Do you know what to do in case of a fire? Or better yet, do you know how to prevent a fire from starting? Here are 6 fire protection tips that everybody should know to stay safe and prepared in case of an emergency.
Tip #1: Cook With Caution
According to the NFPA, unattended cooking is the leading cause of fires in the kitchen. Many office buildings feature a small kitchen for employees to use. It is important to always be on alert whether you’re cooking a large meal at home or just cooking/heating up a quick meal at the office.
If you are tired or have consumed alcohol (you shouldn’t be at work!) and you definitely should not be using a stove top. Make sure to stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling or broiling food. If you need to step away to get back to your work desk or use the bathroom, always remember to turn off the stove.
Tip #2: Use Candles With Care
Candles are a beautiful addition to your office decor and, of course, smell great, but they can potentially cause fires if used without care.
You should always keep in mind that a candle is an open flame, which means that it can easily ignite anything that can burn. Make sure you blow out all candles when you leave the office. When you burn candles, place them on a sturdy and clutter-free surface so that they won’t tip over easily.
Pro Tip: consider using flameless candles on your work desk. Believe it or not, they look and smell like real candles!
Tip #3: Electrical Safety
Plugging in a phone charger, flipping a light switch, etc. – these are all activities that we do on a daily basis. It’s no secret that electricity makes our lives so much easier! However, we need to be cautious and keep safety in mind when using electricity.
We strongly suggest that you have all electrical work for your building done by a qualified electrician. You should also only use one heat-producing appliance (such as coffee maker, toaster, microwave, etc.) plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time. And major appliances (refrigerators, TVs, etc.) should be plugged directly into a wall receptacle outlet. Extension cords and plug strips should not be used.
Tip #4: Heating Safety
This fire protection tip is especially helpful for the winter months. Although Florida is pretty much a tropical paradise compared to the northern states, us Floridians still get cold in the “winter.”
If your commercial building offers heating equipment (furnace, fireplace, wood stove, portable space heater, etc.), make sure to keep an eye on any children and keep flammable objects at least three feet away.
It’s also a good idea to have a qualified professional inspect your equipment every year. Last but not least, always remember to turn off the heating equipment when leaving the room or going to bed, if you have heating equipment at home too.
Tip #5: Test And Maintain Your Smoke Alarm
You want to make sure your fire protection devices are always working, especially in case of an emergency. According to the NFPA, it is suggested that you should test your smoke alarms at least once a month, replace the batteries at least once every year, and replace the entire smoke alarm every 10 years.
Tip #6: Subscribe To A Trusted Fire Protection Company For More Information
There are so many more fire protection tips that we simply can’t cover in one blog. Not to worry, we have a newsletter that you can subscribe to so we can send fire protection tips straight to your inbox twice a month! You can also check out our other blogs and follow us on social media for more Fire & Life Safety information.
We hope that these fire protection tips will help you stay safe and informed. If you’re in need of our fire services, contact DynaFire today to get started!
