Every 23 seconds, a fire department in the United States responds to a fire. In 2021 alone, U.S. firefighters responded to an estimated 1,353,500 fires. It is true the number of fires and fire deaths have decreased in prevalence since the 1970’s, but that should not encourage complacency. Fire Prevention Week (FPW) takes place October 8-14 — a reminder for employers to reevaluate their prevention plans and understand the risks.

Every year in the United States, there are 16,500 office and store fires that cause nearly $1 billion in direct property damage, according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA). In addition to potential loss of life and property damage, people can lose their jobs, and the community may lose vital services provided by impacted businesses.

Fire prevention

The most successful recipe for fire safety — in the workplace and beyond — is implementing fire safety technologies and practices using the latest codes and standards. According to a 2021 National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) report on fire safety in the U.S., the biggest single factor contributing to decreasing fires and fire deaths has been the use of smoke alarms — as mandated by fire and building codes — in addition to continued public education about their significance. A holistic approach to fire safety is necessary to ensure that new products and technologies do not cause unintended fire risks.

As an employer, you have an opportunity and a responsibility to keep employees safe. Guidance from the NFPA helps dictate how.

General maintenance

Smoke alarms need replaced 10 years from the date of manufacture, which can be found on the back of the alarm. Ensuring fire sprinklers are properly installed and functional is of equal importance. Conduct regular checks regarding workspaces and equipment being kept clean, dry and well ventilated. Check the condition of fire ladders and escapes.

To address the risk of aging electrical systems and subsequent electricity exposure, check for damaged or overloaded electrical outlets, cords and cables. Additionally, keep anything that is flammable away from electrical equipment. Educate employees about the dangers of leaving portable heating devices unattended. Ensure windows can be opened and screens can be removed, and remove any obstacles from each exit.

Code compliance

A workplace is only as safe as its adherence to code, making it critical to support effective code enforcement. This includes applying all standards that are referenced within the primary fire, life safety, building and electrical codes and standards.

Compliance is not only necessary to keep in mind during the construction phase — it is integral throughout the lifecycle of a building, from planning all the way to demolition. Enacting and enforcing codes and standards, and ensuring on-going inspection, testing and maintenance of facilities and safety systems, is necessary to reduce deaths, injuries and losses resulting from building fires. To do so, sufficient resources must be allocated to ensure construction and maintenance meet code requirements.

Codes and standards are updated (typically on a three-to-five-year basis) to reflect our changing world. It is important to adopt the latest codes and standards developed by experts to ensure protection against potential new risks arising in the workplace.

Invest in safety, emergency preparedness

To prevent fire occurrences requires employers to invest in employee safety from the start. Life safety measures should never be disregarded for the sake of cost-cutting. Instead, focus on the potential of lives saved due to fire prevention efforts and protecting the organization’s most valuable asset: workers.

To ensure the highest level of safety, create and document an emergency plan in the event a fire does start and communicate it regularly to employees. The plan should detail preparedness capabilities and responses for all parts of the emergency — before, during and after. Employees must be informed. Actively carry out routine practice runs of the plan.

Additionally, implement fire safety measures throughout the building, including the posting of clear fire escape plans on every level of the building. Include fire prevention in employee training, and educate employees about exit locations, escape routes and fire protection equipment. Where possible, reward employees who recommit to fire prevention, protection and education. Invest in sprinklers, smoke alarms and other critical tools that will diminish losses from fire-related hazards.

Take lithium-ion battery safety seriously

Lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous in our businesses. These batteries supply power to everything from smart phones and laptops to e-scooters, e-bikes, smoke alarms and cars. Due to these batteries storing a large amount of energy in a small amount of space, they present fire risks if a person does not follow product instructions while using, storing or disposing of them. And, like any product, a small number of these batteries may be defective. Minor manufactural imperfections can cause significant problems. In particular, the batteries can overheat, catch fire or explode.

Be aware of and encourage employees to practice lithium-ion battery safety:

Usage:

• Only purchase and use devices that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
• Stop using lithium-ion batteries if you notice an odor, change in color, too much heat, change in shape, leaking or odd noises. If it is safe to do so, move the device away from anything that can catch fire, and call 9-1-1.
• Do not put lithium-ion batteries in direct sunlight or keep them in hot cars.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Only use the battery that is designed for the device.
• Install batteries in the device properly.
• Only use the charging cord that came with the device.
• Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.
• Avoid crushing, bending or dropping a device or its charger.

Disposal:

• Do not dispose of lithium-ion batteries in the trash. Recycle them at your local battery recycling facility.
• Do not put discarded batteries in piles.

Storage:

• Store spare lithium-ion batteries away from anything that can catch fire.
• Remove lithium-ion batteries from your checked luggage and keep them with you on the plane.
• Store lithium-ion batteries at room temperature when possible. Do not charge them at temperatures below 32 degrees F (0 degrees C) or above 105 degrees F (40 degrees C).

Learn more > EFI Global, a leading provider of forensic engineering, fire investigation and environmental services, is your partner in every aspect of business — before, during and after a disaster event. For more information, visit efiglobal.com and catch up on related blogs.