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The United States has the highest number of people killed by fires each year. In fact, every 23 seconds an alarm sounds to a fire somewhere in the United States. In 2011, public fire departments attended 1,389,500 fires in the United States. Nationwide, in 2011 there was a civilian (non-firefighter) fire death every 175 minutes. These statistics are alarming and they show that fire is a serious threat whether in your home or your workspace. There are many ways to protect you and your workspace, including information and escape equipment to fire extinguishers and other gear. The type of protection your company needs depends on the specifics of your business, such as size and business type, as well as what your emergency plan entails. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the main federal agency that creates and oversees laws and regulations that American companies must abide by to help keep their employees safe. They also require annual safety training, emergency action plans and fire prevention plans. OSHA has very specific requirements that employers must adhere to in order to not be fined and/or shut down regarding the safety standards of workplaces. When in an industrial environment a good place to start with your fire safety needs is to figure out what you would need in order to perform a quick evacuation. Flashing lights, alarms and visible signage are some initial steps to take. Accessible extinguishers and other protection products that will aid in fire suppression are helpful, and may need to be available in order to pass regulatory inspections. Different types of businesses will require different types of fire extinguishers. There are also different types of smoke alarms and detectors for different types of buildings. Industrial fire protection equipment is needed to protect against high risk and hazardous industries including petrochemical, offshore oil and gas industries as well as power stations and airports. Industrial fire protection products include heavy duty nozzles and monitors, and industrial suppression systems. Industrial fire protection monitors are devices that deliver large amounts of water for firefighting purposes in hazardous or high risk industries. These robust monitors are typically designed to withstand extreme conditions and are easy to maintain. They are good for industries including offshore platforms and aggressive chemical plants. Some of the most important industrial safety equipment includes alarms, extinguishers, hydrants, standpipe systems, suppression systems, fire pumps, exit signs and emergency lighting systems. Aspects to maintain these systems and pieces of equipment include professional installation, inspection, verification and proper maintenance. Other categories of industrial fire safety equipment include control panels, detection systems, detectors, fire alarm signaling, emergency escape, fixed foam systems, passive fire protection, testing and approvals. There are also dry hydrants, fire blankets, fire extinguisher covers and cabinets, fire hoses and fire hose accessories, firestop pillows and accessories, firestop sealants and caulks and putties. Due to the nature of the business world, there are thousands of products tailored to different types of businesses and each one's specific fire prevention needs. If you are responsible for fire safety and prevention for your business, the best recommendation would be to call a professional for help identifying your specific needs that not only work best for your company, but will also comply with OSHA regulations. From there you will be able to figure out a plan of action and what types of systems to install, and what type of fire prevention and safety equipment you will need to invest in.
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