Fire hazards in workplaces occur not only where activities with a high risk of fire occupation are carried out, but also in offices, stores or plants that do not have daily contact with open sources of fire and sparks. For this reason, current health and safety regulations dictate the use of appropriate fire prevention solutions to both avoid fire in the workplace and deal with its rapid and effective extinguishment in the event of a fire. Here are 10 Gabi HSE tips and advice showing how to effectively secure the workplace against fire.
1. securing the workplace
Nothing reinforces the fire protection of the workplace more than the use of appropriate health and safety measures that allow safe use of the building and offer assistance in the event of a fire. At Gabi Health and Safety we have a full range of fire extinguishers, alarms, detectors and signs used as standard equipment for any workplace. What should you consider when checking your facility's fire preparation? First and foremost, health and safety instructions placed in an appropriate place visible to all, marked escape routes and fire extinguisher locations, as well as any warning signs indicating hazardous substances, gases or electrical equipment.
2 Knowledge available to all employees
One of the most common causes of fires in workplaces is human inattention, which, combined with a lack of knowledge about fire safety, can prove very dangerous. The basis of the work of any plant should therefore be, first of all, to arm all employees with the necessary knowledge of the fire prevention measures in place, as well as to conduct regular training on fire protection and how to deal with the immediate danger. Such training should be part of the standard workplace health and safety protocol, and if the plant is a high-risk fire location, it should also be conducted in the form of separate refresher and information courses.
3 Prepare plant documentation
One of the most important pieces of advice that can be given to establishments wishing to take care of their fire safety is the need to take seriously the preparation of internal documentation describing the activities of the entire establishment. Guidelines on standards for individual workplaces, rules for their operation, or precise instructions relating to specific safety zones are the best source of knowledge about the fire prevention measures used in the plant. Such documentation should, of course, be prepared in consultation with health and safety specialists and be available to all employees, both new and experienced, so that everyone can ensure that their actions do not pose an immediate fire hazard.
4 Use of available warning technologies
In a topic related in part to proper marking and securing of the workplace, mention should also be made of the possibilities offered today by various types of fire warning systems. Sensors and detectors for gases, liquids and vapors make it possible to effectively detect even the smallest smoke and prevent the spread of a fire even if one does occur. In larger plants or, for example, shopping malls and hotels, such systems have a direct connection to the control panel and, in the event of a high degree of danger, can automatically notify the relevant services of a fire. In areas where such a solution is safe, you should also use sprinklers, fire curtains and, if necessary, fire doors that cut off the affected rooms from the rest of the building.
5 Designation of safety, smoking and elevated danger zones
Any workplace that is well-organized in terms of health and safety should be clearly divided into zones where employees will be able to smoke without risk, take the most basic precautions, as well as those where additional safety protocols will need to be followed and special precautions taken. Many employers do not think about this solution, but in practice it often turns out to be one of the best ways to prevent fires. If employees know where they can be and don't create a hazard by going out for a break, the chances of creating a hazard through inattention are reduced to a minimum.
6 Regular inspection of machinery
If you want to avoid a fire in a plant where dozens of machines and electrical equipment work every day, regularly inspecting their working condition and maintaining the surfaces most vulnerable to damage is essential. Any exposed cables, burnt wires and damaged electronic panels can cause a short circuit that can lead to a really serious fire in the entire plant.
7 Checking fire protection systems
As with the aforementioned machinery inspections, regular maintenance should also be implemented for the warning systems used. It's worth checking their proper operation at least once a year, so that in the event of a real emergency they will work as expected and provide evacuation time for everyone present on the premises.
8 Mandatory evacuation tests
Frequently encountered in shopping malls, schools or large commercial buildings, evacuation drills are an important part of fire prevention and prevention in workplaces as well. Such actions not only increase employees' awareness of the fire risk and regularly remind them of the applicable rules of behavior in the event of an evacuation, but also increase employees' alertness and can contribute to their detection of fire risks before a fire occurs.
9 Controlling access to the building
A good way to reduce the risk of fire and any emergencies is to introduce access control systems in the plant for individual work areas. Only people trained to do so should be allowed to operate around hazardous substances, and there is no reason to risk the chance of unauthorized people getting into their vicinity.
10. securing hazardous substances
The last tip is also one of the most obvious, but worth a reminder. All hazardous substances that may pose an immediate fire hazard should be stored in properly secured rooms and containers, handled only by employees trained to do so, and separated as much as possible from the rest of the workplace so that, in the event of an accident, the fire has the maximum extended path to reach escape routes and other rooms.
The work of securing plants against fire does not end only with the setting up of appropriate signs and a single training of employees in fire protection. Implementing further ways of protection and following the above tips can significantly increase the safety of the plant and its employees, while saving the costs associated with the eventual reconstruction of the facility after a possible fire.
