According to the Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA), the most common type of emergency for small businesses is fire. Whether your small business is a restaurant, retail store, office or any other workplace, fire safety is crucial. Fires and explosions kill hundreds and injure thousands of workers each year. Small fires can often be put out quickly by a well-trained employee with a portable fire extinguisher. However, to do this safely, the employee must understand the use and limitation of a portable fire extinguisher and the hazards associated with fighting fires. Evacuation plans that designate or require some or all of the employees to fight fires with portable fire extinguishers increase the level of complexity of the plan and the level of training that must be provided employees.

Every employer should have and maintain an emergency action plan, fire prevention plan and train employees accordingly.

Putting together a comprehensive emergency action plan that deals with those issues specific to your worksite is not difficult. An emergency action plan (EAP) is a written document required by particular OSHA standards. [29 CFR 1910.38(a)] The purpose of an EAP is to facilitate and organize employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies. Well-developed emergency plans and proper employee training (such that employees understand their roles and responsibilities within the plan) will result in fewer and less severe employee injuries and less structural damage to the facility during emergencies. A poorly prepared plan, likely will lead to a disorganized evacuation or emergency response, resulting in confusion, injury, and property damage.

Employee should know how to report emergencies.

Employees must know how to report emergencies. Some use internal telephone numbers, intercom, or public address systems to notify other employees. It is important for employees to also notify the proper authorities such as fire, medical, or rescue services, if your company relies on this type of assistance during an emergency.

Should employees evacuate or be prepared to fight a small fire?

A fire is the most common type of emergency for which small businesses must plan. One way to limit the amount of damage due to such fires is to make portable fire extinguishers an important part of your fire prevention program. When used properly, fire extinguishers can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or controlling a fire until additional help arrives. A critical decision when planning is whether or not employees should fight a small fire with a portable fire extinguisher or simply evacuate. Choosing to evacuate the workplace rather than providing fire extinguishers for employee use in fighting fires will most effectively minimize the potential for fire-related injuries to employees. In addition, training employees to use fire extinguishers and maintaining them requires considerable resources. However, other factors, such as the availability of a public fire department or the vulnerability of egress routes, will enter into this decision.

For additional information on Emergency Planning and to develop a plan for your small business, visit OSHA’s Evacuation Plans and Procedures e-tool.

Additional Resources:

• Combustible Dust
• Emergency Exit
• Emergency Preparedness
• Fire Extinguisher 

Visit Beacon’s Online University for online safety training:

• Emergency & Disaster Preparedness
• Emergency Evacuation & Egress Safety
• Fire & Explosion Hazards
• Fire Prevention