Small businesses have undoubtedly had a challenging couple of years. But as the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic looks to be over, now is the time that small companies have started to look at their current position and take steps to improve themselves.
There is a lot to think about, and too often this can lead to key issues being overlooked. A chief example of this is fire safety. Now, more than ever, it is vital to have proper fire safety measures in place. Here we take a look at five fire safety tips you can apply to your small business.
1 – Train your staff
In small businesses, it is absolutely essential that everyone understands what to do in the event of a fire. You should provide training sessions on both general fire safety, and understanding how it impacts your business and the premises.
Set aside time for thorough training to ensure that everyone knows what to do should the worst-case scenario occur.
2 – Install a quality sprinkler system
You need to ensure that you have a high-quality fire sprinkler system in place. Now is the time to check your system and understand if it is fit for purpose. It may be the case that as members of staff are more able to work from home, you can use this opportunity to have a new system installed.
There are many different types of fire sprinkler system available so it is worth consulting with experts on the right one for your premises.
3 – Appoint a fire warden
All businesses – even small businesses – with premises should have at least one fire warden. These individuals take on responsibilities in the event of a fire including ensuring that fire safety procedures are carried out, making sure everyone is out of the building and communicating with emergency services.
Employees should not be made to be fire wardens – ask to see if anyone would like to take on the responsibility voluntarily.
4 – Keep the premises tidy
Untidy premises can be a huge problem from a fire safety perspective. Not only can clutter cause issues such as trip hazards (and in some cases, even fire hazards), it can also obscure or block fire exits which would be a breach of fire safety guidelines.
This is such a simple thing to fix, no business can have an excuse if their premises are not kept orderly and tidy.
5 – Maintain your equipment
Electrical equipment can be a fire safety risk if it is not properly managed and maintained. It is important that you have your equipment tested regularly to ensure it is free from faults and is safe to use.
At Applications Engineering, we make a range of high-quality products for fire sprinkler systems including dual port sprinkler valves, check valves, and pump cyclic test units. If you need any further information, please get in contact with our friendly and experienced team today.
Filed under: Advice and Information