Every business should have a fire escape strategy in place. Because no one anticipates a fire or emergency to happen to them, particularly at work, it can catch them off guard and cause even more damage than if they were prepared.
This is due to the fact that a fire can cause widespread fear and uncertainty. If the employees in your workplace do not know how to react to a fire, you risk injuries, distress, and even death if one occurs. That is why it is critical to take preventative steps and ensure that you and your business are prepared for a fire.
How to Create a Fire Evacuation Plan
Now that you understand the significance of having a fire evacuation strategy in place, you should develop one and rehearse it with your team. The methods outlined below will ensure that you are prepared and orderly if a fire breaks out at work.
STEP 1:
Gather your company’s employees as a squad to develop the strategy.
STEP 2:
Print the structure floor plan and place it on a table for everyone to see.
STEP 3:
Make sure everyone can see all of the entrances, windows, escapes, and fire extinguishers. Draw arrows on the map to show the best evacuation path for the workplace and the entire structure.
STEP 4:
Mark a location outside where you will gather after evacuating the structure on the map. It should be a safe distance away from the structure and in a protected location. You can then conduct a headcount/roll call to ensure that everyone made it safely out of the building.
STEP 5:
Go over fire safety measures, such as feeling a door with the back of your hand before entering a room, closing doors behind you while exiting the building, and not returning once you’ve fled.
STEP 6:
Last but not least, exercise! You should regularly rehearse evacuating the premises. Whether you conduct a fire exercise or not, ensure that everyone is familiar with the drill and evacuation path.