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October 3rd, 2008 at 10:32 pm

Fire Prevention in Your Workplace: Getting Better Fire Safety Measures

Fire can create huge destructions in the workplace. If it’s not too bad, it causes minor injuries or none at all. If it’s a major one, it results in serious injuries and even fatalities.

In reality, it’s impossible to completely get rid of fire hazards in your worksite. But that’s not to say that you can’t do a number of things to control these hazards.

Fire prevention in your workplace consists of four steps:

1. Implement a program that includes preparation, prevention, and recognition of fire hazards.

2. Make sure you practice proper handling of combustible and flammable material.

3. Maintain safe housekeeping practices that reduce the risk of fire danger.

4. Always keep adequate fire suppression equipment in your work area to extinguish fire before it goes out of control.

General Safety Measures

The following are general safety measures in establishing and maintaining fire protection in the workplace:

Never pile or lay material in a way that it covers or blocks access to firefighting equipment.

Make sure to use only approved containers for the separation and disposal of combustible refuse. Remember to always replace the lid.

Never store flammable materials within 10 feet of a building or other structure.

Stack and pile all materials in orderly and stable piles.

Never let unnecessary combustible materials get accumulated in any part of your work area.

Make a periodic clean-up of entire work site and keep grass and weeds under control.

Regularly dispose of combustible debris and scrap from your work area.

Use only approved containers and tanks for storage, handling, and transport of combustible and flammable liquid.

Always perform evaluation procedures before performing operations that present fire hazards like welding.

Fire Equipment Safety Measures

Fire extinguishers are commonly used as fire suppression equipment. You may also add fire hoses to your emergency box/glass in the workplace. Here are guidelines you must follow in using fire equipment:

Inspect and maintain firefighting equipment regularly.
Place an adequate number of firefighting equipment in plain view in your work areas. When appropriate, label the location of each one and make sure it is properly rated.

Provide employees with proper training in fire prevention and protection.

Prohibit smoking at or around work areas where fire hazards are present. Put up signs, saying NO SMOKING or OPEN FLAMES.

Configure an alarm system that consists of both visual and audible signals (bells, sirens, whistles, blinking lights).

Post reporting instructions and local Fire Department codes on info boards, common areas, and areas near the phone.

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