Being stuck in a building that’s on fire is one of the most terrifying situations we as humans can imagine. It gets even scarier knowing that the prospect of it happening is far from unlikely. Most workplaces are unfortunately something of a fire hazard, especially if you work in places like a laboratory where setting things on fire is part of the job. That’s why it’s important to always have safety measures at your workplace such as contacting a lab fume hoods supplier Malaysia and getting one installed in a lab. Prevention is always better than cure, after all.
If you’re unlucky enough to experience a fire at your workplace, here are some things you should do.
- Raise the fire alarm
Even if it’s a small fire, when you come across something burning in your workplace, immediately raise the fire alarm. Fires can spread extremely quickly at an incredibly fast rate. The smallest fire can become an inferno if left unattended and every second counts.
- Call 999
If the alarm has already been raised, then immediately call the emergency services for help. You will be asked to provide the full address of your workplace so be sure to either memorize it or have it on hand. Help will soon be on the way.
- Assess the fire
If you’ve been assigned a leadership position during fire drill practices, then you will be tasked to check how serious the fire is. If it’s not too serious, you should attempt to put it out with a fire extinguisher. Only people who have been trained to do so should attempt this, however, so be sure to practice during fire drills!
- Evacuate the building
In a calm and orderly fashion, evacuate the building and head to the designated assembly point. Do not bring your personal belongings; they’re not worth your life. Always use the stairs and never ever take the lift when there’s a fire. The lift could stop working and trap you inside of a metal box in a burning building. Far from the best way to die.
- Do a headcount
At the assembly point, a headcount should be made to ensure that no one is left behind in the building. If the headcount shows that someone is missing, do not under any circumstances go back into the building. You can only do so once it has been deemed safe by the fire officers. Simply inform the absent people to someone in charge who will retrieve them and bring them back to safety.
If you’re trapped in a burning building, remember to:
- Crawl on the floor as the air is cleanest closer to the ground
- Get to a room with a window and attempt to jump down safely
- If you’re too high up to jump safely, get to the roof of the building
- Close the gaps under doors to stop smoke from coming in
- If you get caught on fire, remember to stop, drop and roll!
The most important thing to remember when trying to survive a fire in the workplace is to always remain calm and take the matter seriously. Panic will not help anyone or anything. Listen to the people in charge and you will emerge unscathed.