Fire prevention is always a precaution for any business, especially around Christmas time.
Fire prevention is always a precaution for any business, especially around Christmas time, while we decorate our business premises to get involved with the festivities. So, extra care and duty should be taken to ensure fire safety this holiday, considering fire hazards and better awareness of prevention methods. This article explains why fire prevention is vital and the best fire safety tips to ensure your coworkers and customers are safe in your commercial property this Christmas.
Inspect Your Christmas Lights
With Christmas lights being on sale in almost most discount shops, supermarkets, or even online, ensuring that your Christmas lights are safe to use is critical. So, use your judgment to check for apparent signs of fraying or damage within the wires. It’s also crucial that it’s much safer to dispose of damaged Christmas lights than to risk and reuse them.
Consider Switching Off and Unplug
Leaving any electrical appliance on for a long time or even overnight is hazardous, so your Christmas lights shouldn’t be an exception. Unfortunately, leaving fairy lights on overnight can lead to overheating, causing a fire. The safest step in fire prevention is switching off all electrical items before leaving the office. The safest thing to do for Christmas lights is to unplug them when they are not being used.
Prevent Overloading
During the holiday season, your extension cables and sockets will likely be used often during other months. So, ensure that extension cables or sockets are adequately supplied. Also, inspect the wattage of each appliance because you should only have one plug per socket.
Moreover, all Christmas decorations should be away from anything combustible, mostly decorations made from card or paper. In the office, keep decorations away from computers to prevent overheating and catching fire. Also, keep decorations away from heaters, light fittings, and other heat sources.
Keep Fire Exits Clear of Clutter
Just with any fire prevention plan for your office, you must take the correct measures during the festive period. Christmas time can be busier for many companies, with more people visiting offices, retail units, or general business premises. This is why you must clear all fire exits so your colleagues can quickly escape during a fire.
As an employer, your legal responsibility is to ensure the safe evacuation of everyone who enters your property should a fire break out. For this reason, a fire evacuation plan is critical.
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