|
Every year homes and businesses all around the globe are destroyed because of fire. In fact, studies show that for the U.S. alone 6,000 workplace fires occur annually. This is not only devastating to the families it affects due to a loss of living space, but in the business arena, when a company loses its physical location it often means that its employees loose a means of supporting their families. Consequently, this loss of income means less spending and ultimately can, and usually does, affect an area’s commerce. Of course, the economic effect of a fire is not nearly as detrimental as the emotional effect on the family or business that was lost. If you are a business owner, you may first need to understand the causes of a fire, to appreciate the need for implementing fire protection procedures. The top three causes of a business fire are arson, smoking materials and electrical wiring and appliances. Thankfully, there are many steps one can take to see that fire protection is implemented. These steps are not designed to be rules for the sake of rules, but rather a manner in which to protect people and businesses from the destruction caused by fire. If you are a business owner, taking the fire protection steps below is important. (Of course, many of them hold true for the homeowner, as well!) Keeping arson at a minimum risk – Fire protection of this sort means that one pay close attention to basic security measures like keeping doors and windows locked after business hours, making sure that there are no combustible materials in the vicinity of the building, not having the dumpster near your building, and reporting any suspicious activity in or around your business. Smoking materials- Only allow smokers to indulge far away from any combustible materials or dumpsters. In areas where smoking is allowed, be sure to provide large, non-tipping ashtrays, and then make sure ashes are cold before dumping them. Electrical wiring and appliances – At the end of each workday have someone unplug or secure and appliances. You should also be care to not overload outlets and only use extension cords for temporary task. When using extension cords, be sure they are in good condition. Having a worn or frayed cord is a prime way to lower fire protection. Have a plan – Despite the best fire protection practices, there might still come a time when you will have to deal with a fire. In the event of this, it is vital that you have and practice a fire response plan. The plan should be in writing and available to all employees. It is also advisable to post it in key location of your facility to remind employees and notify and guests/customers of “what to do if...” Fire Protection Methods - Always have fire extinguishers and pull-type fire alarms. Ideally, you will want to go a step further and have a commercial fire suppression system in place that is monitored by a local company. Fire protection, how you approach it is up to you but the more steps you take to protect yourself, your friends and loved ones and your business, the less likely you are to need to deal with the aftermath. Many websites provide additional information on the topic of fire protection. One such site worth visiting is Brooklyn Park, MN based, Brothers Fire. Janet Slagell independently authors articles for WebDrafter.com, Inc. for search engine marketing. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those solely of the author, and not of any other person, company or organization. No guarantee or warranty, express or implied, is made regarding the accuracy, fitness, or use of the content herein.
Related Articles -
fire protection, MN, fire protection MN,
|
