Fire drills. We all love them, right? OK…maybe not, but we can learn a lot from them. In fact, not only can we ensure our business remains protected in the event of a fire, but we can pick up on other useful bits of information. Don’t believe us? Let’s take a look.
The Effectiveness Of Our Evacuation
The whole purpose of a fire drill is to ensure our preparedness in the event of a fire. Obviously, a routine fire drill serves to test our evacuation procedures and note any weaknesses. Everything about the evacuation should be evaluated, from how long it takes to any issues that are encountered. This is also a great time to analyse who takes centre stage as part of the fire drill procedure, making sure everyone is accounted for.
The State Of Our Equipment
In the midst of a fire drill, we can seek to ensure that fire alarms are in full working order. If they require maintenance or repair, we’ll certainly become aware of this in quick time. We might also come across equipment like stiff doors or broken fire extinguishers in the process. And, a fire drill can represent a good time to analyse additional equipment. It’s always a good idea to check things like printers and electrical sockets to ensure they’ve been safety checked recently.
How Our Company Culture Is Perceived
Now, we’re getting into the mental side of things, and this is where we go far beyond a routine fire drill. The way in which your employees react to a fire drill can tell a lot about the way your company culture is perceived. Those who have a laugh and a joke and take their time to evacuate are a potential danger. In school, you’re required to remain silent and concentrated in the midst of a fire drill. If your employees aren’t doing this in your business, your company culture could be too relaxed.
Our Training Needs
Not only does a fire drill educate us about the effectiveness of our plans, but how well others respond to them. It can indicate a variety of training needs in some instances. For example, those who don’t use the proper fire exits might need more education on the correct route to take. Others, who put their work or belongings before themselves might also need re-educating about fire safety. You could look to training with online tools, or develop your own training program within the company.
Employee Warning Signs
When an employee or group of employees don’t take a fire drill seriously, it’s a sign that something needs to change. This type of behaviour might just be typical of their persona, having grown tired or disinterested with the role they’re in. Or, it could indicate an immature mentality – one that shouldn’t be getting involved with dangerous work in any form. What you see with your own two eyes in the midst of a fire drill might just save your company from a catastrophic disaster one day.