Emergency responders expect dangers on the job; your workplace doesn’t have to be one of them.

Here are some tips and questions to consider that will help you make your workplace safe for everyone:

• Emergency responders are unfamiliar with your workplace. Consider workplace safety from the point of view of someone who has never been there before.
• The workplace of emergency responders is everywhere: indoors, outdoors and on the road. Your workplace is their workplace … is it safe?
• Darkness creates an unknown environment. Is sensor lighting in effect at your workplace?
• Firefighters work with an amount of oxygen that is limited. Can they navigate through your workplace quickly and efficiently?
• Blocked exits are a death trap for everyone.  Make sure exits are clearly marked and accessible.

• Is your workplace as safe after hours as it is during business hours?
• Spills and sharp items left on the ground are a hazard to firefighters who have to crawl on the floor during a fire call and K-9 dogs that have to search buildings.
• During an emergency, it’s important that responders know what is stored where. Are hazardous and flammable materials safely stored and clearly marked?
• Are alleys, roadways and parking areas at your workplace accessible to emergency vehicles?
• Are signs and safety railings in place for all potential hazards?
• Malfunctioning alarms are far more than just a nuisance. They are dangerous for emergency responders who have to treat all alarm calls seriously. False alarms are only false in hindsight.
• Conduct regular hazard assessments. Ask yourself: what could go wrong here?
• Store pallets and other stacked material safely and securely, with heavier items stacked low to the ground.
• During a medical emergency, paramedics need to make it in and out of work sites quickly. Are hallways, stairwells and work areas clear of clutter and accessible for paramedics with loaded stretchers?
• Make the unfamiliar at your workplace familiar to workers, customers, emergency responders, contractors and other services that may attend the work site.
• Clean up broken glass, spills and debris.
• Ensure open holes are covered and work to eliminate trip hazards.
• Get permits for all renovations. Permits help ensure the work will be done properly and safely.
• Ensure access points to construction sites and other work areas are clearly marked.
• Help create a culture where safety for emergency responders is an integral part of every workplace. Workplace safety is not only the responsibility of employers; it is everyone’s responsibility.