One of the most crucial things a business can do to ensure that all of its employees are safe in case a fire breaks out is to come up with and practice a proper evacuation plan. In an emergency, everyone needs to know where to go, what to do and who is in charge.
You will learn all about emergency fire evacuation plans if you take a fire safety training course, but there are some basics it would be useful to know in advance. For example, a good fire evacuation plan will include:
- Clearly marked escape routes throughout the building – these routes will be as direct and short as possible, so that people can exit the premises as quickly as they need to
- A clear passageway to each escape route – there must be no obstructions preventing people from accessing the escape route
- The right number of emergency exits and escape routes to allow all people to exit the building as quickly as possible
- A safe assembly point – situated a safe distance from the premises, where everyone will meet after they have exited the building
- Fire safety training – so that all staff know how to use the escape routes
• Emergency exit doors that open easily and aren’t obstructed or locked in any way
- Arrangements for people with special mobility needs.