Does Your Business Need A Fire Damage Escape Plan?

8/10/2020 (Permalink)

It's important to plan ahead to better prepare for an emergency situation. SERVPRO can help you with our Emergency Ready Plan.

Tallahassee Companies Must Help Their Employees Escape In Case Of Fire Damage.

Business owners in Tallahassee know it is essential to look after their employees and ensure a safe and comfortable working environment. Part of taking care of your staff is making a plan for potential disasters and ensuring everyone knows what to do if a problem arises.

Tallahassee entrepreneurs need a fire damage escape plan that protects their employees in the event of a blaze. It is better to draw up your strategy sooner rather than later.

What is a fire escape plan?

A fire escape plan sets out all the actions staff should take if a fire breaks out. Do not take the plan lightly – SERVPRO of North Leon County recommends dedicating plenty of time to meeting with staff to hash out the details. It is best to have a committee draw up the document, rather than just one person.

Once the plan is complete, all staff members should familiarize themselves with it. You should also keep copies in easily accessible places within your business.

What should I include in the plan?

Every fire damage escape plan should include:

A communication plan – communication during and after a fire is not easy, so draw up a plan that clarifies who is responsible for calling emergency services and contacting staff members and insurers

Escape routes – make sure staff in all areas of the building know their primary and secondary escape routes, and make sure you post appropriate signage and maps throughout the building

Assembly points – once people are out, ensure they know where to go

A list of staff roles for dealing with fires 

Which roles should I assign?

Assigning staff roles is vital. If a fire happens to break out, it is likely to be chaos in your business. People will be panicking, the emergency services will arrive, people will lose access to their regular equipment and communication channels. Establish in advance who is responsible for what, to lessen confusion. Assigning roles means staff can respond faster.

Staff roles should include:

Fire wardens are responsible for planning the fire response and for taking charge in the event of a fire

Assistant fire wardens are usually accountable for sounding the alarm and calling the emergency services

Floor monitors make sure everyone has left and therefore are the last to leave – in a larger company you will need several floor monitors, each with an assigned area

Route guides supervise evacuation, make sure everyone knows where to go, and does their best to keep people calm

Fire extinguishers fight the blaze with the provided equipment but only if it is entirely safe to do so, and they must be trained in how to use the equipment

How can SERVPRO help if a fire breaks out?

Even with excellent planning, a fire might break out in your business premises. In the event of fire damage, SERVPRO is on hand to help with fire restoration, building repairs, and clean up after the firefighters have left.

SERVPRO understands that getting back to business is your top priority. Our teams arrive fully equipped to clean and restore your business premises. We start by removing excess water from fire hoses and sprinklers to help dry your building and prevent spore growth. Once the water is gone, we turn our hand to cleaning and scrubbing any soot-damaged surfaces, including floors and ceilings, HVAC ducts, drapes and blinds, and office furniture such as chairs and desks. We use a range of scrubbing, vacuuming, and cleaning preparations to achieve our aim.

We also take care of deodorizing your premises afterward, so it is pleasant to work in once more.

How can SERVPRO help me prepare?

Our Emergency Ready Plan (ERP) is ideal for helping you prepare for a fire. It is free to get started – download the app, and create an online account. Once you have created your account, the app guides you to carry out a thorough walk-through of your office or warehouse. When prompted, you will take photos and note down all the information the app asks for, such as water main location, exit routes, and premises layout.

You can use the information you gather to draw up a thorough fire damage plan, which includes information on staff responsibilities, the chain of command, and evacuation points.

You can also use your ERP to establish us as your first point of contact for cleanup.

Having your ERP to hand helps you respond quicker in the event of a disaster, and makes it easier to get in touch with us.

If you are concerned about the effects of fire damage, give SERVPRO of North Leon County a call at (850) 536-6599.