Preventing injuries and destruction that result from workplace fires must be a priority for you, your employer, and your colleagues. Having a fire prevention policy in place, along with choosing the right equipment to prevent and fight fires are crucial elements to ensuring everyone’s safety.

A clear, comprehensive, and well-communicated fire prevention policy is the basis of your workplace fire prevention program. It gives purpose and direction to fire prevention plans, procedures, and training. An effective fire prevention policy must cover:

• Alarm systems
• Fire suppression systems, such as automatic sprinkler systems
• Fire extinguishers – including choosing the right one and training workers on how to use them
• Common fire hazards
• Fire reporting procedures
• Evacuation procedures – everyone should know at least 2 exit routes from their work area
• Safety precautions for preventing workplace fires
• Fire-fighting rules – when to fight, when to take flight
• Fire safety training – what, when, who, and how often
• Emergency response teams – fire brigades, emergency shutdown procedures, medical emergency first responders, etc.

Fire drills are also an important element of your fire prevention policy. Drills should be conducted every 6 to 12 months, depending on the needs of your facility. An employee briefing should be conducted after the drill to evaluate the effectiveness of the drill.