Emergency FIRE Response Plans for Businesses

1/12/2022 (Permalink)

Pull. Aim. Squeeze. Sweep.

Your business may already have an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) in place, but are you certain that it covers everything you and your staff need to know? Formulating a complete and thorough evacuation plan may not be easy, but doing so can help protect you and your employees. At SERVPRO of Western Lancaster County, we offer ERP consultations to ensure that your business is ready; each Emergency Response Plan is unique as it is customized to your business's specific needs. In the meantime, here are some things you may want to make sure are included in your plan:

1. Fire Extinguisher Locations
It is important to ensure that every employee knows exactly where each fire extinguisher is located. This important step can save precious time during a fire, and has the potential to mitigate the situation before it causes further damage. Fire extinguishers should be easy to locate and easily accessible during an emergency. Additionally, employees should be trained on fire extinguisher use, using the P.A.S.S. technique. Fire extinguishers should be assessed annually by a trained professional to ensure that it is properly charged and ready to use. NOTE: Fire extinguishers should only be used if you see the fire start. If you are unsure in your ability to stop the spread of a fire, evacuate immediately and call 911.

2. Exit Locations
Another important part of an Emergency Response Plan is knowing where the nearest exits are from any point in the building. Knowing these locations will allow you and your staff to safely exit the building in a timely manner if a fire occurs. NOTE: There should be at least two exit points from every workspace, in the event that one path is blocked.

3. Designated Meeting Place
Another important step in creating your Emergency Response Plan is setting and communicating a "Designated Meeting Place". The Designated Meeting Place should be outside and a safe distance from the building. All employees should be trained on the location of the Designated Meeting Place, and should gather at that location so they can be quickly accounted for. NOTE: It is recommended that businesses conduct both routine and random fire drills to prepare staff for an actual fire. These drills can be used as training opportunities.

4. Emergency Contacts
In the event of a fire, call 911! Though 911 is the first number to remember, it is important to have employee Emergency Contact Information saved and accessible. You may want to include a note in your plan about where this information is stored to ensure it’s accessible when needed.

5. Post-Fire Information
In addition to Emergency Contact Information for employees, you may also want to include the location of insurance and mitigation and restoration professionals phone numbers in your plan. Doing this will ensure that you have the necessary resources available after a fire occurs. NOTE: Having the number of a trusted fire restoration service like SERVPRO of Western Lancaster County may make fire cleanup easier and less stressful.

6. Contact Us
To create or fine-tune your Emergency Response Plan, contact SERVPRO of Western Lancaster County at 717-665-1270! We are the professionals that are faster to any size disaster. We are here to help, and want to ensure that you are prepared in the event of an unfortunate disaster. Setting up an ERP with SERVPRO of Western Lancaster County allows you to be one step ahead when it comes to you and your employees safety!