Fire safety is important for every workplace, irrespective of the industrial sector it belongs to.Fire emergencies can take place at any time and any place within a commercial building. Hence you need to make sure that your workplace is compliant with the fire safety standards set by the local authority or the guidelines put forth by a renowned fire safety management company.

What causes fire emergencies in workplaces?

Workplace fires often break out when flammable items are stored improperly. It can also be the result of excessive build-up of combustible dust in confined spaces.

For instance, workplaces that are associated with the fabrication and storage of paints and solvents need to make sure that they are storing their products properly. Furthermore, places of business that are associated with the storage of coal, food products and metals also generate combustible dust that needs to be dealt with using proper ventilation mechanisms to counter fire emergencies.

What to do in case of a fire emergency in a workplace?

The answer is simple – one must make the best use of fire safety maps. These maps come with highlighted areas that dictate the nearest exit route within a workplace in case of a fire emergency. It can also come with brief points of a predefined evacuation plan chalked up by fire management and workplace safety audit service providers associated with the workplace.

How to use a fire safety map?

Using a fire safety map in times of a crisis could sound demanding but in the end, as per research, it is the only way a business owner can make sure that their workforce gets out of the burning building in no time and without sustaining any harm.

On that note, here are a few simple steps one can follow to make the best use of fire safety or evacuation maps – 

• The person heading the evacuation should look at the map and look for the shortest route possible to the nearest exit.
• Then the person should use both hand signs as well as verbal communication to instruct the people the way they should all take in a bid to steer clear of the fire emergency in no time.
• Most of the time, these maps will come with a detailed layout of the workplace as well as the locations of stairwells, general exits as well as fire exits. Hence, it would be wise for the person heading the evacuation to follow the instructions on the map and refrain from deviating from it.
• After instructing the workforce about the route they would need to take, the person heading the evacuation should look for wayfinding signs as well as glow-in-the-dark signage in a bid to reduce confusion as well as cut down the time needed to head out of the building thus ensuring people are not exposed to smoke and heat from the raging flames.

These maps are a necessity these days at workplaces. For the best results, you must consult with a fire and workplace safety service provider in a bid to come up with an evacuation plan and fire safety map that is on par with the unique needs of your place of business.