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Equipment
Ensure that you have adequate smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and fire exit signage to comply with your fire safety certificate. This may also include a sprinkler system and fire hoses, fire resistant doors and walls and numerous other fire safety facilities.
Plan an appropriate communication network for the warning of your employees, including hard of hearing and disabled employees. Non-English speaking employees should also be considered. Ask any employees with disabilities what assistance, if any, they would require in an emergency e.g. communications, equipment, medication.
Ensure that a system exists for alerting the fire service as a result of an evacuation of your premises.
Inventory
Conduct a room by room walk through to determine what equipment needs to be recorded and awarded any special security. Ensure that heavy equipment and large cabinets are secured to ensure their stability and avoid breakage or personal injury. If possible, move works stations away from large windows.
In areas prone to flooding, ensure that all electrical and valuable equipment is stored off the floor.
Maintenance
All equipment should be regularly maintained and serviced according to the manufacturers recommendations and any legislation relating to that particular equipment. Special attention should be given to electrical equipment which requires regular inspection and the inspections recorded. Records showing regular maintenance will be invaluable during the course of an insurance claim as proof of the condition and value of equipment should it be destroyed during a major incident.
Suppliers
Ensure that a comprehensive list is kept of all your equipment suppliers, service engineers and the equipment’s capability. This will enable you to re-establish your working arrangements using similar equipment to before should the original be unavailable to you.