October 3-9 is National Fire Prevention Week, and the latest article on the Federated Insurance Risk Management Corner blog site encourages employers to observe it by conducting fire-safety meetings. National Fire Prevention Week, the oldest continuously running U.S. public health observance, has been promoted by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) since the early 1920s, to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, which started on October 8, 1871.
“Vigilant employees who know what to look for could be the reason a blaze doesn’t begin, and it all starts with educating your staff on hazardous fire risks,” says the Federated Insurance article. “Forty percent of businesses do not reopen after a fire or other natural disaster. Even if you are able to reopen after a fire it will take time, and that may mean you and your employees are out of work until the building can safely be repaired and reopened. Not to mention that a loss of inventory or equipment can leave you scrambling to recover financially.”
The NFPA website is a great resource for information on fire prevention, including online training programs related to electrical workplace safety and ensuring that fire-protection systems are properly designed, installed and maintained.