Building a Safer Fire Evacuation Plan for Your Business
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) tracks fires in the U.S. In 2020, the NFPA counted 3,500 deaths and 15,200 injuries caused by fires. Even one death is one too many. What else can business owners do to protect both people and property?
What is the bare minimum for a fire safety evacuation plan?
According to OSHA, fire safety evacuation plans should include the following minimum elements:
A method for reporting fires and other emergencies.
An evacuation plan and procedure.
Emergency escape plans and route assignments.
Designated safe or go-to refuge areas.
Contact information for responsible individuals inside and outside the company.
Procedures for key employees to perform in case of emergency.
Rescue and medical duties for designated workers.
Most people don’t know how they will respond in a crisis. The goal is to establish a fire safety plan that creates a sort of “muscle memory” in your employees. That’s why you should regularly practice evacuations and personnel response. While your current plan may include a basic fire safety response, will it be enough to handle the potential chaos of a real emergency?
Four improvements to make right now
Businesses are required to have an emergency evacuation plan, but better protection for your employees requires going beyond the basics to create a foolproof response plan. There are some improvements you should make right now, including:
Knowing the location of fire extinguishers. Make sure all your employees know where extinguishers are located. Fire extinguishers should be inspected regularly, and your employees should be trained to use them appropriately. Training should include the ability to identify at what point a fire is too large for an employee to safely deploy an extinguisher.
Knowing and following OSHA rules for fire safety. This goes beyond knowing exit points. Employees should be trained to remain vigilant about keeping emergency exits clear of any obstacles, and they should be able to distinguish between alarm signals and respond appropriately to each.
Making sure everyone knows the plan. Do your employees know where fire extinguishers are? Are they practicing situational awareness to identify their exit points in every part of the building? Do they know where the nearest fire alarms are? Train your employees in the small details, such as closing — but not locking — doors behind them to reduce oxygen and stop a fire from spreading, which could save property and lives.
Creating a buddy system for disaster. The buddy system is a two-person method for pairing co-workers who work in close proximity. The buddy system can help identify hazardous conditions, but it also creates a sense of “no person left behind” on your teams. These teams should be trained in what the buddy system requires them to do in the event of a fire or another emergency.
Make OSHA regulations the baseline for your safety response plan. It takes an extra level of diligence to escalate your protocols. How can you go above and beyond the minimum for fire safety in your business?
Beyond the basics
To improve your company’s emergency response plan, start by asking yourself how the plan you’ve put on paper will translate to real life. Eliminate the unknowns by regularly practicing fire safety and emergency evacuation drills.
Going beyond a minimum fire safety plan means building on OSHA requirements to enhance property protection and employee safety. Establishing an emergency communications center, storing important documents and data backups off-site, keeping an updated list of personnel, and creating a clear chain of command for crisis management are all sound fire safety steps not required by OSHA.
Fire safety requires a vigilant, proactive response plan. To learn more about the critical elements of fire safety, contact TRL Systems at fire@TRLsystems.com, or call 1-800-266-1392.