Most excessive damage from building fires is preventable.
You just need the right tools, protocols, training, and support in place.
But fire safety isn't always intuitive.
Proper, hands-on fire safety education can answer these questions and keep your people safe.
Here’s why fire safety education is so important for your business.
In an emergency, acting quickly and decisively can dramatically reduce the amount of damage you experience. And that damage can be quite costly. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that nonresidential building fires resulted in $3.16 billion in direct property damage in 2023, with over 110,000 incidents occurring across commercial properties nationwide.
The financial burden extends far beyond the initial property damage. Building owners face business interruption costs that can dwarf the physical repair expenses. When operations halt, revenue stops, yet fixed costs continue. Employees may need to be laid off temporarily or permanently. Customer relationships suffer from missed deliveries and broken commitments.
Insurance implications compound these challenges. Properties with inadequate fire safety programs face higher insurance premiums and more restrictive coverage terms. Some insurers may refuse to renew policies altogether following a major incident. The reputational damage can be equally devastating, particularly in industries where safety is paramount. A single fire can erode years of carefully built trust with clients, investors, and the community.
Federal law places clear fire safety education obligations on building owners and employers. OSHA Standard 1910.157 requires employers who provide portable fire extinguishers for employee use to also provide an educational program familiarizing employees with fire extinguisher use principles and the hazards of incipient stage firefighting.
The scope of these requirements depends on your fire safety approach. Building owners have options.
The consequences of non-compliance extend beyond regulatory penalties. OSHA violations carry fines ranging from $16,550 per serious violation to $165,000+ for willful or repeated offenses.
However, the greater liability emerges when untrained employees suffer injuries or deaths during fire incidents. Courts consistently find employers negligent when they fail to provide adequate fire safety training, resulting in settlements and judgments that far exceed any OSHA fine.
It’s also important to keep in mind that businesses with more than 10 employees must maintain written emergency action plans detailing fire response procedures, evacuation routes, and employee responsibilities. Building owners who cannot produce these documents during inspections face immediate citations and increased scrutiny.
The U.S. Fire Administration reports that nonresidential fires resulted in 130 deaths and 1,200 injuries in 2023 alone. Beyond the financial and legal imperatives, fire safety education serves its most critical purpose: protecting human life.
Trained employees respond differently during fire emergencies. They recognize warning signs earlier, act decisively rather than freezing in panic, and help others evacuate safely.
Take regular fire drills as an example. When employees participate in quarterly or semi-annual evacuation drills, the procedures become automatic rather than something they must recall under stress.
These drills also reveal weaknesses in evacuation plans—blocked exits, confusing signage, or assembly points that prove impractical during actual use. Each drill provides an opportunity to refine procedures and improve response times.
When employees understand the difference between a small fire they can manage with an extinguisher and a larger fire requiring immediate evacuation, they make better decisions under pressure:
This shift from reactive to proactive thinking happens when fire safety education emphasizes that everyone shares responsibility for workplace safety.
This knowledge becomes especially vital in facilities where vulnerable populations work or visit, such as healthcare settings with patients who require mobility assistance, or educational facilities where staff must coordinate the evacuation of students.
A comprehensive fire safety education program addresses multiple competencies that work together to create workplace preparedness.
Here, employees learn to identify common fire hazards specific to their work environment.
Each industry carries unique risks that training must address specifically.
These teach employees their roles and responsibilities during a fire alarm. Training covers primary and secondary evacuation routes, designated assembly points, and procedures for accounting for all personnel after evacuation.
Employees learn when to evacuate immediately versus when attempting fire suppression might be appropriate. They practice using stairwells instead of elevators, assisting colleagues who need mobility support, and remaining at assembly points until authorized personnel provide the all-clear.
Proper use of fire protection equipment includes hands-on training with fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations, and any specialized suppression systems present in the facility.
Employees learn the PASS method for operating extinguishers: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side.
Training should also address different fire classifications and appropriate extinguishing agents for each type.
This step helps ensure coordinated responses. Employees learn how to activate fire alarms, who to notify when a fire is discovered, and how to communicate with emergency responders.
In larger facilities, this includes understanding the roles of fire wardens, floor monitors, and emergency response teams.
Clear communication prevents confusion that can cost lives during evacuations.
Effective fire safety education goes beyond watching videos or reading manuals.
Professional training provides hands-on experience with actual equipment, real-world scenarios, and expert guidance tailored to your facility's specific hazards.
Contact the fire protection experts at Impact Fire to ensure you have the right systems and programs that protect your people, your property, and your business.