Posted on Jan 21, 2019

Most people hear the words fire safety and wonder why does it matter. After all, what are the odds of me facing a fire in my home, office, or car?   According to the Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana recorded 2,469 fire outbreaks within the first quarter of the year as against 2,036 within the same period in 2015; representing 21.27 per cent increase.

Fire safety information saves lives. What types of information should people be aware of? The most important thing to do in the event of a fire is to exit the building in a safe and orderly manner. Offices and home should have established protocols in case of a fire and should know what to do. In an office environment, people should also be aware of what a fire alarm sounds like in order to make sure everyone is clear what the appropriate response is in the event that is activated. This includes advising everyone on whether sprinklers and other devices will activate, as this can often be surprise to many.

People should also be aware of any fire hazards in their surroundings. This includes basic electrical equipment that many homes and offices have such as kettles, microwaves, irons, office equipment. Certain work environments and homes also include possible fire hazards in the form of open flames and large electrical equipment that can catch fire. Identify these to everyone who lives and works around them.

All fire safety equipment should be clearly labeled and easily accessible. Whether at home or at work, everyone who is inside a building, even visitors, should be immediately able to tell where fire extinguishers and other fire safety products are as well as instructions on how to use them.

Part of the staff orientation both in the office and at home should include fire safety. For existing staff, frequent training should occur often to keep everything fresh in their minds and prepare them for an emergency. Stay safe!!!

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