With so many products, machinery, and workers, modern warehouses have their fair share of fire hazards. Like all business owners, warehouse managers and other leaders must ensure their buildings follow all relevant fire codes.
However, going above and beyond OSHA and NFPA standards will help you further minimize the risk of fires and keep your workers and materials safe. Review your regular safety habits or initiate new useful measures with these fire safety tips to follow in your warehouse.
Regularly Check and Update Evacuation Plans
You already know the importance of creating a clear fire evacuation plan, but how well is that plan integrated into your work culture? It’s important to post clear evacuation routes in visible locations throughout the warehouse. Additionally, make sure every employee has a copy of the full evacuation plan as well as any other fire safety protocols they should know. The evacuation plan should also be part of any training or onboarding process. These practices will ensure that employees always know what to do in case of an emergency.
Invest in Fire Safety Training
Fire safety training shouldn’t be a one-time thing. It’s not enough to simply give employees a safety manual during onboarding or post guidelines throughout the warehouse without explanation. Annual fire training is a worthwhile investment for your business. Ongoing training about evacuation routes, fire extinguisher operation, and what to do in an emergency give your employees the knowledge they need to stay safe and minimize damage if a fire occurs.
Regular training opportunities also help make fire safety a significant part of your work culture. Work with your local fire department or other fire protection companies to provide relevant and useful training for your entire staff on a regular basis.
Optimize Your Sprinkler System
Large warehouses that contain a lot of equipment and inventory need more than just a standard sprinkler system to properly protect the building and everything in it. In-rack sprinklers offer a more direct way to control the spread of flames in the event of a fire. However, this also puts your sprinkler heads much closer to your workspace, increasing the risk of damage.
Proper sprinkler maintenance is one of the most useful fire safety tips to follow in your warehouse. This includes keeping at least 18 inches of empty space around the sprinkler heads so that you don’t block water flow. Additionally, installing heavy-duty K3 in-rack sprinkler guards will help prevent damage to your sprinkler heads. Sprinkler head guards keep products and machinery from bumping into your sprinkler heads, thus preventing malfunctions that can lead to unnecessary water damage, unreliable fire systems, or other issues.
DAK Solutions has the equipment you need to keep your warehouse running safely and smoothly. Contact us today to learn how we can help optimize your business’s safety, productivity, and more.
