Every retailer must have working fire extinguishers as part of their fire prevention goals.
Minimizing a potential fire risk at your business is an essential responsibility to help protect your clients, staff, and property. For business owners, fire damages can extend beyond physical repairs. This can mean weeks or months of lost revenue while your property is under restoration. So, what steps can you complete to ensure a potential fire doesn’t occur at your business? Follow these four fire prevention tips:
Inspect for Any Possible Fire Hazards
There are numerous prevalent hazards in any home or business that are prone to a fire. Furthermore, conduct a survey of your business and inspect these potential problem areas:
- Ensure equipment and machines are neat and well maintained.
- Maintain flammable objects away from furnaces or space heaters.
- Also, properly store combustible items away in cabinets and away from ignition fire sources.
- Examine appliance cords and replace cracked insulation or broken connectors.
- Utilize one extension cord for each power outlet.
- Finally, allow air to circulate and prevent overheating by letting room behind appliances.
Determine You Have the Adequate Safety Equipment
In addition, every retailer must have working fire extinguishers as part of their fire prevention goals. But it’s also vital to consider fire sprinklers, smoke detectors, or a fire alarm. Remember, a smoke detector only lasts between 8 to 10 years. Moreover, search for a specialized fire suppression system if your business has significant operations or equipment that can possibly overheat—particularly combustible materials on site.
Ensure Your Equipment is Up-To-Date
Additionally, fire extinguishers last 5 to 15 years, even when no expiration date is listed. These pieces of equipment can eventually lose their pressure. So, check the pressure gauge monthly to determine if your fire extinguisher is functioning well. In addition, you might have to replace or repair it if the needle is yellow or red.
Also, make sure to replace your fire extinguisher if you discover any of the following signs:
- The nozzle or hose is ripped, cracked, or jammed.
- The locking pin is missing or unsealed.
- The handle is unsteady or missing.
- Or the service record or inspection sticker is missing.
Communicate and Prepare with Your Employees
Preparation is crucial for fire prevention. Having an emergency plan is an important element in successfully preventing loss of life, injuries, and property damage in a crisis. Plus, keep your staff safe by constantly communicating your fire safety procedures.
- Inform your staff where they should go if there is an evacuation.
- Plus, discuss how you will alert them of an emergency – voice communication, whistle, horn, or bell.
- Determine your evacuation plans to accommodate employees with disabilities, like someone who uses a wheelchair or with hearing loss.
- Provide training to your staff to practice your emergency plan.
- Lastly, remind your workers to avoid storing anything on the stairways or your fire escape routes.
Commercial and Residential Fire Prevention from Judd Fire Protection
If you want to ensure your home and business are safe throughout the year, trust Judd Fire Protection, LLC. We have over two decades of experience designing, installing, inspecting, and repairing residential and commercial fire protection systems. We serve clients throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia. If you are interested in finding out more about our services and protecting your home and business, give us a call at 410-871-3480