the continuity of your business, implement the fire safety reminders we’ve shared!
SBI Contracting is a construction material wholesaler selling washroom accessories, interior and exterior signs, fire equipment, and more to meet your needs. If you are interested in commercial bathroom design, contact us today!