Aside from being the start of summer, March is also the Fire Prevention Month in the Philippines. Why March, you may ask? Because not only is it the hottest month of the year, but March also has the highest number of fire incidents from 2010 to 2013. This year, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) aims to reduce the number of fires in March by eighty percent (80%).
To help in their efforts, here’s an article regarding fire safety tips that you should follow while working at home. By following these tips, you can do your own part in protecting your remote office, homes, and your community from the threat of fires.
Regularly Check Your Electrical Equipment.
Let’s start by reminding you to check your electrical equipment regularly. A loose wire here or a broken one there is all that’s needed to spark a fire within your home office. In addition to this, ensure that none of your plugs have dark marks or are unnaturally hot as well. These are telltale signs that your equipment is overheating already.
By regularly checking your appliances and electrical equipment, you can avoid potential fire hazards and preserve your equipment’s life as well. Damaged wires and plugs can seriously harm your electrical equipment, so spotting early on helps you avoid other problems in the long run.
Avoid Overloading Your Electrical Sockets and Extension Cords.
Aside from your electrical equipment, you should also place a watchful eye over your electrical sockets and extension cords. This is something that’s easily overlooked, especially if you’re busy with a deadline, for example. Having too many gadgets or appliances plugged in on one socket or cord is an easy way to overload your cords and sockets.
If you don’t want your gadgets turning into impromptu time bombs, be sure to unplug them from their sockets from time to time. Remember to also check whether or not your plug fits the outlet. Doing this avoids loose electrical connections that could lead to a fire.
Don’t Put Candles Near Any Flammable Items.
You might say that this should, emphasis on the word should, be common sense. But there’s a reason why the authorities constantly remind us to not place candles near flammable items like curtains, papers, or near appliances. Many fires originate from misplaced, forgotten, or accidentally toppled candles.
To avoid these incidents, particularly during the summer months when there are rotational brownouts, place your candles somewhere open and away from fire hazards. Make sure that your kids can’t reach your candles or matches as well.
Make Sure You Have Ample Fire Prevention Systems.
I know that this seems a bit too much, but having smoke alarms can help you feel more secure for your family’s safety at home. Smoke alarms are devices that detect smoke and warn you of an impending fire. When buying smoke alarms, choose the interconnected one. In this system, when one is triggered, the rest will activate as well.
When talking about fire prevention systems, one shouldn’t forget about discussing fire extinguishers. Having at least one fire extinguisher at home prevents you from being caught flat-footed in case of a fire.
Of course, not all of us can afford such an expensive item. What you can do is have a large store of water, instead. Aside from being far cheaper than fire extinguishers, you can use them for other purposes as well.
Lastly, be sure to talk about fire safety with your family. The best fire prevention system is knowledge. Educate your loved ones about fire hazards and how to extinguish fires.
Clear Your Workspace.
And last but not least, remember to regularly clean up your workspace so you can remove any potential fire hazards. Doing so improves your workstation’s ergonomics. Which in turn makes it easier for you to move and evacuate your workstation in the event of a fire.
Clearing your workspace also unblocks your workspace’s doors and windows, improving its ventilation. Having good ventilation lessens the risk of your appliances overheating. And it also makes you more comfortable while working in your online job.
Conclusion.
And that is it! Here are the five fire safety tips every remote worker should know. I think we can all agree that no one wants to experience a fire. Not only can it destroy all your hard-earned items, but it can seriously injure your loved ones as well. That is why knowing the basics of fire safety is so essential.
I hope that this article helps in guiding you make your homes/remote workplaces that much safer from fires. After all, the first step in fire safety is knowing what to do and what not to do.
