When considering commercial fire protection, it is extremely important to make sure a property is equipped with adequate preventive equipment and that someone is assigned the task of maintaining it. Businesses need to allot time and resources to educate their employees on fire prevention in commercial settings. Also, workers need to be held to high standards of conduct with regards to safety.
Businesses that claim they are serious about commercial fire protection should demonstrate it by having the proper equipment on-site. Every commercial facility should have fire extinguishers in locations where they are easy to access. There should be smoke detectors distributed throughout the property and all commercial buildings should be equipped with sprinkler systems. Another item often overlooked when considering fire prevention is smoking receptacles. Any area designated or commonly used for smoking should have receptacles that allow unwanted tobacco products to be safely disposed of.
Fire prevention equipment is most effective when it is installed in sufficient numbers to adequately cover the needs of a given facility. Furthermore, someone needs to be given the task of testing, maintaining, and ordering replacement parts for such equipment. Whoever is assigned these tasks needs to be held responsible for completing them whether or not they are outside of the scope of his normal duties. A periodic inspection of the entire facility by a commercial fire protection professional is also highly recommended.
Although the individuals who occupy a commercial facility may be primarily adults, it is important to make sure that they contribute to fire prevention efforts. To do this, they need to be informed. Just as schools often have fire prevention refreshers, commercial operations should do the same. Workers should be trained to used fire safety equipment. Also, good habits, such as never ignoring a fire alarm and immediately reporting potential hazards, should be reiterated.
Workers in industrial settings should not be allowed to develop careless or irresponsible habits. The smoking of cigarettes should never be allowed in work areas where flammable materials are stored or used. Proper storage practices should be encouraged regularly and enforced strictly. Individuals who are inexperienced should never be left unsupervised to complete tasks that involve fire or flammable materials.
In business settings, individuals should be held to equally high commercial fire protection standards. This means careless acts such as overloading power sockets and covering power cords should be strictly prohibited. Leaving items such as microwaves, stoves, or electric kettles unattended should be forbidden. Also, parking lots and parking decks should be kept free of debris and piles of leaves. Workers should not be required to park on top of these materials.