Construction sites are at an extremely high risk of fires. The combination of working with a lot of heavy-duty equipment and having a lot of waste, materials, and people on the site, can lead to not only the fire starting but also quickly spreading everywhere. If you want to protect yourself and prevent the worst from happening then you need to know what to do right from the start. In this article, we are going to tell you how to improve fire protection on construction sites. Keep on reading to learn what you can do to prevent this and what are the steps you need to take to make sure that even if something happens your crew can react properly.
Don’t allow anyone and everyone on the site
Source: facilityexecutive.com
The statistics have shown that almost half of all the fires on construction sites are started on purpose. You don’t want to end up being a victim of someone who is deliberately trying to hurt you, so you need to be aware of who you allow on the construction site. You need to only allow authorized personnel there and you need to make sure that everyone who enters is checked and identified. Even though this process may seem like an excessive one, with it you will be able to protect yourself and your investment.
Train your employees
You should always train your employees and everyone who is on the site on what to do, how to handle risky situations, how to make sure they do everything they can to prevent any flames, and what to do in case a fire starts. By combining a safety strategy and proper training you’re going to greatly reduce the chances of a fire starting, and at the same time, if something bad happens, your crew will know what to do, and how to save themselves and protect as much of the property they can.
Use the right materials
Source: vanguard-fire.com
One thing that we fail to think about is the materials that we use. There are some materials that will prevent fire and that will stop the flames from spreading, no matter how hot it gets. You need to do your research depending on the risks of the location, as well as the products and chemicals that you use. You have to invest in the right materials and you need to know how they’re going to perform when they are exposed to extreme heat or direct flames. You can check ADL Insulflex to learn more about your options and how the right materials are going to help improve fire protection on construction sites.
Have smoke alarms
We cannot always predict what is going to happen and we cannot be sure that everything is maintained properly. However, that does not mean that you cannot protect yourself and your site. The easiest way to do that is to have smoke as well as carbon monoxide alarms. By implementing them in the needed positions, you will be able to react as soon as something happens, and the sprinklers will turn on when they are needed. Make sure you create the right plan and strategy on where you need to install them and what are going to be the best positions to ensure the full safety of the whole location.
Make sure you test and maintain the alarms regularly
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Even if you have alarms installed and even if this system works amazingly at the beginning, that does not mean that it’s going to last forever. All of these systems have to be checked and maintained regularly. Because of this, you need to see if the batteries are working, you need to check if the alarms respond properly, and you need to maintain and clean them whenever needed. If you don’t want to bother with the batteries, you can invest in units that can last up to a decade without maintenance, or you can opt for ones that can be connected to the power.
Keep the site clean
To prevent any fires and to make sure that the flames don’t rapidly spread through the site, you need to keep the location clean and clear. You need to know how to dispose of the waste, especially the flammable ones, and you need to leave enough room for your crew to easily move around. If there are flammable substances that have to be carried around the site, there has to be enough space for everyone to move without creating clutter. Always keep the site clean and if you notice any issues with this part you have to react as soon as you possibly can.
Check the wires and electronics
Source: stateofthecenter.org
Another huge reason why flame start is faulty wires and faulty appliances. You always have to check your cables and see if there are any issues with them. The wires can be stripped by accident and people may not even notice what has happened. Because of this, you have to regularly check the wires as well as the electronics on-site. Make sure you inspect the tools that are used, and how they perform. By doing this you will prevent most of the man-made fires that can happen at the location.
Have extinguishers on site
As we previously mentioned, alarms can sometimes fail, and even the best systems may not perform properly when needed. You need to help your team and everyone on the site react properly right away. You have to have extinguishers on site and at the same time, you need to train your employees on how to use them. Explore all the possibilities when it comes to different types of extinguishers, and see which ones would be the best option for your current project.
Always create a strategy and a plan before even starting the project. Keep in mind that even though you can use some of the steps for every site, for others you will need to tweak things and add further protection to make sure that nothing bad happens. Be aware of heaters, lights, and other heat source items, and remember that you should always ban smoking as well as lighters on the location. Talk to your crew about what they can do to help you with your purpose, and remember that it’s best to consult with a professional before making any drastic changes.
