Why investing in fire safety is good for business
Sound business financials involve a combination of making money and spending it. Business owners are always looking for opportunities to invest in their companies in ways that increase the bottom line. Unfortunately, some investments do not get the attention they deserve. Investing in fire safety is one example.
The risk of fire varies from one industry to another. In some industries, it is considerably high. Companies involved in those industries make the effort to invest in fire safety out of necessity. But what about companies in industries for which the risk isn’t so great? Fire safety is still important. Investing in it is still a wise idea.
Fire safety in the UK
Here in the UK, fire safety is a requirement of doing business. Most businesses are required by law to conduct regular fire risk assessments on their premises. Such assessments require identifying fire risks, identifying those employees most vulnerable to said risks, and coming up with a risk mitigation plan. Yet conducting a thorough assessment does not necessarily mean a company is investing in fire safety as much as it should be.
Of the nearly 154,000 fires reported in the 12 months ending March 2020, more than 125,000 occurred in buildings considered non-residential dwellings. The good news is that the total number of structure fires UK crews are responding to has gradually decreased over the last decade. Still, the number is higher than we would like it to be.
Investing in fire safety is one way that business owners can contribute to reducing the totals. Fewer fires mean fewer injuries and fatalities. It means fewer buildings being damaged or completely destroyed. And for business owners, it ultimately means a healthier bottom line.
A fire could destroy everything
Investing in fire safety makes a lot of sense when you consider that a single fire can destroy everything. A business owner can work hard for decades to build a company he is proud of. Yet in less than 60 minutes, everything he worked so hard for could be gone. A devastating fire that completely wipes out a business might end up costing the owner more than his insurance will pay. Then what?
The loss of the actual business is just the start. Consider all of those employees who no longer have jobs. Some of them have been with the company since its earliest days. Now they have nothing. Their families are left without a steady source of income until new jobs are found.
How to invest in fire safety
It is clear that fires have the potential of being absolutely devastating. Fortunately, businesses can invest in fire safety without breaking the bank. It all starts with the fire risk assessment mandated by government regulations. Assessments should be conducted as directed and without cutting any corners. Businesses can do so without it costing them a lot of money.
Another thing that businesses can do is invest in fire extinguishers. For example, carbon dioxide extinguishers for businesses are the right tool for combating fires involving computer equipment and electrical devices. A CO2 fire extinguisher displaces oxygen, thereby suffocating the fire.
Owners of a UK data centre would consider a CO2 fire suppression system an excellent investment. Such a system allows them to put out fires quickly without endangering sensitive computer equipment. But what about a smaller, local distributor of computer equipment? That company’s building may not be equipped with a built-in fire suppression system. Purchasing a few hand-held CO2 extinguishers would be a wise investment.
Here are some other things companies can do:
- Regular training – Providing regular fire safety training to employees keeps fire safety at the forefront of their minds. The more they think about safety, the more they will do to be safe.
- Posters and literature – Employees can be reminded of fire safety issues through the use of safety posters and distributed literature. Safety posters are absolutely paramount wherever the risk of fire is unusually high.
- Evacuation plans – In the event a fire does break out, employees and visitors need a safe means of evacuation. Business owners would be wise to create evacuation plans and educate employees about them regularly.
Preventing fires in the workplace does require an investment of time and money. From education to signage and fire suppression systems, the amount of investment businesses are willing to make in fire safety is well worth it. At the end of the day, such investments may very well save lives in addition to protecting the bottom line.
How about your company? Is the bare minimum good enough, or does your company invest in fire safety to a higher degree? Investing in fire safety is good for business. Just remember that one preventable fire can mean the end of everything your company has worked so hard to achieve. Do not take any chances by ignoring fire safety.
