Does Your Business Have a Fire Safety Plan?

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Does Your Business Have a Fire Safety Plan?

In the last year we’ve all seen stories on the news about the destruction which can be caused by fire. Fires can happen anywhere and anytime so its important to be aware of fire hazards and have a safety plan in place to mitigate risks, injuries and even fatalities.

Prevention is the best safety measure.  It pays to know about your business premises and your surroundings —  an electrical fire caused by old wiring, or by the upstairs tenant or human error can be devastating.  Knowing your building, your neighbors and the habits of your employees and patrons can be a great way of avoiding mishaps that cause fires.  You should also have a plan for emergency situations to protect your patrons, staff and property. Below are some easy things businesses can do to mitigate their risk.

Ensure You Have Working Fire or Smoke Detection Equipment

Not only is early detection key to putting out a fire, it is also mandatory in many places to have functioning equipment, whether its fire alarm, smoke alarm or a sprinkler system. You should frequently check that this equipment is in good working order. A good rule of thumb is to change batteries in smoke alarms bi-annually; many people use the spring-forward and fall-back time changes as guides.

Ensure You Have a Fire Evacuation Plan Complete With Designated Fire Marshal

A fire safety plan will help ensure that if disaster were to strike, the damage will be mitigated and that there will be no human loss.  A good fire safety plan will detail all possible exists from the premises. It will also identify a safe meeting place where you can get a proper headcount of staff and guests to your location. It will also identify a person, and a backup person to act as the company fire marshal who will be in charge of making sure everyone made it to the safe location off site and will inform the fire department if anyone is missing. It will also identify ways to slow and stop damage from occurring. Closing windows and doors on your way out of the building (if it is safe to do so) can slow the spread of smoke and fire.

Conduct Regular Fire Drills

Fire Drills should be conducted bi-annually to ensure all staff members are familiar with the fire evacuation plan. Ensure your staff take these drills seriously and ensure participation is mandatory.

Ensure You Have The Proper Coverage

In the event of a fire, having the appropriate insurance in place is critical.  Each business has unique risks and requirements and a broker can be an invaluable source of knowledge and advice to ensure you have the right coverage for your business.  Bullfrog Insurance covers businesses across Canada and we have experienced agents here to help you get the right coverage for your business- nothing more, nothing less. Just Insurance – Without the Bull.

An Important Update About Bullfrog Insurance
 

Please be aware that due to a change in our operations, Bullfrog Insurance has made the difficult decision to start winding down our business. This means we are no longer accepting new clients.
 

Are you an existing Bullfrog Insurance client? Rest assured that your coverage remains valid, and you’ll continue to be protected up until your policy expiry date. Watch your inbox for more details from our team.