How To Be Prepared For a Fire At Work

How you react in a fire depends on how well you've prepared.

♦ Learn your building's evacuation plans.  At work, encourage your managers to hold regular fire drills.  Be sure your building manager posts evacuation plans in high-traffic areas, such as the lobby.

♦ Learn the sound of your buildings fire alarm.  Know the location of your buildings fire alarms, and learn how to use them.

♦ Know at least two exits from every room. Count the number of desks or doors between your work station and the two nearest fire exits.  In a fire you may have to escape in the dark by feeling your way along the wall.

♦ If you have a disability that could delay your escape, let someone in authority know about it, and be sure there is a plan to assist you.

♦ Post emergency fire department numbers near all phones.

♦ Know who is responsible for maintaining all fire extinguishers,smoke detectors, emergency lighting and automatic sprinkler systems, and make sure that nothing is blocking or otherwise interfering with the proper operation of such devices.

Preparing Your Employees

Making sure employees are prepared is a key way to reducing the negative effects of an emergency situation. Consider ways to help employees prepare their families with emergency preparedness supplies and survival gear from the Survival Gear Source.  This will increase their personal safety and help your business get back up and running as employees will be better able to focus and carry out their responsibilities at work. One way to accomplish this is to provide survival gear as part of a company reward or recognition program. Corporations and small businesses alike are constantly looking for new ways to improve morale, reduce injuries and worker compensation costs, reduce absenteeism, boost sales.  If you provide such supplies, or make an on online store available through your intranet for discount purchases, you will be helping your employees and their families as well.