Teaching Fire Safety Basics to Your Staff | SERVPRO of Marietta West

4/11/2023 (Permalink)

Dealing with the aftermath of a commercial fire? SERVPRO of Marietta West is your local restoration expert.

Experiencing an emergency situation at work can be scary, especially for your employees if they don’t know how to react. These types of situations can often get out of hand if your team doesn’t have the proper training. This is especially true when it comes to fires!

Everyone on your team should be trained on the basics of fire safety so that your crew understands the procedures when a fire does break out. You might actually be surprised by how many employees of yours don’t actually know how to even use a fire extinguisher!

Taking the time to teach them all about fire safety now can help keep everyone safe and can help them better handle an emergency when the time comes.

Starting at the Beginning

According to OSHA, if your business has a fire extinguisher on the property (it should), you are required to provide basic training on its operation. That not only includes teaching your employees how to use it, but also explaining the difference situations when using one is necessary.

Start at the very beginning and let your employees handle the fire extinguisher. Show them how to hold it, aim and how to pull the pin. It is also important to teach them about the importance of standing at least six feet from the fire and to spray in a sweeping motion across the flames.

During your classroom instruction, consider introducing the acronym PASS to help your employees remember the steps easier. These fundamentals on fire extinguishers should be reviewed every year and any time a new employee joins your staff. Don’t let your veteran staff skip out on the yearly training either!

In addition, it is important to designate roles to each individual team member for emergency situations. Have someone be responsible for grabbing the fire extinguisher, someone to call 911 and someone to help get employees and patrons to safety. This can help make the process run smoother and leave nothing to chance.

Knowing When to Back Away

Different businesses require different types of fire extinguishers and response methods. For example, the response to a fire in the business district around Glover Park will require different strategies than for a fire that breaks out at a restaurant along North Marietta Parkway.

Knowing when it is appropriate to fight the flames and when to seek safety and allow the authorities to work is crucial to your employee’s safety.

Fire extinguishers can certainly save lives and minimize damages, but fires can also get out of hand really quickly. Make sure your employees understand that their safety is your No. 1 priority.

Having a workplace fire strategy in place can guarantee that your employees will react quickly and effectively during an emergency situation. Take the time to meet with your team and your business will directly benefit.

Dealing with the aftermath of a commercial fire? Our SERVPRO specialists can restore your losses and return your workplace to its pre-fire condition.