Fire Safety Month
Fire Safety Month
Is your workplace or home fireproof? Each year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) celebrates National Fire Safety Month in October with Oct. 6th-12th being national fire prevention week. Fires costs U.S. businesses more than $328 billion in annual costs. OSHA reports that there are more than 200 workplace fires per day, with more than 5,000 people injured by workplace fires annually. Fires are among the biggest causes of casualties in the workplace, but being proactive in mitigating the risks can help prevent unnecessary injuries. This campaign serves as a reminder to us all of the importance of fire safety awareness in both the workplace and our home lives.
Fire safety awareness in the workplace should be second nature as it should also be in our personal lives in order to keep our loved ones safe. Take time this month to have a fire safety talk with your department at work. Review your emergency action plan, communicate supervisory roles, and walk evacuation routes with your team. In times of crisis, we rely on memory created through practice. Now is the perfect time to conduct a fire drill before a real-life event occurs. Ensure nobody is left behind and that everyone understands the safest route!
The safety reminders communicated in the workplace can easily be translated to fire safety in the home. Establish a family emergency action plan, discuss escape routes with family members, and locate fire extinguishers in your home. Additionally, conduct a mock fire drill with your family members to ensure you and your loved ones know how to get out safely. During this drill, outline meeting places that are at a safe distance from the home. Designate a neighbor to contact for help in the event of an emergency. Simple exercises such as these could make all the difference in your family making it out of a fire alive.
Below are key components to ensuring your workplace and home are fireproof:
- Eliminate Clutter – Exercise good housekeeping. Clutter can easily become a fuel source in the event of a fire, allowing a fire to spread quickly. Furthermore, clutter can restrict access to emergency equipment and exit routes.
- Designate Smoking Areas – Permit smoking only in designated smoking areas and provides means for extinguishing smoking materials safely.
- Fire Extinguishers – Maintain the appropriate type and number of fire extinguishers. Conduct monthly and annual extinguisher inspections to ensure they are in good, working condition. Provide training for employees on the correct use of fire extinguishers.
- Chemical Safety – Use and store chemicals safely. Read hazard warning labels and safety data sheets to determine flammability and other fire hazards. Ensure your chemical storage areas provide adequate ventilation for the storage of chemical or other hazardous substances.
- Waste Control & Storage – Limit the accumulation of flammable or combustible materials and residues to prevent the risk for such materials contributing to a fire emergency.
- Exits – Ensure emergency exit route diagrams are posted and accessible in all areas of the facility for all employees to easily view. Additionally, ensure means of egress are well-lit with regulated exit signs and free from debris or clutter.
- Contact Information – Employees should have access to a list of emergency contact phone numbers in case of emergency. Remember that it is human nature is to panic in emergency situations; therefore, basics such as the company address, important phone numbers, and building floor plan should be posted on or with the emergency action plan.
Remember it is always better to be proactive rather than reactive and it is best to alleviate hazards or hiccups in times of peace rather than in times of chaos. Utilize the above tips to reduce the risk of catastrophe or at least minimize the damage. The reality is that fire emergencies and disaster situations can strike anyone, anytime, anywhere. So, remember, if a fire occurs in your workplace or home, don’t panic, A-C-T: Assess the situation; Choose the best action; Take action.
“October Is Fire Safety Month.” Safety Resources | Indianapolis, www.safetyresources.com/october-is-fire-safety-month. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.