Warehouse fires are extremely common, but they can be prevented. When a fire occurs in a warehouse, it can be very costly, both in terms of the damage done to the warehouse and the products that are lost.
Moreover, it can seriously injure and endanger the lives of your workers if it happened on a workday.
To help prevent these fires from happening, it is important to keep your warehouse organized and safe. Here are some tips to help you do just that:
Get an Electrical Inspection
This is one of the most important things you can do to prevent warehouse fires. Have a licensed electrician come in and inspect your wiring and electrical equipment. They will be able to tell you if any of your equipment is outdated or faulty and needs to be replaced.
A commercial energy performance certificate (EPC) not only gives an idea about how electricity is utilized in a certain property but can also identify possible fire risks. Electricity is one of the most common causes of fire, so it is important to make sure all of your equipment is up-to-date and in good working order. EnergyPerformanceCerificates.co.uk can send an expert to your warehouse and perform an inspection to ensure that the property is safe from potential fire hazards.
Create a Safe Storage Area
One of the most common causes of warehouse fires is products that are stored improperly. Make sure you have a designated area for storing flammable materials and keep them away from heat sources like ovens and furnaces.
Materials that are sensitive to heat should also be placed somewhere away from sunshine. The sun’s heat can cause these materials to ignite, leading to a fire. Moreover, the room temperature should be monitored, especially during summer, to prevent fires from starting.
In addition, be sure to keep your storage areas clean and organized. This will help you find items quickly if there is a fire, and it will also help prevent fires from starting in the first place.
Install Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are an essential part of any safety plan. Make sure you have smoke detectors on every level of your warehouse and test them regularly to make sure they are in working order. Batteries should also be replaced regularly to ensure they will work in the event of a fire.
If a fire does occur, having smoke detectors will help firefighters locate and extinguish the fire quickly.
Inspect Your Equipment Regularly
Another common cause of warehouse fires is faulty equipment. Make sure you inspect all of your equipment regularly and replace any parts that are broken or worn out. This includes things like heaters, generators, and air conditioning units.
Overuse can cause equipment to be worn down and ignite a fire. An old machine might also start to show signs of wear and tear that can easily lead to a fire. Other factors such as high ambient temperature and misuse can also cause fires. Make sure your employees are aware of these dangers and take the necessary precautions to avoid them.
Regular inspections will help you catch any potential problems before they turn into a full-blown fire.
Create a Fire Plan
It is important to have a plan in place in case of a warehouse fire. This plan should include evacuation procedures and an emergency contact list.
Make sure all of your workers are familiar with the plan and practice it regularly. This will help ensure that everyone knows what to do in case of a fire.
Workers should be trained to properly handle flammable materials and taught how to put out a fire using a fire extinguisher.
If a fire does occur, act quickly and follow the plan to ensure everyone’s safety.
No Smoking Inside
This one should go without saying, but make sure your employees know that smoking is not allowed inside the warehouse.
Even if you have a designated smoking area outside, it is important to remind workers not to smoke inside. This can help prevent accidental fires from starting.
Be sure to communicate the dangers of smoking cigarettes inside of the warehouse. There should also be managers who are responsible for safety and who can enforce these rules.
A warehouse fire is bad for business. From it, you can lose a lot of expensive machinery and merchandise. Moreover, it can lead to serious injuries and even death. So, business owners should always be wary of fires and mitigate any risks. These are some ways to ensure that the warehouse would not be susceptible to fire.
