You never think a devastating event will happen to your business, but nobody is immune from the threat of fire. Preparing your business to survive such an event is vital whether you’re a small family-run business or a company with a large team. You have a duty to protect the lives on your property by ensuring you are fire and safety compliant.
Here are 6 critical steps you need to take to protect your business from a fire.
Protect your business with a continuity plan
In the event of a fire or disaster, ensure you know what information is important for your business continuity. This should include having contingency plans to protect and restore all important information like supplier and client lists, business contracts, and insurance details. The NSW Government small business website has a free template you can use to get you started on your business continuity plan.
Service your fire suppression systems
Ensure your business has an adequately serviced and functional fire suppression system. The lifespan of fire detection and suppression systems will vary, and regular maintenance is critical to make sure it stays in good condition. It’s important to have a certified technician check your fire suppression systems for any signs of wear and tear. Your supplier should have a recommended maintenance schedule with specific tasks and may offer a service that can conduct regular inspections, so you don’t have to worry about remembering yourself.
Write an emergency evacuation plan
Do you and your staff know how to evacuate the workplace and where they should assemble if there is an emergency? Display the emergency evacuation plan where everyone can see it and practice your plan with your staff every six months. If you are in a multi-tenanted building, make sure the building manager runs practice evacuations for all tenants as part of your lease arrangements.
Train staff in fire protection
Make sure your staff are up to date on fire safety and emergency procedures. One way to do this is to invest in a fire and emergency training course. Training programs cover things such as how to respond to emergency situations, the use of a fire extinguisher, and fire evacuation procedures. Keeping you and your staff on top of emergency situations is critical, and several companies do this in New South Wales.
Protect your inventory from fire
No doubt your inventory and stock are important, so avoid storing or stockpiling flammable materials such as packaging materials or waste where they could be accessed by the public, including areas immediately outside your business premises. If your business stores dangerous goods, ensure their storage is safe and adhere to legislation.
Stay up to date with fire protection laws and regulations
There are regular changes to fire and safety compliance, and it can be difficult to keep up, that’s why it’s important to entrust your fire and safety compliance to the right professionals. Your fire safety provider must understand how to comply with changes to the building code, as well as other legislation. Make sure your business is not left behind when it comes to fire protection.
We can help protect your business
Running a business is time consuming and demanding. Our team includes qualified Competent Fire Safety Practitioners (CFSPs) who stay on top of current and upcoming changes to regulations that affect buildings. Or if you need advice, assistance, and guidance on designing and installing fire safety systems for your business, call us on 1300 88 70 18 or email inquiries@globalfire.com.au.