Fire Preparedness/Safety

Since October is National Fire Prevention Month, this week we take a look at mitigating, preparing for and staying safe in a fire. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics fires and explosions accounted for 109 fatalities in the workplace in 2010, and, even though that's only 4% of workplace fatalities, many of them are avoidable. If your fire preparedness plan isn't up-to-date, this week's articles can help you improve on it.

Use this fire safety checklist to see how prepared your business is for a fire. (Item #1) Here's information for small businesses to facilitate fire prevention planning. (Item #2) Everything you need to know about choosing and using fire extinguishers. (Item #3)

Keeping employees safe in a fire or other emergency may require that they evacuate. (Item #4) HR has an important role to play in workplace fire safety. (Item #5) Don't forget safety at home... here are 10 simple tips to help you avoid fires and reduce the risk of injury should one occur. (Item #6)

As always, I look forward to hearing about your concerns with regard to business continuity. If there are any topics that you'd like to see covered, email me at [email protected].

Bob Mellinger, President
Attainium Corp

1. Business fire safety checklist

A fire can devastate a business. How safe is your business from fire? To determine the safety of your business from fire hazards, review these questions with employees. Every yes answer indicates a positive fire safety situation. However, every no answer points to a hazard that needs to be corrected.
http://www.com.ohio.gov/documents/fire_BusinessFireSafetyChecklist.pdf

2. Fire Prevention for Small Businesses

A fire can race through a structure/business in a matter of minutes, giving the employer and employees little time to escape. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.39 requires an employer with 10 or more employees to have a fire prevention plan.
http://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/videoresource/fsfireprevsmall.pdf

3. A Factsheet on Choosing & Using Fire Extinguishers

A fire extinguisher is an absolute necessity in any home or office. While there's a good chance that the extinguisher will never be used to fight a fire, it could end up saving your property and even your life.
http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubed/brochures/extinguishers.pdf

4. Evacuation plans and procedures eTools

Drafting an emergency action plan (EAP) is not enough to ensure the safety of your employees. When an evacuation is necessary, you will need responsible, trained individuals who can supervise and coordinate activities to ensure a safe and successful evacuation. An EAP will be useful only if its content is up to date and employees are sufficiently educated and trained before an actual evacuation.
http://www.beynonandco.com/16-keys-to-understanding-terrorism-risk-insurance-in-2015.html

5. Training Is Critical in Preventing Workplace Fire Casualties

On an average day, over 200 fires occur in U.S. workplaces, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Having a complete fire prevention program in place is crucial for employee safety and facility compliance, and human resources plays a critical role in workplace fire prevention: "training, training, training."
http://www.shrm.org/hrdisciplines/safetysecurity/articles/pages/training-critical-preventing-workplace-fires.aspx

6. October is Fire Prevention Month -- 10 Home Fire Safety Tips

The U.S. Fire Administration reports that fires kill more than 4,000 Americans each year and injure injure 20,000 more. U.S. fire departments respond to nearly 2 million fires each year, with three-quarters of them occurring in residences. This month, make sure your home is protected from (and your family is prepared for) a fire.
http://www.quickenloans.com/blog/fire-prevention-month-10-ways-protect-prepare-fire