Emergency Exits Need to be Taken Care Of This Spring
If no emergency exits are included in the original plans for a building, then the blueprints must be modified.
Ensuring employee safety is one of the essential ways any business can succeed. Business owners must also provide for the protection of visitors, guests, clients, and customers. That’s why emergency exits need to be well-maintained. If no emergency exits are included in the original plans for a building, then the blueprints must be modified.
They Can Fall into Neglect
Building managers must oversee the condition of the emergency exits. These doorways and the paths leading to them are just as important as the presence of fire extinguishers, concrete subflooring, and a functional commercial HVAC system. However, given how busy everyone in an office or another facility can be, the exits can often fall into neglect. The worst case scenario is for an emergency to happen, but everyone inside is trapped because the door’s push bar is stuck due to rust.
Plans and Protocols
Plans and protocols regarding fires and other emergencies should be well-rehearsed and understood. Under no circumstances should you block the emergency doors with supplies, tools, excess inventory, or allow customers and clients to interfere with them. All emergency exits need to remain unlocked from the inside during business hours. Although equipping the doors with alarms can indicate when someone is attempting to tamper with them, these alarms cannot get in the way of the door opening, only act as a warning.
Every single exit door must be able to open outwards and cannot be blocked from the other side, or else it defeats the purpose of these doors. They allow egress even if the main doors are damaged or inaccessible as a means of escape. They also can’t be designed in such a way that they revolve or slide. These systems rely on sophisticated electronics that can take longer for construction crews to lay the groundwork for, and which can be deactivated if something happens to the system or network. Non-exit doors should also be clearly labeled in case of an emergency where, in the chaos and confusion, it could be mistaken for an actual exit.
Maintaining Emergency Exits
Keep clutter, furniture, and anything flammable, combustible, and explosive away from the emergency exits. Once concrete workers have finished with their tools and gear, these items should be stored to not present an obstacle. There also needs to be plenty of lighting, because the lights in the building could go out, and anyone stuck inside shouldn’t have to rely on flashlights to see where they’re going.
Prioritize Employee Safety with G&M Services
G&M Services is proud of our employees and the dedication they have for safety in the workplace. We reward our employees for displaying positive safety practices. We incorporate weekly and monthly discussions and meeting to ensure that all involved are aware of how to handle equipment and potential situations that could occur during a project.
G&M Services offers services in the way of concrete drilling and sawing, concrete scanning, and FireStop. To get started with us, call today at 410-787-8828 or visit our contact page. Follow the official company page today on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
