Fire Safety for Small Business Owners

4/21/2020 (Permalink)

As a business owner, you are legally and ethically responsible to keep your employees safe. Fire safety is one way to do that. No matter how big or small the business, you are legally obligated to follow fire safety laws. 

Here are 5 things your small business should be doing to keep your property, employees, and customers safe.

Fire Exits

If there is a fire, you need to be sure there is a way for employees and customers to get out of your building. OSHA requires all workplaces to have at least 2 fire exits that are not located in close proximity to each other, and these exits must be kept clear. 

Fire Extinguishers

OSHA requires all workplaces to have the proper type of fire extinguishers based of the type of fire hazards present. For example, a kitchen would have a fire extinguisher that would need a fire extinguisher for grease fires. The fire extinguishers must be kept in good working order and tested and inspected regularly.

Emergency Evacuation

Employers should provide written emergency plans for employees to be sure all employees know where the exit routes are. Employers and managers must have a plan in place to account for all employees during an evacuation. 

Make sure your employees are trained on what to do in the event of a fire and review training every 6 months. Host regular fire drills to allow employees to practice the evacuation procedures.

Fire Suppression Systems

Finally, OSHA requires all workplaces to have fire suppression systems, such as automatic sprinkler systems. When a fire is detected these systems automatically spray water, sound the alarm and alert the authorities. 

These are important steps to follow for all small business owners. Take some time to be sure your business is operating within the current OSHA guidelines. 

If your business sustained fire damage, call SERVPRO of Piscataway at 732-752-4445 to speak with one of our certified Fire Restoration technicians.