Businesses do not spring up out of nowhere. To build a company that is able to stand on its own takes years of strategy, capital, commitment, and perspiration. When launching a business, it’s critical to think about even the smallest details that can minimize risks, promote growth, and achieve your business goals. While most of your attention is focused on activities that will increase your revenue, it is also critical to establish measures that ensure the safety of your workplace.
Fire safety is an area that small B2B businesses often overlook. In their quest to develop plans that will help their businesses achieve sustainability, profitability, and expansion, all of which are crucial elements of running a business, they neglect the need to protect their employees and clients.
Why are Fire and Security Systems Important for Businesses?
A fire can be disastrous – in minutes, it can engulf an entire building in flames, leaving no time to escape. Terrifyingly, it has the potential to take lives, turn everything on the premises into ash, and tarnish your company’s reputation.
Given the potential risks, as a business owner it’s important to steps to protect your staff, assets, and your business. Here are some fire and security precautions you can take to keep your workplace safe.
1. Maintain a Clean and Orderly Workspace
A clean and tidy workplace is a critical component in presenting your company in a professional way. Customers will avoid visiting an untidy, smelly, and disorganised store or office. However, your lack of commitment to a clean and tidy workplace can also represent a fire risk.
Clutter and rubbish laying around your site is simply fuel for a fire. Furthermore, it can obstruct emergency routes and block fire exits, which could prove fatal in the event of a fire. This is why it’s critical to keep your office, store, or warehouse tidy and clean at all times.
2. Maintain Fire Safety Equipment
It’s critical that your company has a full stock of fire safety equipment at all times so that if something goes wrong, everyone onsite has the tools they need to deal with the crisis until the fire department arrives and the fire is contained. Rescue ladders, fire escapes, fire extinguishers, and other types of fire safety equipment must be kept on hand at all times.
3. Assess your Risks
Keeping your employees and assets safe involves adequate risk assessment. If you want to avoid fires and other disasters, it is important to be aware of fire risks, and take action to reduce these risks in order to avoid fires wherever possible. A comprehensive risk assessment also involves contingency planning and strategizing what you will do if minor or major incidents do occur. This can involve examining different parts of your building, identifying the most at-risk zones, and managing these risks.
4. Give Your Staff Members Comprehensive Training
When onboarding new employees, it’s important to include training on fire safety and prevention. Disaster can strike at any time, and if a corner of the building catches fire, it may take time for professional firefighters to arrive and get things under control. However, in such a fast-moving crisis, employees must be trained on how to deal with the situation
It’s important to train employees on how to use fire fighting equipment such as fire extinguishers. Early intervention could limit a small fire and stop it from turning into a highly-destructive crisis. However, it’s essential to convey to your employees that they should protect their own lives and the lives of others above all else – never encourage them to protect your business’ assets at the expense of their own safety!
5. Electrical Safety Measures
Electrical equipment can always pose a fire risk. For this reason, it’s critical to guarantee that no electrical issues go unnoticed or unrepaired, as they could cause disastrous fires in the future. To this end, hire professionals to conduct regular inspections and be sure to address any issues identified as soon as possible.
6. Appoint Fire Wardens
Although you should give basic fire safety training to all employees, you should also have dedicated fire wardens that can take responsibility in the event of a fire. Depending on the size of your business, you may only need one or two fire wardens, or it could be necessary to have a whole team across various sites or departments. These wardens should have extensive training and be equipped to take the lead during a crisis to keep everyone safe.
7. Conduct Fire Drills
Regular fire drills are an essential part of employee fire safety training. It’s all very well to train your staff about fire safety, but they’ll only really know what to do during a crisis if they’ve practiced it in a practical way, and fire drills are the best way to do this. Conduct regular drills to keep your employees’ skills up to date.
Fire is the cause of 3% of all workplace injuries. This shows how important it is for all businesses, including B2B businesses, to have a comprehensive fire safety strategy in order to keep their employees, clients, assets, and business reputation safe.
