Work safety should be a key priority on any manufacturing or production floor. There is all manner of risks that you, as a manager or employer, should be ready to tackle. However, for as much as things such as slipping hazards and mechanical risk get attention, sometimes other types of safety, like fire safety, can be minimized. Fire risks are very prevalent on the average production floor, so here are a few tips to make sure that you’re giving them the seriousness and attention they demand.
Testing and maintenance of equipment are essential
Of course, a great degree of the risk that is unique to the manufacturing environment is the machinery and electrical equipment that is used much more frequently than in other settings. The routine maintenance of your equipment, from forklifts to stationary machines, is vital to ensure that faults are spotted and fixed as soon as possible. PAT testing is also crucial for any portable electrical equipment, so that you can spot and remove faulty equipment. Electrical hazards are also fire hazards, so they’re doubly worth staying on top of.
Equipping the workplace
There are all manners of equipment that you should ensure you have in accessible and appropriate places to help you mitigate any fire that might start. Fire extinguishers are crucial, and you should ensure that you have the right class of fire extinguishers ready to face the specific hazards and types of the fire faced in a manufacturing or warehouse environment. Aside from that, you need to take the time to install fire alarms, fire doors, and fire signage. Consider whether or not a sprinkler system would also be a good investment as, in some cases with machinery, it’s not always the most effective solution.
Get ready for the firefighters
Aside from the fire safety precautions and equipment that you can keep on your own property, you want to make sure that you’re able to offer some assistance to the firefighters when they arrive on the scene as well. It is especially important for commercial buildings, especially if they are nowhere near any hydrants, to make installations like Cease Fire Dry Risers. Then, the firefighters can connect their equipment to their risers to get access to the water necessary to help combat fires that are beyond your control, alone.
Get a more specific idea of your risks
The tips above can make sure that you have taken care of the basics of fire safety that every manufacturing plant should have. However, your workspace is also going to have its own particular risks and circumstances that need to be taken into account. With that in mind, teams like Warringtonfire can help you carry out the fire safety audit that you need. You can get a much better idea of the specific and individual risk elements in your property and follow their recommendations to ensure they are addressed to reduce and mitigate the risk as best as possible.
Fire safety is crucial in a manufacturing setting. Hopefully, the tips above help you give it the priority that it deserves.
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