4 Tips for a Successful Office Fire Escape Plan

11/5/2020 (Permalink)

Practice a fire drill in your building

Follow These Tips To Help Ensure Your Office Escape Plan Is Successful

You’ve probably taken steps to protect your business from a fire: You’ve installed fire extinguishers, changed the batteries in the smoke alarms, and maybe even jotted down the info for a reliable fire restoration company in Croydon Heights, PA. But does your office have a solid fire escape plan? Don’t wait until it’s too late! 

1. Define an Evacuation Strategy
Decide, specifically, how and where to exit the building, keeping in mind that elevators may not be operational if there’s a fire. Be aware of areas where fires are most likely to start, and make sure that your evacuation route avoids these areas. Designate an easily identifiable location a safe distance away for everyone to meet up after evacuating.

2. Delegate Duties
Stress can make it difficult for people to think clearly. Assign emergency roles to specific people in the office, so everyone knows exactly what to do if there’s a fire. These roles will vary depending on your business, but examples include someone to call 911, someone to do a head count at the meetup location, and someone to oversee first aid.

3. Spread the Word
Make certain that everyone in the office is aware of the fire escape plan. Post a copy of the plan somewhere that it can be easily accessed during a fire. Be sure that anyone who was assigned an emergency role understands – and is comfortable performing – his or her responsibilities.

4. Have a Fire Drill
Practice executing your emergency escape plan. A test run will make everyone feel more confident in the event of a real fire. A practice drill is also a great way to identify any potential weaknesses in your plan and to address any questions that may arise.
An office fire is something no one wants to think about, but a little preparation goes a long way. A well-designed, well-executed fire escape plan can make the difference between disaster and tragedy.