Fire Safety Tips for Home and Office – Save Yourself from Legal Hassles

Fire hazards can be catastrophic. They can cause considerable damage to property and lead to deaths as well. According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1,345,500 fire incidents were reported in the United States in 2015. These fires resulted in the death of 3,280 civilians and caused 15,700 civilian injuries as well as resulted in property damage worth $14.3 billion. It, therefore, makes sense for home and business owners to take adequate measures to ensure fire safety within their premises.

House and office fires can result in severe burn injuries. Smoke inhalation can also cause serious injuries or even lead to death in case of home and industrial fires. In fact, experts are of the opinion that 50 percent to 80 percent of fire deaths happen due to smoke inhalation.

If someone gets injured or loses life in a fire incident that occurred due to someone else’s negligence, the victim (or his/her family in case of the death of the victim) has the legal right to sue the negligent person or organization and receive compensation. It is advisable to consult an experienced personal injury attorney in this regard as certain aspects of these laws vary from state to state. Of course, it is best to follow certain fire safety rules and avoid the prospects of getting involved in such legal hazards altogether.

This post offers a few fire safety tips for both, home and business owners that will help them prevent fire hazards and ensure safety for their families and employees.

Residential Fire Safety Tips

A few home fire safety tips that will help homeowners keep their families and guests safe from fire hazards are as follows:

• Install fire alarms at every level of the home. Check them every month to ensure they are in good working condition and can detect smoke as soon as it starts. Change the batteries every 6 months to ensure optimal performance. If you have people who have trouble with hearing in your home, install fire alarms that combine flashing lights, vibration and sound.
• Have an escape plan ready and practice it at least once in a month to make sure the escape paths are clear. Tell everyone, especially the children about the STOP, DROP and ROLL technique in case their clothes catch fire.
• Teach your children about fire safety. Familiarize them with smoke alarms and what to do when they start ringing.
• Check your home’s electrical lines once or twice in a year to make sure no fire starts due to a short circuit. If you detect a burning smell coming from any electrical outlet or notice the lights flickering, call an electrician immediately and get the outlets inspected. If required, replace the electrical lines and wires.
• Check electrical appliances regularly. Sparks from electrical appliances often lead to house fires.
• Install fire extinguishers on every level of your house so that small fires can be put off immediately without delay.
• Avoid smoking inside the house.
• Make sure no burning candle is left unattended. Candles must never be placed close to curtains or soft furnishings, since they can catch fire quickly.
• Store gasoline carefully.
• Inform the fire personnel as soon as you get out of your home in case of a fire.

Fire hazards are often preventable. You just need to know how to prevent them. With the above tips, you can make sure you, your family members and everyone who visits your house are safe and secure.

Office and Industrial Fire Safety Tips

According to the NFPA, 113,500 non-residential fires, which resulted in property damage worth $3.1 billion, were reported in the U.S. in 2015. Moreover, organizations can face severe legal consequences due to negligence that causes fire damage (injury, death or property damage).

Mentioned ahead are some office and industrial fire safety tips that will help business owners keep employees safe and protect their property:

• Install industrial fire detection systems in every unit within the premises. Test the systems regularly.
• Keep an eye on the electrical systems installed in your office/factory. They are often overlooked which results in fire hazards. Get the equipment inspected twice a year to make sure they work properly. Also, make sure the employees use them correctly.
• Make sure electrical outlets are not overloaded. Overloading creates excessive heat that can lead to a fire. Follow the industrial electrical guidelines strictly.
• Do not allow trash or litter to accumulate unnecessarily. These substances catch fire easily and can cause severe damages.
• Every state requires the offices and industrial premises to have an escape route which employees can use to exit the office and reach a safe place in case of fire. Check the escape route often. Make sure it is clear and easily accessible. Perform a fire safety drill every six months so that the employees know what to do in case of a fire.
• Every office must employ a fire warden who should be dedicated to ensuring fire safety within the premises. Fire wardens should be able to design evacuation plans, carry out risk assessment, ensure the presence of fire-fighting equipment, and train the employees.
• In case a fire does break out in the office, the fire warden or any other person must inform the local fire department immediately.

Conclusion

Prevention and preparation are the secrets to averting fire hazards in your home or office. A fire can break out due to a number of reasons, especially in the office or industrial premises. So assess the fire risks and make a fire prevention plan accordingly.

Remember, if anyone gets injured in a fire caused due to your negligence, you may be liable to pay a huge sum as compensation. So you lose both ways. Your property gets damaged and you have to pay compensation as well. Focusing on fire safety is a must. Make your home and office safe from fire hazards and save yourself from getting involved in unnecessary legal hassles.

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