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Everybody should have someone in their office that works on the health and safety side of things, but should you go further? Does your business have fire marshals? These individuals can make a massive contribution to fire safety in any business by protecting the premises, visitors, and of course, the employees. But if you are wondering if you need to hire a fire marshal, let’s show you some reasons why they could benefit your business.
The Proactive Approach to Fire Prevention
Fire marshals reduce the chances of a fire occurring purely by being on the lookout. In addition, they will have a crucial role in firefighting and safety equipment, such as making sure fire extinguishers and fire doors are installed and maintained. The fire marshal will conduct due diligence, and monitor housekeeping on a daily basis from the perspective of fire safety. They are involved in testing and checking the emergency lighting, and ensure every aspect of fire safety is in good condition. These are some of the basic duties, but they also participate in risk assessments and deliver the actions arising from them. A fire marshal’s priority is to ensure evacuation plans work. As a result, fire marshals are involved in fire drills. Their expertise could make a massive difference in the process of an evacuation.
Conducting Safe Emergency Evacuation
Fire marshals are not just able to help with emergencies they need to have the training to handle a sudden emergency situation in a calm manner. They should instruct people on the best course of action in a fire situation, and provide assistance to anybody who needs it. The fire marshal may also be the person in charge of contacting the emergency services. And if the coast is clear, they will do a sweep of the area to make sure everybody is safe and conduct the best approaches to reduce risks from fire spreading, such as closing doors and windows. They may also be able to use a fire extinguisher to tackle a small blaze. After an evacuation, it is their responsibility to take the roll call and inform the authorities if there are people unaccounted for.
Do You Need Fire Marshals?
As you can see, a fire marshal can help you in your business, and you are legally obliged to nominate people within the organisation to assist with fire duties. If you do so, it’s important to realise they need proper training.
How Can You Support Fire Marshals in Your Business?
There are so many components to ensure that your fire marshals keep your business secure, which will improve workplace safety. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to ensure they have the skills but are also trained appropriately, which you can do by giving them regular refresher courses. A business needs to run effectively, but it also needs to run safely. A fire marshal might be an addition to a business that may seem like overkill on occasion, but they are your best line of defence.
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