To protect your employees and comply with the Fire Protection and Prevention Act (FPPA), your company should have a fire escape plan. If not, take a few minutes to write one down and ensure everyone knows how to respond in the event of an emergency. Your fire safety plan should include: · A general building description and description of fire safety systems including smoke detectors, smoke alarms, fire alarms, kitchen hood extinguishing systems, fire extinguishers and locations. Description of emergency voice/alarm communication system alert tone and pre-programmed voice messages. · Primary Emergency Contacts. · Fire Warden contact information and duties (if applicable, this is usually for large manufacturing facilities or high-rise buildings). · List actions taken by staff in the event of a fire or emergency. (For example, pull the closest fire alarm. Dial 911. Initiate building evacuation. Attempt to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher.) · Evacuation Routes. Include evacuation routes for everyone, including procedures for employees who must remain to operate critical equipment before evacuating. · Evacuation Assembly points and procedures for accounting for employees. · Evacuation Drills and Training. · Special Equipment, Hazards, or Procedures. Do you have fuel, chemicals, individuals who may need special assistance in an emergency? · Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for rescue or emergency medical aid. Do you have anyone on staff that is CPR trained? If you have all these items checked off in your current plan, then make sure all employees have read and understand what to do, and then take a minute to relax! Xper-tek is a leading total solutions provider for planning, designing and implementing turnkey fire protection systems throughout Hamilton, Niagara and the GTA. We provide fire inspection services in Hamilton, Niagara and GTA. To find out more information or to ask a question, call us at 1-833-XPERTEK!
Thousands of fires take place every day during the summer. In fact, with all the air conditioners running, high temperatures and stresses on electrical systems, it is one of the most dangerous seasons for fire. That is why, this summer, you should take some extra precautions to help keep your building occupants safe. The hottest time of year for Hamilton is just around the corner and as experts in office fire protection systems for Southern Ontario, we’d like to talk to you more about proper office fire safety and what you can do to better protect it! · Cooling System Safety HVAC systems and fans are the major culprits when it comes to summer fire hazards. Make sure fans aren’t running constantly and that their cords aren’t damaged. How old are the fans? It might be time to consider new, safer and more efficient fans. Also, clean out any exhaust fans regularly and clear debris out of the vents. Avoid running fans consistently for long periods of time. How is your air conditioning running? Dust can settle over the motor and other electrical components and cause faults, which can create fires. Running multiple cooling units together consistently and for long periods of time can also result in overloading and overheating, which presents an opportunity for fires to start. · Fire Protection System Inspection in Hamilton Have you had your office fire protection system inspected lately? How old is the system? You should have fire alarms and fire suppression systems professionally serviced in the form of annual inspections. It is important to have your office fire protection systems checked once a year by a professional fire detection and alarm company such as Xper-Tek. These preventative measures are essential in ensuring your system can handle whatever summer throws at it. · Other Summer Considerations Fire risk is heightened by high temperatures. It is important to store flammables such as gas cylinders upright and never indoors. Do you keep items such as lawnmowers on your campus? Remember to regularly remove debris from cutting units and engines. And, NEVER refuel a mower when it’s overheated. How about a grill? Keep it away from your facility and any overhanging branches and ALWAYS keep it clean. Whatever special considerations your office needs this summer, Xper-Tek can customize office fire protection systems to match. Do you have large servers or similar sensitive technical equipment? We can create a system tailored to monitor and keep your equipment safe! Give us a call and a service representative will meet with you, tour your facility, and develop office fire protection systems and a service agreement to ensure your life safety systems are tested, inspected, and maintained to keep them operating at peak performance all season. Contact us today for more information!