Crucial Guidelines for fire exit safety compliance tips for businesses
Blocked fire exits are a serious safety risk as they can prevent individuals from escaping quickly and safely during fires, leading to loss of lives. Consequently, business owners need to ensure that their emergency exits are not obstructed and adhere to fire exit safety compliance tips for businesses. Below are some measures that can be taken to protect employees’ and visitors’ safety.
Keep Fire Exits Clear
The simplest thing you can do is keep fire exits uncluttered. This implies that nothing should be stored near the door or block the way to it with furniture or equipment. If a pathway is blocked, it has to be immediately cleared off. Additionally, it should not be hard for people exiting to use any door on their path to the final exit of the building. No doors should be blocked or require a key or code to open.
Label Fire Exits
All fire exits must have clear labels and signs for easy identification. Ensure that such signs are not shielded from view by anything and can be seen from any direction around them. When signs indicating where these doors are situated cannot be seen, people may fail to know which way leads outside while panicking during an emergency.
Train Employees
It is important to educate staff on why it is vital to ensure that fire exits remain unobstructed at all times. They should know that obstructing these doors poses a danger to themselves and anyone else who might need them in case of an emergency situation like a fire outbreak within the premises. Workers should also know how best to identify potential hazards that could block off such points and report them promptly.
Carryout Frequent Checks
Inspections must be done regularly to maintain access to fire escape routes. Such checks have to confirm that fire doors are transparent and open, without anything blocking ways or doorsteps. Doors should not be broken; they must work well and be opened easily. Also, exit signs with emergency lighting should be seen working properly without anything obstructing them along the way. There must be no obstacles on pathways leading up to the fire exits; hence, routine examination of corridors and staircases is needed.
Evaluate The Building Plan
Depending on where they are located, fire escapes may become inaccessible. All those present should know where alternative exits are, either through training, drills or prominent signage. An evacuation plan may also be appropriate in some instances, showing all available exits nearby. This should also be reviewed regularly.
In conclusion
Business owners can do many things to prevent their emergency exits from getting blocked. Among them are clearing off everything that may obstruct them, labelling all such points clearly, educating employees about them, carrying out regular inspections, and reviewing building layouts so as to make necessary changes where the need arises. Doing so will help save lives during fire outbreaks within business premises.
Contact us for a comprehensive guide and professional assistance to book your fire risk assessment and ensure your business is prepared for any emergency.
Liam is our founder and Managing Director, bringing nearly a decade of experience in fire safety regulation and compliance across both the public and private sectors.
He holds a Level 4 Diploma in Fire Safety, earned during his time as an Inspecting Officer with his local Fire & Rescue Service. With a strong background in fire strategy development and fire risk assessment, Liam is dedicated to delivering expert guidance that improves building safety.
