Are you Emergency Ready?

1/7/2021 (Permalink)

Business and commercial building owners should always anticipate the worst. In the event of a fire or disaster at a structure , occupants must be prepared to evacuate. Safely executing this procedure requires prior development of a fire escape plan and arranging for the occupants of a structure to practice evacuation on a regular basis.

Make an Emergency Escape Plan

Having an evacuation plan in place is imperative. A practical plan should include all of the following aspects:

• Potential fire causes and prevention measures
• Emergency roles and responsibilities
• Contact lists and roll call duties
• Primary and secondary escape routes
  

Building or business owners bear the primary responsibility for developing this plan. If an escape plan is not already in place at a structure, it may be helpful to consult with building occupants fire damage specialists.

Perform Periodic Fire Drills
Schedule commercial fire drills at least twice a year. If your business or an operation that leases your building uses combustible chemicals and equipment with an elevated fire risk, more frequent drills are recommended. Owners of commercial buildings with high fire risk should rehearse the fire escape plan at least every three months.

Post Maps and Directional Indicators
Building occupants can often benefit from additional guidance in the event of a disaster. Some occupants may be guests or employees who did not have the opportunity to participate in previous fire drills. Maps that indicate primary and secondary escape routes, including accessible means of egress, are helpful, as are arrows and other directional indicators to direct evacuees toward stairwells.
Developing a fire escape plan is a preliminary step toward promoting the safety of the occupants of a commercial structure in Malibu CA. Scheduling fire drills throughout the year and ensuring that helpful directional information is posted throughout larger structures can save lives in the event of a disaster.