National Fire Prevention Week (October 7-13)

This week, October 7th-13th, is National Fire Prevention week. Therefore, it seemed appropriate to pay homage to those who have given their lives, dedicate their lives, and keep our lives safer on a day-to-day basis. Fire safety is often ignored until it is too late…the alarms have sounded, the smoke is detected, or there is structural damage.

We all want to feel safe within our workplace, but there are certain measures that can be taken to ensure safety, and not just to imply it.

Many companies feel like it is important to outline fire safety within their company handbooks. Handbooks can be a good idea because there are fewer ways to make sure all of the details get covered. Besides, most people will read all the material available when they are hired as opposed to when they have a full inbox of tasks at their desks. If your company does choose to keep literature on fire safety, the section should include closest exits, maps, and the location of any safety supplies.

In addition to providing written documentation, providing your employees with certain pieces of safety equipment could be the difference in the formation of a disaster. What should you supply to keep your office safe? Here are some suggestions:

1. Smoke Alarms/Detectors- These devices are relatively inexpensive and are required by most states, but if you are occupying an older building, regulations may not be updated. After installing the proper safety alarms, make sure to always keep plenty of alkaline batteries in stock so you never have to worry about anything not working at its highest level.

2. Masks- Smoke inhalation can cause severe and prolonged damage. N95 face masks are inexpensive and they can be bought in bulk at wholesale prices.

3. Flashlights- Many times, the first thing to leave a disaster are the lights. Flashlights are a great product to have on hand to help everyone exit a building safely and without limited vision.

4. First Aid Kits- It should go without saying that first aid kits should be mandatory in any place of business. Whether you have an office of 25 or 100, there is a first aid kit that is made just for your workplace.

Not everyone feels the same about safety or the components that go into being safe on a daily basis. However, if you want to individually be proactive about your safety, you can check out safety supplies at http://www.utilitysafeguard.com/ and find items that can make you relax while you work.

We hope that you and your loved ones are safe during this week of fire prevention and that you keep all of the people in mind who are protecting us from fires everyday.