Businesses need to have a number of insurance policies covering them in the result of accidents, theft, and loss, etc.
You should also make sure you have insurance that covers your property in the event of a fire.
There are a number of things you need to do after your workplace has had a fire, keep reading to find out what you should do.
Fire in the workplace
Many people think that a fire will never happen in their workplace, however fires can start very easily and get out of hand very quickly.
There were 22,200 fires that happened in non-dwelling buildings during 2013-2014. 75% of these fires were accidental and 3,700 of them happened due to faulty fire alarms not sounding.
Some workplaces are at a higher risk of fire than others. For example, retail distribution experienced 3,000 fires during 2013-2014, whilst 2,500 of the fires took place on an industrial premises, and there were 2,200 fires in restaurants, cafes, pubs, and take away establishments.
Fires can be caused by electrical faults, misuse of workplace equipment, people smoking in the premises, and arson attacks. Having safety procedures in place is a great way to try and prevent fires.
What to do after a fire in the workplace
The procedure to follow after a fire depends on various factors, such as the severity of the fire, if you own the building, if anyone was hurt, the fire and smoke damage of the workplace, etc.
In this instance, this guide is for severe fires. So if you have had a bad fire at work then here is what you need to do.
First of all, you need to make sure you document everything. Collect your conversations, notes, phone numbers etc, of everything that happened during and after the fire. You will need this information for your insurance.
Then you need to contact your insurance provider and inform them of what happened. If you are renting the space then you also need to contact the owner of the property.
After that you need to secure the premises. If the fire caused severe damage to the property then you need to make sure that it is structurally safe. It is also good practice to hire a security guard to make sure nobody vandalises it or hurts themselves.
The thought leaders at Toolswizard say that if the building’s exterior has been breached, then you need to board up the premises with wooden boards or metal shutters. If the roof has been ruined, then you also need to cover this up, so that water damage doesn’t further destroy the building. Toolswizard advise you use tarpaulin to cover up the roof.
Remember to make sure you turn off any utilities, such as gas, electricity, and water, at the mains. And also keep everyone updated with your contact information, including the fire department, police, insurance company etc.
The final thing you need to do after a fire in the workplace is to start repairing the building. This can take some time and is a procedure that shouldn’t be rushed. Approach professionals who know how to restore buildings after fires and who can help you sort everything out.
