Avoiding Fire Hazards in Your Business | SERVPRO® of Madison/Goodlettsville

3/20/2019 (Permalink)

As a business owner, there are plenty of safety considerations to address regarding risks to your business, staff and visitors. One of the issues you need to spend a little extra time planning for and working toward is fire prevention.

<h4causes-of-commercial-structure-fires">Leading Causes of Commercial Structure Fires

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the leading causes of structure fires in office properties from 2007–2011 were (listed in order):

1. Cooking equipment, 29% of fires
2. Electrical distribution and lighting equipment, 12% of fires
3. Heating equipment, 11% of fires
4. Intentional, 10% of fires
5. Smoking materials, 9% of fires
6. Exposure, 4% of fires
7. Electronic, office or entertainment equipment, 3% of fires

From those causes, three of them—intentional, exposure, and electrical distribution and lighting equipment—accounted for 20%, 18% and 15%, respectively, of the most property damage.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in 2007, fires and explosions accounted for 3% of all workplace fatalities.

In taking a looking at more recent numbers, the NFPA estimates that from 2007–2011, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 3,340 fires in office properties per year, which were responsible for an annual average of four deaths, 44 injuries and $112 million in direct property damage.

<h4to-protect-your-business">How to Protect Your Business

What can you, as a business owner, do to protect your business from the risk of fires? By focusing on fire risk assessment, fire prevention and staff education, you can help reduce the chance of a fire breaking out.

First, you must assess your risk for fire by identifying hazards. In some areas, the local government may even offer a visit from a fire marshal to help identify these risks and provide guidance on your fire prevention plan.

You’ll want to make sure that the right fire protection equipment is in place. This includes an automatic sprinkler system, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers on each floor.

Finally, work at creating a fire plan and reviewing it with your staff. That way you’ll be making sure everyone knows what to do and how to stay safe in the event of a fire. Conduct fire drills at least once a year to keep the fire safety protocol fresh and take time to review evacuation plans and the location of your first-aid kits.

Despite best efforts with fire prevention and safety tips, the worst could always happen at your business. If a fire has damaged your business, SERVPRO® of Madison/Goodlettsville is available to help make it "Like it never even happened."