A fire in the workplace might be one of the more scary situations you could imagine and one that, thankfully, occurs rarely. Depending on the location of the fire, a workplace fire could cause unimaginable damage both to property and person. While you can't always control when or where a fire might break out, you can take steps to minimize the harm a fire can cause by keeping up-to-date fire extinguishers and posting safety signs in the office.
Not all fires are created equal and so you will need a variety of fire extinguishers depending on the hazards in your office. A powder based extinguisher works for the widest varieties of fires including oil based fires and is the only extinguisher you should use for electrical fires. You should keep powder based extinguishers near any electrical equipment at risk of catching fire.
Foam extinguishers can help stop fires started by oils and gases. Water extinguishers should only be used for fires started by everyday combustibles. Using water on an oil fire or electrical fire could spread the fire or cause serious harm and injury.
In addition to fire extinguishers, you should also post signs around the office letting employees and other visitors to your office know where extinguishers are kept and of any fire dangers. If your workplace has known fire dangers, be sure to include signs prohibiting cigarettes and other smoking materials. You can also add other fire safety features to your work setting such as fire extinguisher mounts, stands or brackets and fire blankets.
Fire is serious business in the workplace especially in environments where fire dangers exist. Make sure you and your employees are prepared for any possible fires by keeping powder and foam based fire extinguishers in the office. And don't forget. Extinguishers have a shelf life and you will want to replace your extinguishers regularly to make sure they work when you need them.