It is important for your employees to know how to handle an emergency fire while out on the road.
Every year, vehicle fires destroy billions of dollars worth of industrial and commercial vehicles. While some workers know how to handle this situation, many of them are ill-equipped to deal with this emergency situation. This lack of preparedness can leave your employees injured or worse. So how do you keep your employees safe during a vehicle fire? Read on to find out some of our favorite safety tips and some vehicle requirements too!
Vehicle Fire Warning Signs
The first thing all of your drivers should know if the warning signs of danger. Your vehicles may start showing signs before the fire actually ignites. If they notice any oil or fluid on the ground or electrical problems like loose wiring or a blown fuse, it is important to have these problems checked out immediately. Make sure your oil cap is on securely at all times and there isn’t a rapid change in fuel or fluid levels or in the engine temperature itself. Having your vehicles inspected regularly can help protect your investment as well as your employees. Train your employees to inspect their vehicle before getting in and teach them what they are looking for.
Safety First
It is important for your employees to know how to prevent a fire as well as what to do when the vehicle is actually on fire. If your vehicle starts to smoke, pull over as quickly as it is safe to do so. Once you have stopped, turn off the engine and get everyone out of the vehicle. Stay at least 100 feet away from the burning vehicle but also away from traffic. Call the authorities as soon as you see flames or sparks. Do not go back to the vehicle for your property or load.
Emergency Equipment
Every vehicle in your fleet should have several pieces of fire safety equipment on board. They should all be easily accessible by the driver and any passengers in the vehicle. You should have a fire extinguisher or suppression system, a warning device for stopped vehicles like road flares, red flags, or emergency roadside triangle reflectors. These pieces of equipment are invaluable in an emergency. Your fire extinguisher should be filled with an extinguishing agent that does not freeze and complies with the toxicity provisions set by the Environmental Protection Agency. It should be clearly marked or labeled with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Like any other extinguishers, you must make sure your equipment will be able to handle the type of fire present in vehicle fires. Talk to your Fireline representative for more information on ordering the proper equipment for your commercial or industrial vehicles.
Vehicle Fire Safety Tips with Fireline
At Fireline, we offer an array of portable fire extinguishers, fire alarms, and sprinkler systems to keep commercial kitchens safe. Fireline offers the highest quality alarm systems to keep your business safe from fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. We also offer fire suppression systems as well to help keep commercial fires controlled should they break out. Our trained technicians will work with you to determine which air sampling smoke detection system is best for your business. We will also help install and maintain the system for your commercial building.
To get started with Fireline today, or for more information on sprinkler systems call us at 1-800-553-3405, or visit our contact page.
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