Warehouse (Storage) Fire Prevention.

10/17/2017 (Permalink)

This is a warehouse getting caught on fire. A costly and devastator event for any business.

If you own a business you know that your inventory is a very important asset for your company. The last thing that you want is to lose it and potentially close your business operations because it caught on fire.

A fire in a warehouse could be a costly and overwhelming event for any type of business, by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) "Fires in U.S. warehouses caused an annual average of $155 million in direct property damage, three civilian deaths, and 19 civilian injuries." These are statistics that business owners expect to never been part of. Therefore it should be part of a business priorities to make a fire prevention plan. Here we present some actions to consider in order to keep your warehouse fire safe:

1- IDENTIFY FIRE SAFETY RISKS: Make sure to understand the fire safety regulations that are relevant to your business location. After that identify any fire hazards, who is at risk because of them, make the necessary changes to reduce the risks found, provide training on how to identify and avoid  fire risks, keep a log of your findings, and finally update your log regularly to stay on top of your game of fire prevention. 

2- EVACUATION PLAN: While trying to prevent a fire in your warehouse you must think about the inventory and most importantly about the people working in it. It is essential that all the employees that could be affected know what to do in case of a fire emergency. Each business should have an evacuation plan in place and make sure that all the employees understand it and know what to do in case of a fire. 

3- FIRE PROTECTION TOOLS: Businesses should have the proper fire protection tools (fire extinguisher, sprinklers, smoke detectors, etc.) according with each warehouse needs. Business owners need to provide the proper training for the use of such tools and should set regular inspections to make sure they work correctly and comply with OSHA regulations.

4- ORGANIZE STORAGE AREAS: As part of a prevention plan it is important that businesses keep storage areas organized and exits clear in case of an emergency evacuation. Also, all flammable and hazardous material should be store accordingly with OSHA safety regulations.

5-INSPECTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS: Businesses need to ensure that all electrical systems are maintained according to the law and they should inspect all cords used in the warehouse regularly.

6-SECURITY: The risk of arson could be diminished by having a proper internal and external security system with cameras and alarms that help protect the warehouse.

7- SMOKING RULES: Another way to help prevent a fire in a warehouse is to prohibit smoking near the premises, or at least 20 feet away the building and any flammable materials.

8- PORTABLE SPACE HEATERS: It is understandable to think about the cost of a fixed heating system for a warehouse, but at the same time business owners recognize that portable space heaters are a high risk element for a fire. Therefore, even though it may be a higher cost, the first option is the one that could save a business a costly recovery expense.

9- WASTE MATERIAL DISPOSAL: all waste material should be removed from the warehouse building to avoid the risk of fire. The accumulation of waste will increase the chances of a fire loss.

10- INSPECTION CULTURE: Companies that have warehouses should implement an inspection culture. A designated employee or employees should make sure that at the end of each working day all items are properly stored, the electrical systems are checked, security systems are working, etc. This will enhance the fire prevention plan.

We hope that these preventive actions are of help for many business owners and that more businesses work actively to avoid risks that could compromise their operations.