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Dropping the Ball: The Most Common Fire Safety Mistakes by Business Owners
Dirty Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors, like anything else, accumulate dirt, dust and grime. Smoke detectors get dirty, and dirty smoke detectors don’t work very well. Business owners frequently forget to clean their smoke detectors, making them less likely to detect smoke quickly. A dirty head will not respond when it needs to and will not alert the fire department of a fire. The longer it takes for a smoke detector to detect a fire, the more danger there is. Check smoke detectors every six months and clean out or replace any dirty heads.
Obstructed Exits and Sprinklers
Obstructions are common in businesses, such as a warehouse or industrial businesses, that have to store a large number of materials. However, materials and equipment cannot obstruct any exits or sprinklers. Nothing is supposed to be stored within 18 inches of a fire sprinkler head because it can disrupt the flow of the sprinkler. Obstructing exits makes it harder for a lot of people to get out of a building quickly during a fire. This issue is very common and can be easily fixed by the business owner. Take note of every exit and fire sprinkler location and make sure not to store anything too close. Remove anything that is obstructing the walkway or sprinkler.
A Lack of Action Plan
What should be done when there is a fire? Most business owners don’t have a plan for how to get everyone out of the building in a calm and orderly fashion. Business owners who work in a commercial space should have a written emergency action plan for employees. This ensures everyone knows what the exit routes are and what procedures are in place.
An emergency action plan should cover what employees and employers need to do to make sure everyone is safe during an emergency fire. This action plan should also include directions on when equipment needs to be shut down and other fire suppression procedures. Management should review the emergency action plan with employees at least once per year. The emergency action plan should follow OSHA standards.
Fires on commercial properties are common, but the good news is most reasons why fires happen are preventable if inspections are taken seriously and issues are quickly addressed. Businesses should avoid these common fire safety mistakes, and they will be better equipped when an emergency happens.
About the Author
Steve Lockwood is the owner of Mountain State Fire Protection LLC (mountainstatefire.com) in Phoenix Arizona. Mountain State Fire Protection specializes in fire equipment and fire protection services for commercial properties.