If there is anything familiar in industries, such as paper mills, power plants, steel mills, and not to forget the aluminum manufacturing facilitates, it is the terrible accidents that are or could be just a mere second away. Any minute, there could be fire, explosion, or chemical leak considering the nature of the work in these industries.
Since the labor is always at an isolated point or at a location that is at quite a distance, it becomes imperative and essential to devise an efficient plan to ensure a safe, and of course, a quick emergency evacuation.
Why do you need one?
An evacuation plan should always be in place and on alert so that the staff personnel’s safety isn’t compromised. Each location where work is being carried out should have an evacuation strategy to be able to prevent any casualties. In addition, it is equally important to have it reviewed with the staff to eliminate any potential loopholes and discuss should it require any alterations. It makes it clear that each floor personnel, in addition to the office staff, should and must be aware of the evacuation strategy plan.
Also, it is essential to note that there is a massive difference between an emergency exit plan and a mass scramble. What you need to focus on is a stellar emergency exit plan because to see mass scramble as an exit plan is a loophole in itself. Above all, it is also highly unrealistic, especially when the labor is working on a higher floor or for instance, at the rooftop, and the rest of the building is on fire. You need to craft something useful so that the fire extinguisher services do their job while at the same time, the staff gets to have their way out.
To make sure that your perfect evacuation plan doesn’t end up as a faulty one, we bring you seven tips to ensure safety during an emergency evacuation. If not taken into account, we are afraid that nothing could stop your evacuation plan from becoming a massive disaster rather than a quick escape from the misery.
Let’s get started.
1) Whenever the workers occupy a building, make it a point to make sure that the doors of the emergency exits always remain unlocked from the inside. There have been cases reported when the doors were locked, and the workers couldn’t get out. So, make sure to run a check every now and then or set someone’s duty on it.
2) In such working conditions, it is always best to prioritize inspection. Inspection is a crucial element to fight back any calamity. Hence, it is wise to run a periodic check on doors and knobs. Similarly, any equipment which has gone obsolete or is malfunctioning should be removed or replaced on an immediate basis.
3) Make sure to remove any material or equipment from the front of an exit door as it can be an obstacle when and if someone tries to get out. Nothing should be kept in between the pathways set for emergency exits. Doing so would eventually end up causing a blockade at the exit door. As a result, it can prevent the evacuation from successfully taking place.
4) In light of what we mentioned in the earlier point, it is pertinent to add that do not put up any sign, curtain, or any other decoration piece over exit doors. It is because doing so can make it quite challenging to locate the exit doors at a time of emergency when everything, including the mind, is in chaos.
5) Make sure that there are no flammable liquids or other highly combustible items in the way of emergency pathways such as stairways or ramps. It is because these areas will have to come in use to reach the exit door, and any obstruction would make it difficult to access. Hence, be sure to have a proper storage system in place to put these containers safely.
6) Set up signs stating the purpose if you believe someone might end up mistaking every door for an emergency exit. Also, report at your earliest if you see any emergency signs unlit or any broken lighting fixtures indicating an exit.
7) Last but not least, bring it in your supervisor’s notice if an exit route or evacuation plan, in general, is unclear in your department. If you want the program to work, it is crucial to report whatever piece is missing to bring out the puzzle together. So, make sure you do your part by bringing it to the knowledge of the concerned authorities.
Conclusion
A fire evacuation plan is an essential part of ensuring the safety of the lives of the occupants of a building and workers in an office or an industrial site. As a decision-maker, it is your responsibility to pay heed to the safety of the people around you. This is why a fire evacuation strategy should always be part of any office management’s agendas and strategies.
