Creating Comprehensive Fire Evacuation Plans for Staff | SERVPRO® of Southeast El Paso/Butterfield

7/16/2020 (Permalink)

If your business experiences any fire damage, you can count on us. SERVPRO of Southeast El Paso/Butterfield specializes in commercial fire restoration

If you are a business owner, you likely have plenty of long-term plans for your business in the works—but have you considered how a fire could derail them? Fires in the workplace are quite common, so including a fire preparedness plan is a wise choice for the owner of any establishment.

Oftentimes, starting a fire preparedness plan will be the biggest challenge of the whole process, so we always suggest that owners begin with the biggest safety concerns first—namely, getting themselves and their employees to safety in the event of a fire. Hosting fire evacuation drills is the best place to start so everyone can have the know-how to escape quickly and calmly.

Getting Employees to Safety in the Event of a Fire

Consult with your local fire officials. You can find so many tips regarding fire safety online, but do not forget about making use of the local resources you have at hand. You can typically get in touch with your nearest fire department and have them visit to provide personalized recommendations regarding your evacuation route options and preparedness plans.

Communicate and mark fire evacuation routes. Once you have decided what the best escape routes are, make sure they are clearly marked. Talk with your staff regarding your plans for a future drill so they know to be alert and what will be expected of them throughout the process.

Have fire drills frequently. While it may seem frustrating to take time out of everyone’s day to have a fire drill on a regular basis, safety is the most important thing when it comes to operating a business. Many businesses simply do a 30-minute drill quarterly, including the actual evacuation and a post-drill roundup to address any questions or concerns.

Run different fire scenarios. With all the ways a fire can start, it is important to have comprehensive evacuation planning in place to account for this. Run through a different mock scenario with every drill—perhaps one has a fire originating in the kitchen, while another has it originating in the supply closet. This way your staff can get used to making decisions quickly regarding what exits and evacuation pathways to take.

If your business has experienced fire damage, you can count on us. We specialize in commercial fire restoration and will be here for you at any hour—contact us today.